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  • 4 months ago
Hundreds of career firefighters and their families have rallied in Perth as a months-long pay negotiation with the state government continues. The union representing them says its member's lives and those in the community are at risk due to poor staffing and conditions.

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00:00Fix the base!
00:03Now!
00:04Fired up and fighting for better conditions.
00:07Are we OK?
00:08No!
00:09What are they doing?
00:10Nothing!
00:11As part of their EBA negotiations, the United Professional Firefighters Union is pushing
00:16for a $2 bump on their hourly base rate.
00:19We just really want our fair share. We're not asking for a lot.
00:23But the state's counter offer, sent hours before the rally, was not received well.
00:27We're worth more than 40 cents. Our families are worth more than 40 cents.
00:31You just want the government on behalf of the state of Western Australia and the people of Western Australia
00:36to acknowledge what you do sacrifice.
00:40For some rally-goers, that's missing time with their families and their health.
00:45We face a higher risk of cancer, heart disease, respiratory illness and PTSD.
00:51Attraction and retention of staff is another problem which the union says is putting lives
00:56at risk.
00:57It means a turnout time of 7 minutes becomes 14, 15, 20 minutes.
01:02And then our chances of actually being able to go in and come out alive gets jeopardised.
01:07And the chances of us being able to help you get out alive certainly gets jeopardised.
01:11The state government says it values WA's firefighters and its offer would mean a pay increase of more than $17,000
01:18for senior workers over a three-year term.
01:22Should the offer on the table be better than the one that is currently on the table?
01:25I think most West Australians would say yes, absolutely.
01:28A message these frontline workers have made loud and clear.
01:31Allowances are not fair. Where are they better? Everywhere!
01:37No!
01:38Why aren't they we all
01:50in time!
01:52No!
01:53I don't know.
01:54No!
01:55I don't have anything on board.
01:57I want to make sure they're going to my heart.
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