CODE 2, VOL 34, NO 17 : 06 april 2020

QFRS IS NOT QFES!

I am getting reports from UFUQ representatives across all regions of inconsistent consultation with you and your elected representatives relating to COVID19 and its effect on BAU.  To be fair, I have heard of a few very good examples of consultation occurring, but also of course, we all know of some examples of total refusal to consult in areas where dinosaurs still roam.

Your union has made it clear to all management that we will be involved in, be consulted on, and have capacity to change decisions being made (including about how Fire and Rescue handle COVID19 responses).

We have also made clear the position of the UFUQ that vital safety and operational messaging intended for you and your colleagues in Fire and Rescue, coming from One QFES and being buried somewhere in the ‘portal’ is a dangerous mistake.  Unfortunately, there are some within the One QFES that are only interested in sending out ‘One QFES' style messages, that are written for all but apply to none.

This corporate approach to giving operational direction is embarrassing and disrespectful to each and every one of you, and it’s an approach that was rightly abandoned by the previous Commissioner Katarina Carroll. 

Queensland Fire and Rescue Service MUST now take a lead on this and provide some clear, direct and relevant instruction. Your instructions MUST be developed by people who actually know what they’re talking about and not by some who like to pretend and play dress ups in a uniform they’ve never earned.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services only exists as a corporate support structure that is to provide support to Queensland Fire and Rescue Service, thus allowing firefighters and fire communication officers to do their jobs. We need to remember that and they need to accept that.

You proudly work for QUEENSLAND FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE and it’s time Fire and Rescue stood up to be seen and heard. 

2020 EASTER PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

I wish to remind all members that the public holiday dates for the Easter period for 2020 are as follows –

Good Friday
Friday, 10 April 2020

The day after Good Friday (Easter Saturday)
Saturday, 11 April 2020

Easter Sunday
Sunday, 12 April 2020

Easter Monday
Monday, 13 April 2020


As always, the public holiday provisions and arrangements relevant to your work situation and roster will apply for each of these days.

Given the problems we have seen with the Aurion payroll transition, there is the possibility that errors may be made by QFES and/or Queensland Shared Services (QSS) in regards to your wages for the Easter period. 

If an error is made, in the first instance, please ensure you raise the issue with your regional HR contact and email the details of your issue, and any evidence you can provide, to 
QFESPayrollProject@qfes.qld.gov.au as soon as possible.

If an issue remains unresolved, subsequent to contacting regional HR and ‘QFES Payroll Project’, please notify your local UFUQ representative for assistance.


If seeking assistance, please ensure you provide your local UFUQ representative with the appropriate evidence for your claim, including the reasons provided to you by HR and/or ‘QFES Payroll Project’ (preferably in writing) as to why your claim has not been accepted.

REMINDER: UFUQ HOTSPOT APP – TIME TO DOWNLOAD OR UPDATE!

During this unprecedented period of disruption to normal business as usual, it is more important than ever that you maintain contact with your union.

As such, I would like to remind members to either install or update your UFUQ HOTSPOT app on your smart phone. All communications for the foreseeable future will be published to your emails, and to the app, and ensuring the app is installed and/or updated will allow you to have access to all information your state office puts out.

For current users:
Due to updates, can you please log in or open your app to allow new updates to be loaded.

Please ensure that you have notifications turned on for the app.

For new users:
Please follow these instructions to access the UFUQ app.

1. Go to your app store icon on your iPhone or Android device and type in the search menu “UFUQ hotspot”.

2. Download the app to your phone.

3. Enter your username (badge number) and password (1234).

Please ensure that you have notifications turned on for the app.

John Oliver - General Secretary

 

 

Authorised by John Oliver General Secretary 
United Firefighters' Union of Australia, Union of Employees QLD