Steps taken to snuff out firefighters' protest
South African wildland fire fighters getting ready for biggest international deployment in history 301 Fire fighters and management from the South African Working on Fire programme have started to assemble in Johannesburg, Gauteng, from where they will be flying to Alberta, Canada, on Sunday, 29 May 2016, (06H00) to assist the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC) with their wildland fire suppression efforts.This deployment of wildland fire fighters is the biggest South African deployment ever (outside of the army) to assist a foreign country. South African fire fighters from Working on Fire at a recent training camp before departure to Canada South African wildland fire fighters getting ready for biggest international deployment in history 301 Fire fighters and management from the South African Working on Fire programme have started to assemble in Johannesburg, Gauteng, from where they will be flying to Alberta, Canada, on Sunday, 29 May 2016, (06H00) to assist the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC) with their wildland fire suppression efforts.This deployment of wildland fire fighters is the biggest South African deployment ever (outside of the army) to assist a foreign country. South African fire fighters from Working on Fire at a recent training camp before departure to Canada
Johannesburg - A mediator and a diplomat are negotiating with disgruntled South African firefighters in Canada after Water and Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa instructed them to resolve a strike caused by a pay dispute.
The firefighters were supposed to have returned to South Africa on Sunday, but according to reports from Canada, many had refused to board the flight back, insisting their pay dispute be resolved first.
The Department of Environmental Affairs announced on Sunday that Working on Fire (WoF) mediator Trevor Abrahams had been instructed to join the South African high commissioner in Canada, Membathisi Mdladlana, in addressing the firefighters.
Reports indicated that the 301 firefighters downed tools last week, a few days after they had started assisting with battling a massive blaze in Fort McMurray, Alberta.
WoF indicated that media reports about a salary increase for the firefighters and speculation about their hourly rate had caused confusion and led to the dispute.
Molewa’s move came soon after WoF sent three senior managers to Canada on Thursday night to bring the firefighters home.
But departmental spokesman Albi Modise said they hoped they would be able to make a deal with the firefighters and convince them to continue their role as part of the group of 2 000 who were fighting the fire.
“(Abrahams) went there to broker a deal that (the issue) will be resolved in a satisfactory manner, failing which they would have to be demobilised and return back to South Africa.”
It was unclear at the time of publication whether negotiations had been successful.
The team of firefighters made international headlines last month and were hailed as heroes as footage emerged of them singing and dancing in their bright yellow uniforms after they landed in Canada.
Modise said the department had been placed in a tricky situation because, although WoF was a government agency, the deal had been made directly between WoF and its Canadian counterparts.
“What we have learnt from this is we need to have a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between South Africa and Canada to create a template to guide the country-to-country agreements, so that if you have any challenges, you could deal with it within guidance found in the MOU,” he said.
Media reports stating that the firefighters had received a salary increase of C$21 (R246) an hour were believed to have caused the dispute.
WoF stated that according to an agreement signed by the firefighters, Canadian authorities would cover their boarding, food and transport costs.
“Each firefighter received a stipend of C$15 for discretionary purchases. In addition, after their return to South Africa, each firefighter will receive an out-of-country allowance equivalent to C$35 per day,” said WoF.
Alberta Premier Rachel Notley allegedly also expressed concern that the South African firefighters were earning C$4 an hour, while the minimum wage in her province was C$11.20.
The South African Municipal Workers Union on Sunday expressed its support for the firefighters.
“We commend these workers for having taken a strong and decisive stance against their employer’s exploitation,” it said. – Additional reporting by Quinton Mtyala