Statement from Leighton Drury, NSW State Secretary, Fire Brigade Employees Union:
“The FBEU has been negotiating with Fire and Rescue NSW since October 2019. The unprecedented fire season and national emergency has delayed the progress of our negotiations as our members’ focus has been on fighting fires and keeping the community safe.”
“The FBEU and its members have been very restrained in what we have been seeking from the government. We have only asked for what the rest of the public sector has received—the standard government 2.5% annual wage increase—but the NSW government will not even agree to this.”
“The government’s attitude is an indication of how little value they place on the work of firefighters, who on a daily basis are exposed to toxic chemicals and are at a severely high risk of experiencing post-traumatic stress and other health-related problems.”
/Public Release. View in full here.
