News - United Professional Firefighters Union

𝐁𝐮𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐩𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐬, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐧𝐨 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐮𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬The message is quite simple. @walabor aren't prioritising public safety by sacrificing the Career Fire and Rescue Service.Your Career Fire and Rescue Service is in a dire state - but nothing is being done to address the numerous issues that have reached crisis level. Time to start funding the Career Fire and Rescue Service instead of fighting it.#fightingforyoursafety#FightingForOurFuture ... See MoreSee Less

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United Firefighters Union of Western Australia

2 weeks ago

"The strongest economy in the nation. The eighth straight surplus. Triple-A credit ratings."WA Labor are doing nothing but singing their own praises, even though they left no room in their 2025-26 budget for fair and appropriate enterprise bargaining with the Career Fire and Rescue Service.Coming to the negotiations table with a smaller than necessary funding envelope, our members were told that their expectations for fair wages and conditions parity were too high - that it was unrealistic for them to expect equality in base rates, leave loading, parental leave etc. Upon us now is yet another budget that fails to address long term shortcomings when it comes to funding the Career Fire and Rescue Service. From health and wellness to basic, core business elements - like minimum staffing levels - the service is failing the community and the members that compose it. WA Labor are now planning to spend millions in arbitration fighting the Career Fire and Rescue Service instead of funding it. For a Government so gleeful to report eight consecutive budget surpluses, its baffling that the Career Fire and Rescue Service was repeatedly told that there's no money available to properly fund it during year long enterprise negotiations.The reality is that this is a matter of priorities and @walabor do not see WA's Fire and Emergency Services as a priority. More specifically, WA Labor does not value the important role of the Career Fire and Rescue Service in protecting lives, property and the environment, nor is it willing to prioritise the health, wellbeing, professional growth, wages or conditions of the people that compose the service. It's time WA Labor reassess their priorities. The Funding Needs to Start. The Fighting Needs to Stop.#FightingForOurFuture #FightingForYourSafety ... See MoreSee Less

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United Firefighters Union of Western Australia

2 weeks ago

Thank you Sophie McNeill for your ongoing support and advocacy. WA's Career Fire and Rescue Service needs championship like this more than ever as morale continues to deteriorate, the staffing crisis continues, medical retirements persistently rise and conditions remain horrendously inappropriate.It's time to fund the Career Fire and Rescue Service, not fight it. Do better WA Labor ... See MoreSee Less

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United Firefighters Union of Western Australia

2 weeks ago

𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐮𝐩 𝐧𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭The Department of Fire and Emergency Services WA and WA Labor are planning to spend millions fighting WA's Career Fire and Rescue Service in arbitration, instead of working with us to find solutions for incredibly low base wages, poor conditions, concerning health and safety trends, problematic consultation processes, inadequate rank structures and professional development, terrible workplace morale, and the worst staffing crisis we've ever seen.Regardless of the lack of support, value and care our members continue to experience from their employer and the WA Government, they continue to show up every day to protect WA's communities.From the moment you ring 000; our members in the Communications Centre are there to help you. Whenever a volunteer brigade, group or unit requires their managers (such as Area Officers or District Officers); our members are there for them. When builders and home owners need assistance from built environment branch; our members answer the call. Whenever there is an accidental fire to investigate, a training course to run at the academy or in the regions, a school needs an educational visit, aerial support is required, or an emergency unfolds generally; our members are there for WA.It's time for the Department of Fire and Emergency Services WA and WA Labor to be there for our members so that they can continue to be there for you. The fighting needs to stop and the funding needs to start... Before it's too late.📸Thanks to Rhys Hughes from @westaussie_photography for these images.#fightingforyoursafety#FightingForOurFuture ... See MoreSee Less

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United Firefighters Union of Western Australia

