TASMANIAN INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION

Industrial Relations Act 1984
s.29 application for hearing of industrial dispute

Minister Administering the State Service Act 2000
(T13130 of 2008)

and

United Firefighters Union of Tasmania

Industrial dispute – industrial action concerning Tasmanian Fire Service, Fire Equipment Division - recommendation

RECOMMENDATION

 
[1] On 23 April 2008 the Commission conducted a hearing, together with various conciliation conferences, in relation to an s.29 dispute notification from the Minister Administering the State Service Act 2000 (the Minister).

[2] The subject matter of the notification was stated as “Employees, Members of the United Firefighters Union of Tasmania, employed within the Fire Equipment Division of the Tasmania Fire Service are refusing to undertake duties in the workshop environment that are consistent with their Statement of Duties and as their obligations as an employee.”.

[3] Mr R Warwick appeared for the United Firefighters Union of Tasmania (the UFU), with Mr J McDonald; Ms R Pearce appeared for the Minister, with Mr D Killalea and Mr A Lyons.

[4] At the conclusion of the conference on the above date the Commission stated that, as a result of the Minister and the UFU agreeing to specific undertakings to progress the matter, it would issue a recommendation in the following terms:

I hereby recommend that the United Firefighters Union of Tasmania lift all bans and limitations concerning the undertaking of duties in the workshop environment forthwith.

[5] This matter will continue by way of inspections to be arranged between the parties and the Commission.  At the conclusion of inspections the parties to be advised of the time and date for a further hearing/conference.

James P McAlpine
Commissioner

Appearances:
Mr R Warwick for the United Firefighters Union of Tasmania, with Mr J McDonald
Ms R Pearce for the Minister, with Mr D Killalea and Mr A Lyons

Date and Place of Hearing:
2008
April 23
Hobart