FBEU State Secretary Leighton Drury said he would update FBEU members with clearer timeframes once the union had further discussions with FRNSW. Photo: FBEU.
The NSW firefighters union has secured an interim agreement with the State Government to raise wages by 3 per cent, but this won’t mean the end of their case for arbitration.
All industrial action has ceased and the independent industrial umpire will continue working to resolve the remaining issues in dispute. Six thousand eight hundred Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) firefighters will receive the pay increase backdated to February, which follows a 4.5 per cent pay rise (inclusive of super) delivered last year.
FBEU State Secretary Leighton Drury said firefighters should start seeing this increase, including back pay in the coming weeks, with 17 October being a “pencilled in” date for the first payment.
“I am pleased to be able to inform you all that after significant negotiation and discussions with various levels of government for the past number of weeks, over the weekend we reached agreement that all FRNSW firefighters will receive a 3 per cent pay increase, to be processed ASAP and back paid to 26 February 2024,” he said.
“Your state committee shares and understands your frustrations regarding award negotiation timeframes, and we, like you, are feeling the cost-of-living pressures building.
“We are continuing to work building the case for arbitration, but we know money in your pockets is a priority.”
Mr Drury said this was “by no means” an acceptance of the NSW Government’s initial offer, came with no tradeoffs, and would not impact the ongoing award arbitration nor the final percentages determined by the Industrial Relations Commission (IRC).
“All three awards remain unchanged apart from across-the-board increases of 3 per cent on wages and allowances,” he said.
“This was simply state committee convincing government to immediately pay us what was already offered, rather than members waiting for the conclusion of arbitration.”
While the state secretary believes it isn’t enough, he believes “it’s better in your pockets than in theirs” as the union continues building the case for its entire log of claims.
Emergency Services Minister Jihad Dib has celebrated the agreement for undoing “more than a decade of stagnant wages under the Coalition government”.
It comes as part of the NSW Government’s rebuild of essential services and the industrial relations system. Recently the government introduced a new bargaining framework, removed the wages cap and re-established the IRC, which was dismantled in 2016.
Industrial Relations Minister Sophie Cotsis welcomed the agreement and thanked the firies for their advocacy, patience and support.
“This is a good step forward but we still have work to do,” she said. “We appreciate their commitment and service to the people of NSW.”
