1
00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:02,120
Speaker 1: So we know that there has been some movement when

2
00:00:02,160 --> 00:00:06,279
Speaker 1: it comes to the public service pay negotiations with unions

3
00:00:06,400 --> 00:00:11,039
Speaker 1: for police and correctional officers giving in principal agreement to EBAs.

4
00:00:11,119 --> 00:00:14,640
Speaker 1: But it's a different story for firefighters with their negotiations

5
00:00:14,680 --> 00:00:17,479
Speaker 1: heating up from what we're told. Now, joining us on

6
00:00:17,520 --> 00:00:19,400
Speaker 1: the line to tell us a little bit more is

7
00:00:19,520 --> 00:00:23,160
Speaker 1: union's anti secretary Erina Early. Good morning to you.

8
00:00:24,200 --> 00:00:26,319
Speaker 2: Good morning, Katie, How are you not too bad?

9
00:00:26,360 --> 00:00:28,840
Speaker 1: Thanks so much for your time this morning. Now, what's

10
00:00:28,880 --> 00:00:33,159
Speaker 1: the latest on negotiations for well, from your perspective, for

11
00:00:33,200 --> 00:00:34,879
Speaker 1: the police and correction staff.

12
00:00:36,320 --> 00:00:40,519
Speaker 2: Okay, so with corrections, they have an in principal agreement

13
00:00:40,560 --> 00:00:43,559
Speaker 2: and all be going out to formal vote on Monday,

14
00:00:43,720 --> 00:00:48,400
Speaker 2: which is fantastic news for correctional officers because as you know,

15
00:00:48,440 --> 00:00:51,559
Speaker 2: they've been campaigning for a good couple of years. They

16
00:00:51,600 --> 00:00:54,160
Speaker 2: were the first to walk off and they've been standing

17
00:00:54,160 --> 00:00:57,240
Speaker 2: with all the other public sector workers as well. So

18
00:00:57,680 --> 00:01:01,880
Speaker 2: finally the government listened and provide an enterprise agreement which

19
00:01:01,920 --> 00:01:03,279
Speaker 2: they're very very happy with.

20
00:01:03,720 --> 00:01:06,760
Speaker 1: That is good to hear. So formal vote on Monday

21
00:01:06,880 --> 00:01:08,160
Speaker 1: for correctional staff.

22
00:01:09,160 --> 00:01:12,080
Speaker 2: Yeah, so it goes at the process starts Monday, Katie,

23
00:01:12,360 --> 00:01:14,360
Speaker 2: and they've got a week then to have a look

24
00:01:14,360 --> 00:01:16,840
Speaker 2: at the enterprise agreement and then you'll have the ballot.

25
00:01:16,959 --> 00:01:19,559
Speaker 2: So we've still got about a fortnight away before it's

26
00:01:19,600 --> 00:01:20,640
Speaker 2: completely approved.

27
00:01:20,760 --> 00:01:23,120
Speaker 1: So Erina, what were some of the sticking points and

28
00:01:23,160 --> 00:01:26,160
Speaker 1: what sort of got the correctional officers or got you know,

29
00:01:26,160 --> 00:01:28,520
Speaker 1: I got the union over the line in terms of

30
00:01:28,560 --> 00:01:31,760
Speaker 1: getting it to that vote to the to the vote now.

31
00:01:33,160 --> 00:01:35,560
Speaker 2: So as you know, Katie, So we had about the

32
00:01:35,600 --> 00:01:39,560
Speaker 2: safe staffing levels with the officers to make sure that

33
00:01:40,760 --> 00:01:44,479
Speaker 2: you know, they had minimum officers ratio inside the prison.

34
00:01:44,840 --> 00:01:47,720
Speaker 2: That was a really big claim for them. So that

35
00:01:47,920 --> 00:01:51,120
Speaker 2: was achieved. So we came to an agreement on that one.

36
00:01:51,400 --> 00:01:54,920
Speaker 2: Also too about the wage increase. We wanted to do

37
00:01:55,120 --> 00:01:58,480
Speaker 2: sure that corrections is you know, one of them the

38
00:01:58,560 --> 00:02:02,560
Speaker 2: top bracket for the high paid officers in Australia because

39
00:02:02,600 --> 00:02:05,160
Speaker 2: they were heading down to the lowest. Now they're back

40
00:02:05,160 --> 00:02:08,519
Speaker 2: in the top three, which is fantastic. And also to

41
00:02:09,080 --> 00:02:14,040
Speaker 2: recognition for them in regards to workers conflict they're assaulted

42
00:02:14,200 --> 00:02:17,640
Speaker 2: or dealing with post traumatic stress, et cetera. Having that

43
00:02:17,680 --> 00:02:20,680
Speaker 2: recognition that they will get ways top up and a crew,

44
00:02:20,760 --> 00:02:24,440
Speaker 2: annual leave, et cetera. All right, the retention for Alice

45
00:02:24,440 --> 00:02:25,880
Speaker 2: Springs offices, and.

