Wednesday, March 30, 2011

War on the Wharves

The Knuckle Dusting, Block Busting, War on the Wharves is Back!

MUA members have organised gala charity fund-raising night supporting the Sydney Childrens Hospital Foundation.

Wharfies from Port Botany will go head to head with their comrades on the other side of the wharf in a series bouts.

13th April Souths Juniors, doors open 6:00pm, first fight 6:30.

Tickets $80

Shirts $30

Combo (Ticket & T-shirt) $100

Tickets availiable from Jules or Kane don't miss out get your tickets & shirts now.

Sponsored by Mining, Maritime and Power Credit Union and The Maritime Union of Australia.

Garth Wood and Anthony Mundine fight will be shown after the event.

 

Media contact: Kane Hay 0416 142 099

Posted via email from Darin Sullivan's updates.....

State Committee of Management meeting for FBEU reps Thursday 31st @fbeu Union office.

State Committee of Management meeting for FBEU reps Thursday 31st - Union office.

DARIN SULLIVAN
PRESIDENT

FIRE BRIGADE EMPLOYEES' UNION
Latest from FBEU Media Release – LSVs

Posted via email from Darin Sullivan's updates.....

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

FBEU media release: Elite fire units off the road

FIREFIGHTERS are being forced to battle major blazes without specialist support vehicles, with the trucks operational just a third of the time because of inadequate staffing.

Leaked documents show the trucks, which carry supplies such as extra air cylinders for breathing apparatus, were also unavailable to restock safety equipment at fire stations which, the Fire Brigade Employees Union said, meant several stations had to temporarily shut their doors.

Rosters from earlier this month reveal there were times when all three Logistic Support Vehicles - based in Parramatta, Kogarah and the City of Sydney - were unstaffed, with one only available for three shifts for an entire week. In the first week of March just 13 of the 39 shifts were manned, the documents reveal.

At one recent incident in Sydney's southwest, where more than 80 firefighters fought an industrial fire, requests for a support vehicle were denied, with headquarters saying no one had been in the co-ordinator position on the truck for eight weeks.

FIREFIGHTERS are being forced to battle major blazes without specialist support vehicles, with the trucks operational just a third of the time because of inadequate staffing.

Leaked documents show the trucks, which carry supplies such as extra air cylinders for breathing apparatus, were also unavailable to restock safety equipment at fire stations which, the Fire Brigade Employees Union said, meant several stations had to temporarily shut their doors.

Rosters from earlier this month reveal there were times when all three Logistic Support Vehicles - based in Parramatta, Kogarah and the City of Sydney - were unstaffed, with one only available for three shifts for an entire week. In the first week of March just 13 of the 39 shifts were manned, the documents reveal.

At one recent incident in Sydney's southwest, where more than 80 firefighters fought an industrial fire, requests for a support vehicle were denied, with headquarters saying no one had been in the co-ordinator position on the truck for eight weeks.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/elite-fire-units-off-the-road/story-e6f...

Posted via email from Darin Sullivan's updates.....

Thursday, March 24, 2011

NSW State Election - Vote Green or ALP

FROM: http://fbeu.net/2011/03/sitrep-no-122011/

The end of the Keneally Government

The state election this Saturday is a foregone conclusion, with predictions of the biggest defeat for Labor since the disastrous election of 1932. Forget the pollsters - for a cold, hard, and realistic analysis go to the bookies. Centrebet are paying $1.02 for a Coalition victory. It is almost inconceivable that this time next week Barry O'Farrell won't be NSW Premier.

In a deeply worrying development there is the very real chance that the Coalition will not only win a massive majority in the lower house, but also in the Legislative Council - the upper house. With a working majority in both houses O'Farrell would be free to introduce anything he wished. And here lies the problem - no one really knows what he wants to do. The last twelve months has seen the Liberals run a small target strategy, keeping their policies as vague as possible and waiting for the Keneally Government to self-destruct. Smart politics. But while we don’t know much detail, it is clear that O'Farrell will be taking a razor to public sector expenditure. The Coalition has already signalled that it will scrap the Fire Service Levy on insurers that has served NSW well for 100 years. It has also confirmed a freeze on RFS staffing and expenditure, so FRNSW can expect no favours.

So how to vote? The Union recommends that all members consider the impact an unfettered Coalition government will have upon our job, and our communities.

