EWN exclusive: 231 Joburg firefighters suspended

[schumi]

JOHANNESBURG - Eyewitness News can this morning reveal that more than 230 Johannesburg firefighters have been suspended, putting further strain on already overstretched resources.
It’s understood that in July, the firefighters refused to attend to call outs, citing concerns over the non-assignment of supervisors.
The Joburg Emergency Services confirmed the suspensions but would not be drawn on the reasons.
Eyewitness News is in possession of suspension letters served on the firefighters from different stations across Johannesburg last week.
Those suspended account for more than 17% of the firefighter workforce in the metro.
They accuse Emergency Services Management of not adhering to the National Health Act.
Three employees spoke to Eyewitness News and said all they wanted was to get those in charge, to comply with law.
“We are not on strike, because all those days they say we were on strike we were on duty. We are abiding by the rules, but they take it the other way around saying we don’t want to work,” said one firefighter who asked not to be named.
Emergency Services spokesperson Robert Mulaudzi confirmed the suspensions but said they are dealing with the matter internally.

More at:

EWN exclusive: 231 Joburg firefighters suspended

Eyewitness News is in possession of suspension letters listing the names of firefighters under investigation.

ewn.co.za

 

[Compton_effect]

And by the time they decide to take them back - half would be on their way to New Zealand and Australia.

 

[schumi]

202 Joburg firefighters dismissed after illegal strike

Around 200 firefighters have reportedly been dismissed from the City of Johannesburg after an unauthorised strike. The dismissal is due to an illegal strike by union Demawusa earlier this year, according to a report by eNCA. The dismissal was confirmed to News24 by Demawusa spokesperson Dion Makhura. However, the union has received no official communication from the City, he said. A strike in July followed accusations by firefighters that Emergency Services Management were not adhering to the National Health Act. Some of the firefighters were also reportedly forced to live in an unsafe building. During the strike, firefighters refused to attend to emergency calls made to the Jabulani, Johannesburg Central, Ivory Park and Rosebank fire stations, citing that some of the allocated duties assigned to them as basic life support officers were in fact duties to be performed by the intermediate life support officers. The firefighters also requested around the clock escorts from the JMPD when responding to emergencies, News24 previously reported.

More at : https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/...hters-dismissed-after-illegal-strike-20191207

 

[access]

firefighters!? pfff. rather protect the useless staff at bloated soe. who needs firefighters?

down with the useful! up with the useless!

 

[TheChamp]

firefighters!? pfff. rather protect the useless staff at bloated soe. who needs firefighters?

down with the useful! up with the useless!

I expected a much happy response, they were striking illegally and were fired, are we not supposed to be jumping up and down with joy? Did you see they also belong a union?

 

[access]

I expected a much happy response, they were striking illegally and were fired, are we not supposed to be jumping up and down with joy? Did you see they also belong a union?

the strike was about something legitimate wasnt it? not just pay increase

 

[ForceFate]

the strike was about something legitimate wasnt it? not just pay increase

...but refusing to attend to emergencies?

 

[TheChamp]

the strike was about something legitimate wasnt it? not just pay increase

Because a pay increase is not something legitimate? got you.

 

[access]

...but refusing to attend to emergencies?

well if your liability is on the line? just hope for the best?

or their life is in danger, not from the service they provide which they are trained to handle, but from the people they are there to supposedly protecting.

Because a pay increase is not something legitimate? got you.

yes a pay increase toy toy when the company is bankrupt is not legitimate, but this the typical response expected from you

..Emergency Services Management were not adhering to the National Health Act ..

..citing that some of the allocated duties assigned to them as basic life support officers were in fact duties to be performed by the intermediate life support officers ..

..The firefighters also requested around the clock escorts from the JMPD when responding to emergencies..

i would call those legitimate reasons for concern, these guys risk their lives to save ours.

 

[ForceFate]

well if your liability is on the line? just hope for the best?

or their life is in danger, not from the service they provide which they are trained to handle, but from the people they are there to supposedly protecting.

Have there been such incidents in areas they operate? Did they try to address their concerns with management before embarking on a strike? Did they involve their unions before deciding on strike action?

Were their dismissals justified? I don't know but gross insubordination is a dismissible offence in many places, made worse by their continued refusal to worked even when management gave them an ultimatum. Maybe CCMA will do something for them. I wish them all the best.

yes a pay increase toy toy when the company is bankrupt is not legitimate, but this the typical response expected from you

i would call those legitimate reasons for concern, these guys risk their lives to save ours.

It sounds like their union is led by a bunch of morons if they knew about conditions they work under but didn't engage management.

 

[access]

Have there been such incidents in areas they operate? Did they try to address their concerns with management before embarking on a strike? Did they involve their unions before deciding on strike action?

Were their dismissals justified? I don't know but gross insubordination is a dismissible offence in many places, made worse by their continued refusal to worked even when management gave them an ultimatum. Maybe CCMA will do something for them. I wish them all the best.

It sounds like their union is led by a bunch of morons if they knew about conditions they work under but didn't engage management.

sounds like a bunch of red tape rubbish for a real problem.


would you do something you are not trained for and know that you will be held liable if something went wrong? would doctors or any other emergency staff?

then firefighters are being called out only to be assaulted and robbed. yeah just keep responding while the admin gets sorted out, its safe dont worry. would you respond?


lol for all i know the union didnt support the strike because the firefighters would not also demand a pay increase.


also the fact that a union needs to be involved for these problems to be addressed is even more pathetic