2 weeks ago

𝑰𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝑭𝒊𝒓𝒆𝒇𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔' 𝑫𝒂𝒚Firefighters dedicate their lives to the protection of life, property and the environment. This dedication comes in many forms, be it full-time work in the industry, seasonal or retained service, or in a volunteer capacity. Regardless, all risk the sacrifice of a firefighter's health, wellbeing and life.Today we recognise and honour the sacrifices that firefighters make to ensure the safety of their communities. We acknowledge current and past firefighters for their contributions, and remember those we have lost in the line of duty.Thank you to our members, the Career Fire and Rescue Firefighters of Western Australia, as well as those that compose WA's Volunteer Fire Services, Parks and Wildlife Service, Aviation Rescue and Firefighting, Ventia Firefighters (Defence) and every other firefighter across Australia and the world.Bushfire Volunteers WA Volunteer Fire & Rescue Services Association of WA Inc Volunteer Fire & Emergency Services Association - WA Parks and Wildlife Service, Western Australia United Firefighters Union Aviation Branch United Firefighters Union of Australia ... See MoreSee Less

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United Firefighters Union of Western Australia

3 weeks ago

FIRE station staffing shortages has reached chronic levels according to new figures recently released in state Parliament.Read the full story - echonewspaper.com.au/news/fire-truck-staffing-shortages/ ... See MoreSee Less

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United Firefighters Union of Western Australia

4 weeks ago

𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐈𝐒Hon Rob Horstman MLC highlighted the ongoing staffing crisis impacting WA's Career Fire and Rescue Service in Parliament recently, which led to Secretary John Marsh speaking with 6PR Perth's Jamie Burnett last week.This is not a new issue. We've been raising concerns for years. To date, the Department of Fire and Emergency Services WA and WA Labor continue to allow WA's Career Fire and Rescue Service to descend deeper and deeper into a workforce crisis that features appalling morale, significant health concerns, poor conditions, staffing limitations, and an increasing risk to both Firefighter and community safety.That's why we are Fighting for Our Future and the safety of WA's communities.But the Fighting Needs to Stop.#fightingforyoursafety#FightingForOurFuture ... See MoreSee Less

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United Firefighters Union of Western Australia

4 weeks ago

Pausing today to remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.We acknowledge all who have served our nation, be it through conflict or war, times of national emergency, during peacetime more broadly, or through other operations.🌹Lest we forget🌹 ... See MoreSee Less

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United Firefighters Union of Western Australia

4 weeks ago

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐮𝐦-𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐛𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐱𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐤 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭.These incidents are complex, hazardous, resource-intensive and dangerous. They involve toxic smoke, unpredictable fire behaviour and long-duration operations, placing firefighters and the community at greater risk. The Maddington fire involved about 80 tonnes of lithium-ion solid-state batteries, with crews forced to shift tactics to protect firefighter safety. DFES also warns lithium-ion battery fires are increasing and can involve thermal runaway, intense fire and toxic gases.Firefighters have been raising awareness with DFES, Government and Members of Parliament that these threats are growing and that preparedness, staffing, equipment and capability must keep pace.Instead, too often the answer is delay, inaction, or that WA “doesn’t have the money”.The risk does not wait for the budget. It exists regardless. Once again, firefighters are left to manage the consequences of a system that has not kept pace with the danger.That's why we have been Fighting For Your Safety and the Future of Our Members.And the Fighting Needs to Stop.#FightingForYourSafety#FightingForOurFuture ... See MoreSee Less

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United Firefighters Union of Western Australia

1 month ago

𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝟑𝐫𝐝 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐦 𝐇𝐀𝐙𝐌𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭Career Firefighters from Bunbury 1st and 2nd are currently in attendance at a 3rd Alarm Hazardous Materials incident alongside volunteers from Bunbury Volunteer Fire & Rescue Service (Bunbury 3rd). Bunbury 2nd, however, started today's 10 hour dayshift without a full crew, and is currently operating on Restricted Duties, meaning those in attendance - both Career and Volunteer - are now needing to operate with limited personnel and below the Department of Fire and Emergency Services WA's own minimum standards for the WA Career Fire and Rescue Service.This staffing CRISIS has now impacted Firefighter and Community Safety for years, but WA Labor and the Department of Fire and Emergency Services WA continue not to deliver any tangible solutions.We're having to Fight for Community Safety and Our Future. And the Fighting Needs to Stop.#FightingForYourSafety #FightingForOurFuture ... See MoreSee Less

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