The ALP has run NSW for the top end of town for 16 years. In spite of this, they have historically put more resources into the public sector – including the NSWFB - than the Coalition. In opposition they can be expected to publicly stand against Coalition cost cutting.

The Greens are expected to produce their best performance yet. Their IR policy is by far the best of the three major parties, as is their commitment to the public sector.

The best outcome we can hope for is a Legislative Council that can block the most brutal of the public sector cuts that are coming. It is on that basis that I urge all members to consider voting Green or ALP on Saturday. This is not about endorsing one party over another - it is about putting some brakes upon an incoming O’Farrell Government that will, inevitably, attack public services in NSW.

Finally, it is likely that we are facing at least two terms of Coalition rule. If O'Farrell undertakes a reform agenda like Jeff Kennett did in Victoria in the nineties, or Nick Greiner did in NSW in the eighties, we cannot wait for a future change of government to defend our jobs and communities. Come next Monday we need to be ready to stand shoulder to shoulder with other unionists to defend our public sector. If we are not prepared to back up those on the railways, on the ferries, in the schools and the hospitals then who will be left to stand up for us?

[Written and authorised by the State Sec / FBEU]

DARIN SULLIVAN
PRESIDENT

FIRE BRIGADE EMPLOYEES' UNION
Latest from FBEU SITREP No. 12/2011

Posted via email from Darin Sullivan's updates, reports, and info....

Make your vote count this weekend !

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In NSW, if you don't allocate preferences, your vote can actually 'expire' - that is, it's put aside and doesn't count in the final tally of who gets elected.

Do your friends and family know this? Don't let them waste their vote; check out our fun video on the right and pass it on to your friends and family.

Posted via email from Darin Sullivan's updates, reports, and info....

Life's tough...

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

24hr (10/14) perm manning now election commitment from both sides of politics for Nowra

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PERMANENT firefighters in Nowra, who have been campaigning for a 24-hour manned fire station for many years, won a significant victory on Thursday night when the Premier announced funding for the extra manpower to make it happen.

The 24/7 roster was part of a two-pronged campaign. The second part will be securing a fire station on the northern side of the Shoalhaven River.

Fire Brigade Employees Union Illawarra branch secretary Andy Coppin said he and the members of Nowra Fire Brigade were very happy with the announcement.

“Kristina Keneally announced $12.7 million in funding for Bathurst and Nowra fire stations to go 24/7.

“If you had asked me a year ago whether we could have achieved this I would have said not a hope in hell. But we ran a good campaign and we’re very happy.

“Now we’ve just got to get the department to do the mechanics of it and get it up and running.”

Mr Coppin said the move would create jobs for seven more firefighters and two station officers.

South Coast MP Shelley Hancock confirmed the Coalition would match the funding commitment.

“It’s good news and I spoke with the emergency services shadow minister and we will be backing that funding,” she said.

South Coast ALP candidate Glenn Sims met with fire brigade members on Friday and gave them an unequivocal guarantee that if elected he would do everything in his power to have a second fire station for Nowra built on the northern side of the Shoalhaven River.

“This will help in the critical seven minute response time necessary for the fire brigade to contain a house fire,” Mr Sims said.

Posted via email from Darin Sullivan's web site

Monday, March 7, 2011

Fire Brigade Employees' Union (NSW) secures 2.5% (+$500 sign on bonus)+2.95%, 3.28% Award renewal

Media_httpfbeunetwpco_lahwe

Fire Brigade Employees' Union (NSW) secures 2.5% (+$500 sign on bonus)+2.95%, 3.28% Award renewal WITHOUT TRADING AWARD CONDITIONS. Firefighters Statewide ratified the deal, with the Premier signing off on the negotiation last week.

Posted via email from Darin Sullivan's web site

Saturday, March 5, 2011

Major Sydney fire and FRNSW can't even get a fire brigade support vehicle (LSV) to attend. #FBEU intend to question Fire Brigade Mangt on why they can't manage fire appliances in Sydney !

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http://liverpool-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/fire-crews-fighting-blaz...

Workers evacuated after factory fire at Warwick Farm - Emergency Services - News - Liverpool Leader.

