Bulletin No: 282 Volume: 20 Tuesday 23 December 2014
To ALL UFU MEMBERS
CASCADING AND
SPLITTING SHIFTS
AND ACTING
DOWN
Members are aware that the pervious Government and the CFA reneged on the agreed increase of 342 firefighters and members are to be congratulated for highlighting the critical staff shortage within the CFA in recent times.
The critical need for more career firefighters was highlighted by Mick Burke when he gave evidence in the Black Saturday Royal Commission.
Despite Mr Burkes evidence of the need for the increase, underpinned by a signed agreement to recruit 342 new firefighters, Mr Burke and the previous Napthine Government simply refused to honour the agreement.
As a result many CFA stations were left without enough career firefighters which resulted in station closures.
The recently elected Daniel Andrews’ government has promised an extra 450 firefighters. This recruitment will help resolve the problem with fire station closures.
In the interim the UFU will approach the CFA to explore ways of preventing fire station closures without resorting to cascading or splitting shifts, or the situation of acting down ranks. As such no cascading or splitting of shifts, or acting down shall occur.
We thank our members for their diligence, commitment and solidarity.
Strength in Unity
READ OUT AT MUSTER AND PIN ON NOTICE BOARD
Authorised by Peter Marshall, Branch Secretary