Update on ESSS Dispute

Following Sunday's mass meeting of members, the combined emergency services unions met again with Minister Lenders on the morning of Tuesday 27 September.

The combined emergency services unions entered this meeting with the intention of resuming good faith discussions and to seek an agreement from Mr Lenders to extend the deadline for further dialogue between the parties beyond the 24th of October, the day in which the final bill is due to be brought to cabinet.

Unfortunately the combined unions had little alternative but to collectively express its bitter disappointment to Mr Lenders after he refused to agree to put back this deadline, as this is a highly complex and controversial issue that will require significantly more time to resolve.

This unwillingness by Mr Lenders to alter his unreasonable timelines has led the unions to question what will occur if, within a week of the draft bill, only some of the issues have been resolved to a satisfactory level.

The considerable haste in which the government is proceeding on this issue, combined with the lack of information provided by them, has not allowed the unions adequate time to negotiate a mutually agreeable outcome.

This has led the combined unions to question the need for such haste, and, in the absence of evidence that would be provided by a full financial impact statement, to view cynically the government's claims that the extent of savings would be a paltry $6 million by 2010.

The combined emergency services unions have written to Mr Lenders to express its collective disappointment that emergency service workers are being paid such scant regard in relation to this issue. Despite this, the combined emergency services unions reiterated their willingness to enter into a joint working party on this issue. However, the unreasonable time frame of 24 October 2005 cannot be accepted by the unions. 

The combined unions have been made aware of a letter Mr Lenders will be writing to all ESSS members to explain his position on this issue. Based on his poor performance and total lack of consideration toward the combined unions during this dispute, we caution all members to consider his assertions, and any assurances he makes, with the utmost suspicion and cynicism.
      
Paul Mullett                      Peter Marshall                    Steve McGhie
Secretary                         Secretary                           Secretary
The Police Association      United Firefighters Union     Ambulance Employees Union