46
00:02:25,919 --> 00:02:28,320
Speaker 1: So because that's been a big sticking point, hasn't it,

47
00:02:28,400 --> 00:02:30,560
Speaker 1: you know, making sure that there's enough staff as well,

48
00:02:30,600 --> 00:02:33,040
Speaker 1: and they've got those staffing levels that they need in

49
00:02:33,160 --> 00:02:35,720
Speaker 1: order to feel safe and for prisoners to be safe too.

50
00:02:36,720 --> 00:02:39,160
Speaker 2: Absolutely absolutely came now, where are.

51
00:02:39,040 --> 00:02:43,120
Speaker 1: Things that for firefighters because I understand, well, we've certainly

52
00:02:43,160 --> 00:02:47,240
Speaker 1: seen some writing on trucks as part of well the

53
00:02:47,280 --> 00:02:50,480
Speaker 1: protected industrial action or does that fall under the protected

54
00:02:50,520 --> 00:02:51,320
Speaker 1: industrial action?

55
00:02:52,960 --> 00:02:55,680
Speaker 2: Yes, it does, say so. As you know, the fire

56
00:02:55,720 --> 00:02:58,480
Speaker 2: even been in protected action for a little while as well.

57
00:02:58,880 --> 00:03:02,000
Speaker 2: But they can't walk off the job because they are

58
00:03:02,040 --> 00:03:06,520
Speaker 2: emergency services. So they've been engaging, like wearing their colorful

59
00:03:06,919 --> 00:03:11,679
Speaker 2: union shirt, but and other things where they can join rallies, etc.

60
00:03:12,040 --> 00:03:15,320
Speaker 2: And they're doing like emails, pictures on their emails, exchange

61
00:03:15,360 --> 00:03:17,320
Speaker 2: to the public. But the big one at the moment

62
00:03:17,919 --> 00:03:23,280
Speaker 2: is writing non permanent stuff onto the trucks at the moment.

63
00:03:24,000 --> 00:03:26,480
Speaker 1: And so I suppose for some people out there listening,

64
00:03:26,520 --> 00:03:29,040
Speaker 1: they might be hearing that and thinking that that sounds

65
00:03:29,080 --> 00:03:34,239
Speaker 1: like vandalism. Are there issues around that sort of being criminal?

66
00:03:34,280 --> 00:03:37,560
Speaker 1: Behavior or are they actually allowed to do it.

67
00:03:38,400 --> 00:03:40,640
Speaker 2: They're actually allowed to do it. It's been approved by

68
00:03:40,640 --> 00:03:43,600
Speaker 2: the Fair Work Commission. There's actually case law on it

69
00:03:43,640 --> 00:03:46,680
Speaker 2: because you would have seen in Victorian Ambulance and a

70
00:03:46,680 --> 00:03:48,920
Speaker 2: few of the other ambulances even in the NT and

71
00:03:49,000 --> 00:03:51,640
Speaker 2: around the country they all do it as well, So

72
00:03:51,680 --> 00:03:55,000
Speaker 2: there is actually case law to support it. Because it's

73
00:03:55,080 --> 00:03:56,400
Speaker 2: non permanent, it comes off.

74
00:03:56,680 --> 00:04:00,160
Speaker 1: Yeah right now, tell me as well, what's the sticking

75
00:04:00,240 --> 00:04:03,360
Speaker 1: point at this point for the fireries in their negotiations.

76
00:04:04,440 --> 00:04:07,920
Speaker 2: So with the fieries is recognition for them because as

77
00:04:07,960 --> 00:04:12,400
Speaker 2: you know, one in three firefighters will get cancer and

78
00:04:12,480 --> 00:04:15,160
Speaker 2: they're getting no support at all from the fire service

79
00:04:16,440 --> 00:04:19,440
Speaker 2: and no support from the government, and that recognition for them.

80
00:04:20,320 --> 00:04:22,760
Speaker 2: As you know, workers comp you don't accrue and you'll leave,

81
00:04:23,560 --> 00:04:26,560
Speaker 2: you get reduction of your wages after six months. You're

82
00:04:26,600 --> 00:04:30,320
Speaker 2: not going to recover from cancer after six months. So

83
00:04:30,480 --> 00:04:33,480
Speaker 2: that's a really big one to them. Also, their wages

84
00:04:34,120 --> 00:04:38,760
Speaker 2: are fieries in the NT now are basically the second

85
00:04:38,760 --> 00:04:41,240
Speaker 2: to lowest paid in Australia.

86
00:04:41,960 --> 00:04:45,960
Speaker 1: And so so taking all of that into account, I mean,

87
00:04:46,080 --> 00:04:49,039
Speaker 1: are things progressing as well for the firies? It doesn't

88
00:04:49,120 --> 00:04:52,720
Speaker 1: sound as though they are comparatively to the other unions

89
00:04:53,279 --> 00:04:55,440
Speaker 1: or to the other sorry, the other industry. Yeah.

