The Union and the Fire Service have met on 5 days in Collective Agreement negotiations.

The Union was represented by Ian Wright, Peter Nicolle, Athol Conway, Steve Warner and Derek Best.

The Fire Service was represented by Ian Pickard, Bill Butzbach, Russell Wood and Vince Arbuckle.

Some progress was made on a number of issues. These include the development of a comprehensive separate Part for Black Watch workers (Fire Safety, VSOs and Training).

However, any settlement has to be considered in the context of a package deal. The Union’s negotiating team sees there are significant differences between the Union’s
position and that of the Fire Service after the 5 days, particularly regarding:

• The level of wage increase offered – both in the first year and subsequent years;
• The length of term of any renewed agreement.

The Committee will shortly be comprehensively considering the respective positions of the parties and once this is completed, full information will be able to be provided to members, along with appropriate recommendations.

Members should remember that any renewed Collective Agreement requires ratification by members.

ELECTIONS – PRESIDENT

Thus far, there has been a good return of Ballot Papers to the Union office. Members who have not completed their Ballot Papers and posted them off must do so in time for them to be received in the office by 7 July 2006.

POSITIVE PRESSURE VENTILATION

The Union is aware of the development of a Tactical P.P.V. Manual, subsequent training programmes, and the intended roll-out of the use of an aggressive P.P.V. firefighting
approach.

The Union has serious concerns about all of this, related to both a lack of Union input into the development process and details within the programme. The Union has raised
these concerns directly with the Chief Executive/National Commander.

Until members are advised that the Union has had its concerns properly addressed, members are recommended to have no involvement in any PPV programme.