More local firefighters, new fire fighting equipment and improved facilities for ACT Fire and Rescue are on the way for the ACT following the Government and United Firefighters Union (UFU) striking a new enterprise bargaining agreement.
Announced by the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, Mick Gentleman the agreement will also bring new focuses on the health, safety and wellbeing of ACT Fire and Rescue staff.
Mr Gentleman said the new agreement would see 99 additional firefighters join ACT Fire and Rescue over the coming years.
Commissioner of the ACT Emergency Services Agency (ESA), Georgeina Whelan welcomed the new arrangements saying the new enterprise agreement was the result of a thorough and constructive bargaining process between ESA and the UFU.
“We’re proud to have collaboratively worked with the UFU to reach an agreement that is focused on continuing to strengthen safety for our firefighters and the ACT community,” Commissioner Whelan said.
“The new enterprise agreement is focused on building a modernised fire service [and] meeting the needs of firefighters,” she said.
Commissioner Whelan said the agreement focused on health, wellbeing and safety initiatives for firefighters; revitalised allowances; skills and training incentives; and staffing arrangements during the bushfire season.
She said the new enterprise agreement had a four-year duration and would expire in 2024.
