Code Red – LSV dispute breakthrough, bans lifted from 1800 hours.

October 22, 2011

Correspondance today between the Union and the Department has resulted in a breakthrough in the current dispute over the LSV Staffing arrangement. The staffing arrangements for the LSVs are to revert to the position agreed between the parties in February 2010 as a part of the settlement of the Waratah dispute.

 

Consequently all bans enacted in the Code Red notices of October 20 & 21 are to be lifted at 1800 hours today, Saturday 22 October.

 

More information will follow over the coming days.

 

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all members who have held fast through this dispute – particularly: the Union’s State Committee, Sub-Branch executives, and Station Delegates; those directed to respond with less than safe minimum crewing who refused to do so; those Senior Officers who refused to issue such instructions; and Comms operators who worked particularly hard to keep everything running.

 

Our unity in the face of considerable provocation has led to this result.

 

In solidarity,

 

Jim Casey

State Secretary

We just won this dispute.

The commissioner agreed to call the war off, and honour the agreement.

The negatives

– This was a waste of everyone’s time and energy, by a Government Dept who are clearly rudderless.

– The community was put at risk, firefighters were put at risk, and threatened for not following illegal orders.

– If the Commissioner had agreed to our correspondence over the last few weeks, none of this would have occurred.

Positives

– Comrade State Secretary, myself and the entire FBEU State Committee tested our resolve as a leadership body, in what was the most contentious dispute in the Union’s recent history.

– You, our members mobilised better than could have been thought. Communication on all forms, was outstanding.

– Our emplyer showed their true colours, and FBEU members, of all political persuasions, joined together to oppose decisions that were clearly wrong, and clearly dangerous. In other words, the dispute united all FBEU members.