ca19 update 13

6th November 2019

Your agreement certified by QIRC

I am pleased to report that the hearing for your agreement application was held at 9:00AM Wednesday 6 November 2019 at the industrial commission.

Following a brief hearing, the QIRC certified the new agreement to commence with an operative date 6th November 2019

This means all the content of the new CA19 is applicable to your employment from that date (6th November 2019). 

It also means that you are likely to receive the new pay rates you are entitled to (an increase of 2.5%) by the November 21 payday and the backpay of your 2.5% increase should be paid to you on the December 19 payday (these are the dates QSS and QFES have reported to your union that they are working towards and I make the point that they are not yet confirmed).

There is much new content in this new agreement and over the next 6 months both your union and QFES will be working through the applicability of the new content, along with developing the Safe Crewing Task Force terms of reference and commencing developing and implementing the new policies listed in the agreement.

I will keep providing CA19 updates as these matters kick off and are worked through, as certification and commencement are only one step in the journey of the life of this new agreement.

I take this opportunity to thank all those members who attended meetings, contributed ideas and assisted the industrial team in the state office throughout the past 12 months it has taken to reach this point.  There is much work to be done and I look forward to your continuing contributions to ensuring you and your colleagues obtain and maintain the best possible terms and conditions of employment. 

Much of the work we are doing now is helping to ensure the young firefighters and fire communication officers coming into their roles  are able to enjoy the same standards of employment you have enjoyed for many years.  This strength is only possible through continued strong union membership and your ongoing membership of and engagement with your union.  We are all working together to keep yours as one of the best jobs in Queensland, despite what some in the QFES circus think they’d like to cut and slash from your working lives.  We will grow stronger together and this certified agreement is only one part of that continued strength.

As soon as the QIRC provides your union with a copy of the decision and a certified copy of the new agreement, I will place them on the UFUQ website and provide you with a download link.

John Oliver - General Secretary