Forty-eight firefighters attached to Working on Fire (WoF) Limpopo have returned home from Canada where they were to assist in the suppression of wild fires raging in the Alberta province since May. They were part of a contingent of 301 WoF firefighters recently deployed for the task.
Following a reported wage dispute and strike for better pay by the South African firefighters the group arrived back in the country on Tuesday.
Linton Rensburg, National Communications Manager for WoF confirmed that all firefighters are back but could not give further details on the wage disputes.
A media statement released by the Department of Environmental Affairs quoted Minister Edna Molewa to have said that WoF mediator Trevor Abrahams had been dispatched to Canada to assist in resolving the wage dispute between the management of the implementing agent, WoF and a team of firefighters.
According to the statement Abrahams, a high level management team from WoF and South African High Commissioner to Canada Membathisi Mdladlana met with the firefighters to address their concerns.
“Their engagement was aimed at ensuring that through negotiations there is a normalisation of the situation and resolution to their dispute so that the firefighters continue with their deployment to suppress wildfires in the Canadian state of Alberta or return safely home owing to change of weather conditions where it started raining heavily.
“The mediation regarding continuation of the suppression of fire was no longer necessary owing to weather conditions in both Fort McMurray and Edmonton where it has been raining heavily, and therefore meaning that the number of international fire fighters from other countries had to return home,” the statement read.
“We remain immensely proud of our well-trained firefighters who have done excellent work over a number of years, which has been recognised by the international fire fighting community. We call upon the nation not to condemn the fire fighters.
“Condemning them for disappointing us can only demoralise them despite their successful track-record. Upon their arrival at home, we will engage with them to adopt appropriate mechanisms through which they could raise any legitimate concerns in future, should they have any,” Molewa reportedly said.
Story: Herbert Rachuene
>>herbert@mailbox.co.za