Major Sydney fire and FRNSW can't even get a fire brigade support vehicle (LSV) to attend. #FBEU intend to question Fire Brigade Mang't on why they can't manage fire appliances in Sydney.

Posted via email from Darin Sullivan's web site

Thursday, March 3, 2011

FIRE Brigade staffing issues sink Sydney Harbour 'fast attack' fire boat | The Daily Telegraph

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Hosed down ... the Fire and Rescue NSW boat which has been on trial in Sydney Harbour / Pic: Jeff Herbert Source: The Daily Telegraph

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw-act/brigade-staffing-issues-sink-sy...

MEDIA ADVISORY
Thursday March 3, 2011

Brigade putting homes and lives at risk

Homes and lives are at risk across the inner west because the New South Wales Fire Brigade refuses to properly staff a fireboat on Sydney Harbour.

Instead of stationing officers at the dock to respond to emergencies, the Fire Brigade is insisting firefighters leave the Rozelle and Balmain fire station unattended to crew the fireboat.

“This is highly irresponsible and poses an unacceptable risk to life and property,” NSW FBEU State Secretary Jim Casey said.

“We’re simply not prepared to leave tens of thousands of homes, schools and businesses unprotected.

“If fire brigade management had its way, an entire station would be left unstaffed every time there was a call out on the water.

“Accordingly we won’t be allowing the boat to be crewed on the cheap. The FR NSW boat needs dedicated crew to do its job properly. The current situation leaves the community exposed.”

The union’s decision follows protracted negotiations with management.

While the union has negotiated in good faith, management’s refusal to consider community safety has given firefighters no other option.

“This is not an action we take lightly, but given the circumstances we see no other option,” NSW FBEU State Secretary Jim Casey said.

“The NSW Fire Brigade is not a profit and loss statement, it is a brigade of hard working men and women who put their lives and wellbeing on the line to protect the community from the threat of fire.

“Imagine if every time the water police went out on the harbour a police station closed to staff it. This is the same situation, and it’s unacceptable. It means we cannot do our job properly.”

“We won’t allow beancounters to put lives and property at risk.”

Media enquiries please call FBEU NSW State Secretary Jim Casey on 0419 267 555 or FBEU President Darin Sullivan on 0422 436 044

Posted via email from Darin Sullivan's web site

FIRE Brigade staffing issues sink Sydney Harbour 'fast attack' fire boat | The Daily Telegraph

Media_httpresources2n_uuaec

New South Wales Fire Brigade Employees’ Union (FBEU)

1 – 7 Belmore Street Surry Hills NSW 2010
Telephone 02 9218 3444 Facsimile 02 9218 3488 E-mail office@fbeu.net Website www.fbeu.net

MEDIA ADVISORY
Thursday March 3, 2011

Brigade putting homes and lives at risk

Homes and lives are at risk across the inner west because the New South Wales Fire Brigade refuses to properly staff a fireboat on Sydney Harbour.

Instead of stationing officers at the dock to respond to emergencies, the Fire Brigade is insisting firefighters leave the Rozelle and Balmain fire station unattended to crew the fireboat.

“This is highly irresponsible and poses an unacceptable risk to life and property,” NSW FBEU State Secretary Jim Casey said.

“We’re simply not prepared to leave tens of thousands of homes, schools and businesses unprotected.

“If fire brigade management had its way, an entire station would be left unstaffed every time there was a call out on the water.

“Accordingly we won’t be allowing the boat to be crewed on the cheap. The FR NSW boat needs dedicated crew to do its job properly. The current situation leaves the community exposed.”

The union’s decision follows protracted negotiations with management.

While the union has negotiated in good faith, management’s refusal to consider community safety has given firefighters no other option.

“This is not an action we take lightly, but given the circumstances we see no other option,” NSW FBEU State Secretary Jim Casey said.

“The NSW Fire Brigade is not a profit and loss statement, it is a brigade of hard working men and women who put their lives and wellbeing on the line to protect the community from the threat of fire.

“Imagine if every time the water police went out on the harbour a police station closed to staff it. This is the same situation, and it’s unacceptable. It means we cannot do our job properly.”

“We won’t allow beancounters to put lives and property at risk.”

Media enquiries please call FBEU NSW State Secretary Jim Casey on 0419 267 555 or FBEU President Darin Sullivan on 0422 436 044

Posted via email from Darin Sullivan's web site