Negotiations continue with striking firefighters in Canada
JOHANNEBURG – Government steps into the pay dispute with firefighters in Canada.
The Department of Environmental Affairs Minister, Edna Molewa has sent a senior official from Working on Fire (WoF), Trevor Abraham, to help resolve a dispute over salaries with striking firefighters in Canada.
The 301 firefighters were deployed to Canada to assist with firefighting efforts in Northern Alberta.
The firefighters were deployed on 29 May and downed their tools last week Thursday over alleged disputes over salaries.
Media reports suggest that the firefighters heard that they were being paid way less than their Canadian counterparts were being paid.
On 10 June, Working on Fire released a statement which highlighted that the firefighters knew and agreed on salaries that they were to be paid. “We always agree with our firefighters when going on deployments of this nature and in this instance, formal contracts were signed.”
The South African Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) has also issued a statement and said it fully supports the work stoppage by the firefighters. “We commend these workers for having taken a strong and decisive stance against their employer’s exploitation,” read the statement.
The Department of Environmental Affairs has committed to continue engaging directly with the implementing agent, WoF personnel and with the Canadian government on the conditions under which South African firefighters are deployed both now and in future.
Working on Fire is part of the government’s Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) which aims to create job opportunities for South Africans who cannot find work, enabling them to gain skills and increase their capacity to earn an income, and to enter the formal workplace.
This is a developing story. Updates to follow.
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