The Firefighting Industry Agreement expired in June 2021 and negotiations have not significantly progressed. Tasmanian Firefighters are the lowest paid in Australia. While bills are going up by more than 5%, the Tasmanian government is offering Firefighters 2.35% and 2.5% over two years.

Firefighters have asked the Premier to intervene in negotiations and he has not accepted our invitation to meet.

Firefighters are taking action to get negotiations moving forward. The list of current industrial activities in place are listed below:

• Displaying of UFU or campaign clothing/merch
• Distribution of UFU materials during work time
• Adjusting email signature to include campaign message
• No maintenance of hose
• No TOIL or 1am payments for training for operational capabilities
• No Casual Training Instruction
• Claim overtime for handover at start or end of shift
• Work to rule, claim all allowances, take breaks on time (NRSW & TFE)
• No Fire Reports, or AIRS Reports
• No fire mitigation burns or assistance with fire mitigation burns (does not apply to BRU substantives)
• No using personal phone for making work calls
• No using personal computers for work
• Attending stop work meetings at start of shift (up to 20 min duration), with no response to incidence during meeting
• No off the desk side projects
• No working shifts at other brigades
• Making comment about TFS/DPFEM to public or media
• No working rostered shifts by NRSW to provide coverage between Mon – Fri (normal hours)
• No briefing notes to DPFEM/Government (including participation for promotional material)
• No facilitating the TasGRN project, attendance at workshops is permitted at this stage

Introduction

In 2006, TFS reduced superannuation payments for new employees to the minimum superannuation guarantee level, which at the time of writing is now 10%.

Some TFS staff who were employed pre-2006 pay 2% of their wage into their superannuation and receive an additional 3% from TFS. 10% + 2% + 3% = 15%

It should be noted that not all TFS personnel fall into one of these two categories, but the vast majority of members do.

The 5% reduction in superannuation accumulation means Firefighters cannot afford to retire early as they have done in the past. Unfortunately, Firefighters are rarely able to continue to effectively perform fire fighting and rescue duties right up to the age of 67, which means there is an emerging generation of Firefighters who will not be able to work to 67 and also will not have enough superannuation to retire early.

Firefighters should not be forced to retire into poverty.

Fixing the Issue

While TFS has not yet made a commitment to find other work for Firefighters who are no longer able to work on the front line, the only viable solution is to restore higher superannuation payments.

The superannuation guarantee (the minimum super payment) is legislated under federal law. The Public Sector Superannuation Reform Act 2016 (Tas) requires that the minimum payment will be made for State Service employees in Tasmania, with exception for some workers who were employed before 1 March 2006.

This presents two viable options. We can put pressure on the state government to change state legislation or we can put pressure on the federal government to increase the minimum legislated payment for first responders to allow for early retirement due to the physical nature of emergency response.

State Government

The EBA provides an opportunity to negotiate an increase to superannuation payments, which depending on the legal status, might need to sit in a separate document. It is expected that the government will not agree to increase superannuation payments unless significant pressure is placed upon them through industrial action and community campaigns.

If members are not able to secure increased superannuation payments in the current EBA negotiations, members should consider that the next EBA will roughly coincide with a state election, which will allow members to apply additional pressure on the government with respect to the superannuation policy and law reform.

Federal Government

The UFU has successfully lobbied Tasmanian Labor and Australian Labor to include increased superannuation for first responders in their respective policy platforms. This does not automatically mean that Labor will implement this into law if they are elected to government, additional lobbying will be required should they win government.

Liberal governments generally oppose increases to superannuation.

The Greens are likely to support changes to superannuation.

Ultimately, for this legislation to pass both houses of parliament, it is likely that we would need to see a Labor government, either with control of the Senate or with cross-bench members in the balance of power who are supportive.

This process would be difficult and we would be very reliant on the support of Fire, Ambulance and Police unions from across the country for support to get this over the line.

UFU Working Group

If you would like to be part of the UFU Super Working Group, contact stephen@ufutas.com

Useful Information

67 – The Aged Pension eligibility age for those born after 1957. Superannuation can be accessed before this age.

34 – The percentage of Aged Pension recipients who are considered to live in poverty by international standards, with home ownership being a major factor as the need to pay rent greatly reduces disposable income.

60 – The age superannuation can usually be accessed. Superannuation can sometimes be accessed earlier if certain criteria are met regarding financial hardship.

83 – The average life expectancy in Australia is 82.9 years (2019)

38 – The average number of years of service before retiring (SA MFS Firefighter stats 2019)

63 – The average age of retirement is 62.6 (SA MFS Firefighter stats 2019)

20 – The number of years the average Firefighter will rely on superannuation for financial security after retirement. This is also correct as an average for exceptional Firefighters.

6 – The number of years that your super is expected to exceed your life expectancy if you retire at 67. (Australian Super Calculator)

0 – The number of years that your super is expected to exceed you life expectancy if you retire at 63. (Australian Super Calculator)

50 – The percentage of Firefighters starting in the 2021/22 financial year who are expected to run out of super during retirement if they retire at 63 and additional contributions are not made.

10 – The minimum superannuation payment percentage required by state and federal legislation. Note: federal legislation does not prevent higher amounts of superannuation being paid. In Tasmania, it is unclear if legislation allows for higher payments of superannuation and this should be changed so that the legislation clearly allows for higher superannuation to be negotiated in good faith.

Legislation and Useful Links

Public Sector Superannuation Reform Act 2016 (Tas)

Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992

Australian Super Calculator

A number of UFU members have expressed disappointment that they do not see their values reflected by the current group of Labor MPs. The Branch Committee of Management decided that this behavior needs to be called out and that the UFU would write a letter to the State Secretary of Tasmanian Labor and post this letter on our website.

The full letter is available here: http://ufutas.asn.au/site/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Worker-Values.pdf

Congratulations to those elected to the Branch Committee of Management (BCOM) and thank you to those of you who served during the previous term.

BCOM plays a crucial role in providing strategic direction for the UFU and ensuring that members are at the heart of every decision made.

Please find the 2021 BCOM Election Report here.

The Tasmanian Government is ripping millions from the Tasmania Fire Service budget.

Ratepayers should be angry.  Millions of dollars of the fire levy are being diverted away from firefighting.  This money is collected to provide community fire protection!

The budget strain on the Tasmania Fire Service is already impacting on public safety; fewer fire trucks, vital resources in storage, not enough firefighters.

Tell your MP it’s not good enough.  Insurance may rebuild your houses, but only firefighters save lives and homes.

Visit the Tasmania Fire Crisis web-site http://www.tasmaniafirecrisis.com/ and send a letter to your MP http://www.tasmaniafirecrisis.com/get-involved/write-to-your-mps/ [Read more…]