90
00:04:56,360 --> 00:04:59,800
Speaker 2: No, the Fieries well basically have been quite hostile and

91
00:04:59,839 --> 00:05:02,800
Speaker 2: goo station Katie. As you're probably aware, I'm not sure

92
00:05:02,800 --> 00:05:05,279
Speaker 2: if you heard. The other week is when they started

93
00:05:05,360 --> 00:05:10,800
Speaker 2: riding on the trucks. Unfortunately, Commissioner Talker and chief fire

94
00:05:10,800 --> 00:05:14,360
Speaker 2: Officer's brain called the police on their own firefighters to

95
00:05:14,400 --> 00:05:16,880
Speaker 2: look into a criminal investigation in them to riding on

96
00:05:16,920 --> 00:05:17,720
Speaker 2: the fire trucks.

97
00:05:19,279 --> 00:05:22,760
Speaker 1: Right, But so from what you have said, it's actually

98
00:05:23,040 --> 00:05:26,880
Speaker 1: it's not a criminal act based on you know, based

99
00:05:26,920 --> 00:05:29,520
Speaker 1: on what case law and what has happened in other states.

100
00:05:30,400 --> 00:05:33,320
Speaker 2: That's right, it's part of their protected action. So really

101
00:05:33,320 --> 00:05:36,200
Speaker 2: it was a bully and intimidation tactic and it hasn't

102
00:05:36,200 --> 00:05:36,799
Speaker 2: gone well.

103
00:05:37,760 --> 00:05:40,240
Speaker 1: How look of the fire is concerned about the fact

104
00:05:40,480 --> 00:05:41,839
Speaker 1: that that sort of all occurred.

105
00:05:43,240 --> 00:05:46,040
Speaker 2: Yeah, they were quite upset because, you know, getting police

106
00:05:46,080 --> 00:05:48,320
Speaker 2: officers to come down one of their own. They work

107
00:05:48,360 --> 00:05:52,839
Speaker 2: closely together, they're part of the try service. They're very

108
00:05:52,920 --> 00:05:55,320
Speaker 2: upset that their own chief fire officer and the police

109
00:05:55,360 --> 00:05:58,200
Speaker 2: commission has done this to them to try and scare

110
00:05:58,279 --> 00:06:01,200
Speaker 2: them and threaten them to stop engaging in their protected

111
00:06:01,240 --> 00:06:01,960
Speaker 2: industrial action.

112
00:06:03,040 --> 00:06:06,480
Speaker 1: Goodness, mate, it sounds like things are really quite hostile

113
00:06:06,520 --> 00:06:09,520
Speaker 1: at this point in time. Erina, How is it going?

114
00:06:09,600 --> 00:06:11,280
Speaker 1: How is going to get to the point where there

115
00:06:11,320 --> 00:06:13,599
Speaker 1: is some kind of agreement that's able to be reached

116
00:06:13,600 --> 00:06:14,279
Speaker 1: for the fieries.

117
00:06:15,520 --> 00:06:17,840
Speaker 2: Well, we are hoping, Katie. We are still being positive

118
00:06:17,880 --> 00:06:21,880
Speaker 2: that we can get a successful outcome. So we're actually

119
00:06:22,040 --> 00:06:25,359
Speaker 2: a meeting today with my delegates to work out to

120
00:06:25,400 --> 00:06:27,359
Speaker 2: see if we can come to move forward in the

121
00:06:27,480 --> 00:06:31,960
Speaker 2: enterprise bargaining negotiations. So we're hoping that we can table

122
00:06:32,080 --> 00:06:35,520
Speaker 2: something back to the OCP and the government and say, look,

123
00:06:35,640 --> 00:06:39,120
Speaker 2: you know, we want to move forward. Let's try and

124
00:06:39,160 --> 00:06:41,480
Speaker 2: do this because, as you know, when you upset fiery,

125
00:06:42,120 --> 00:06:44,880
Speaker 2: they may not walk off, but they hold grudges, they

126
00:06:44,920 --> 00:06:48,200
Speaker 2: don't forget, and they're very creative with their actions.

127
00:06:48,680 --> 00:06:53,400
Speaker 1: Well, Erona, Early Union's nt secretary. I always appreciate your time.

128
00:06:53,440 --> 00:06:55,240
Speaker 1: Is there anything else I should be aware of quickly

129
00:06:55,279 --> 00:06:56,120
Speaker 1: before I let you go?

130
00:06:57,680 --> 00:06:59,880
Speaker 2: Not yet, but I always have something for you, Kadie.

131
00:07:00,080 --> 00:07:03,760
Speaker 1: Talk you sounds good, Thank you. I appreciate your time

132
00:07:03,800 --> 00:07:04,400
Speaker 1: as always,