Support Fund for Firefighting Volunteers
Sorry if it seems I'm spamming you, but but I think this is a great idea and long overdue. In light of this recent bushfire crisis, over 2000 RFS volunteers, everyday people who do extraordinary things, lost pay, battled under gruelling conditions and put their lives on the line to help others. This petition is asking NSW premier Barry O'Farrell to set up a support fund to help RFS volunteers with things like rent and food if needed, when they lose pay to do the incredible and necessary job they do. I don't know if they have a fund like this in other states, but if not, then they should! These people do such a wonderful thing for the community and they shouldn't have to face hardship in return.
Here's the link to the petition:
https://www.change.org/en-AU/petitions/barry-o-farrell-set-up-a-support-fund-for-our-firefighters-who-ve-gone-without-to-fight-the-fires?alert_id=OjHRwUVjYZ_fLwdLTCpEl&utm_campaign=38361&utm_medium=email&utm_source=action_alert
You don't have to be an Australian to sign this and you may like to take action in your area for a similar fund if there isn't one already in place.
PS: The NSW government has now put into place an act to penalise employers who terminate the employment or institute financial penalties on volunteers while they are engaged in essential emergency service work. They can also force the reinstatement of people who are sacked for this reason. I hope this also includes naming and shaming the businesses and companies who do this, which would be another deterrent, especially for bigger companies who laugh at piddling fines.
NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell and Minister for Emergency Services Michael Gallacher today announced the NSW Government has put in place legal protections to ensure emergency services volunteers involved in current bush fire fighting operations are not penalised by their employer for giving up their time.
“We have had an early start to the fire season and the scale of yesterday’s bush fires is simply staggering,” Mr O’Farrell said.
“The NSW Government - and indeed every citizen of this state - is deeply grateful to the volunteer and salaried firefighters involved in protecting the lives and property of others across NSW.
“Without the help of the thousands of volunteers we would not be able to effectively fight fires around the state.
“That is why the NSW Government is today taking steps to provide employment protections to these volunteers during this bush fire emergency.
“Today I have signed an order ensuring volunteers who participate in operations relating to the current bush fires will be protected from victimisation by their employers.
“I praise the vast majority of employers who do the right thing by granting emergency services volunteers leave from their regular employment while they are deployed on operations.
“Sadly, there have been cases in the past where a small minority of volunteers have been subjected to victimisation by an employer, through the loss of their employment or some other penalty such as a financial penalty.
“That is unacceptable - and this order triggers an offence meaning an employer can be fined if they are found to have taken negative action against a volunteer and allows a court to make directions, including that a sacked worker be reinstated.
"While most employers support their employees' service to the community, this order is designed to give our volunteers peace of mind that their regular job is safe while they are involved in essential emergency service work.”
Mr Gallacher has paid tribute to all firefighters who are involved in the current operations around NSW.
“We depend on volunteer organisations such as the Rural Fire Service and the State Emergency Service to protect our lives and property during natural disasters,” Mr Gallacher said.
“These brave men and women respond to emergencies 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
“The NSW Government is granting these protections to the volunteers so they can carry on this essential work - without fear that they will be penalised by their employers.”
Here's the link to the petition:
https://www.change.org/en-AU/petitions/barry-o-farrell-set-up-a-support-fund-for-our-firefighters-who-ve-gone-without-to-fight-the-fires?alert_id=OjHRwUVjYZ_fLwdLTCpEl&utm_campaign=38361&utm_medium=email&utm_source=action_alert
You don't have to be an Australian to sign this and you may like to take action in your area for a similar fund if there isn't one already in place.
PS: The NSW government has now put into place an act to penalise employers who terminate the employment or institute financial penalties on volunteers while they are engaged in essential emergency service work. They can also force the reinstatement of people who are sacked for this reason. I hope this also includes naming and shaming the businesses and companies who do this, which would be another deterrent, especially for bigger companies who laugh at piddling fines.
NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell and Minister for Emergency Services Michael Gallacher today announced the NSW Government has put in place legal protections to ensure emergency services volunteers involved in current bush fire fighting operations are not penalised by their employer for giving up their time.
“We have had an early start to the fire season and the scale of yesterday’s bush fires is simply staggering,” Mr O’Farrell said.
“The NSW Government - and indeed every citizen of this state - is deeply grateful to the volunteer and salaried firefighters involved in protecting the lives and property of others across NSW.
“Without the help of the thousands of volunteers we would not be able to effectively fight fires around the state.
“That is why the NSW Government is today taking steps to provide employment protections to these volunteers during this bush fire emergency.
“Today I have signed an order ensuring volunteers who participate in operations relating to the current bush fires will be protected from victimisation by their employers.
“I praise the vast majority of employers who do the right thing by granting emergency services volunteers leave from their regular employment while they are deployed on operations.
“Sadly, there have been cases in the past where a small minority of volunteers have been subjected to victimisation by an employer, through the loss of their employment or some other penalty such as a financial penalty.
“That is unacceptable - and this order triggers an offence meaning an employer can be fined if they are found to have taken negative action against a volunteer and allows a court to make directions, including that a sacked worker be reinstated.
"While most employers support their employees' service to the community, this order is designed to give our volunteers peace of mind that their regular job is safe while they are involved in essential emergency service work.”
Mr Gallacher has paid tribute to all firefighters who are involved in the current operations around NSW.
“We depend on volunteer organisations such as the Rural Fire Service and the State Emergency Service to protect our lives and property during natural disasters,” Mr Gallacher said.
“These brave men and women respond to emergencies 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
“The NSW Government is granting these protections to the volunteers so they can carry on this essential work - without fear that they will be penalised by their employers.”