Industrial Relations Commission makes an Award in relation to FBEU industrial action

Published: 21st June 2012

The following statement can be attributed to a Fire & Rescue NSW spokesperson.

Fire & Rescue NSW (FRNSW) welcomes a ruling from the Industrial Relations Commission (IRC) that will ensure minimum staffing levels are maintained.

The IRC today made an interim award to ensure that communication centres, specialist areas and fire trucks are staffed.

The IRC ruling means that:

  • all Communication Centres must be fully staffed
  • Rescue, Aerial and Hazardous Material (Hazmat) stations must be fully staffed
  • Retained stations must be operationally ready for emergency responses
  • Executive Officers must be available for duty.

This prevents the FBEU and firefighters from taking further industrial or stop work action in any of these vital areas. It applies for the next three months, from 21 June to 21 September 2012.

All permanent firefighters and executive officers in the above vital centres, and all retained firefighters, were required to return to normal duties immediately.

FRNSW welcomes the IRC decision.

The FBEU has agreed to abide by the IRC ruling and firefighters have returned to work.