Death and disability campaign:
Fighting for adequate protection
For the past two years the Fire Brigade Employees' Union (FBEU) has been campaigning for the removal of serious inequities in the present provisions for death and disability (D&D) for firefighters. As it stands, less than one half of the State's firefighters have adequate protection should they suffer injury or death. A significant number of active firefighters have no cover at all which places thousands of firefighters and their families at perilous risk. There are three different death and disability schemes, membership depends on date of joining the Brigade. Take, for example, three senior firefighters, around 35 years of age, who are killed while fighting alongside. The first joined the Brigade in 1984 and is a member of the State Superannuation Fund. The family would receive an ongoing lifetime pension of approximately $600 per fortnight, indexed to the CPI. The second firefighter joined the Brigade in 1986, and is a member of the State Authorities Superannuation Fund (a new scheme introduced in July 1985). The family would receive a one-off lump sum payment of approximately $58,000, equivalent to less than four years of the old scheme's lifetime pension. The third victim joined the Brigade in 1993, under the First State Superannuation Fund (introduced post 1992). The family would receive only a $54,000 one-off lump sum. When it comes to disability payments for permanent injuries that prevent a firefighter returning to work, there are similar inequities. In this case the first firefighter (joined in 1984) would receive an ongoing lifetime pension of approximately $900 per fortnight, indexed to the CPI. The second, employed just two years later, might qualify for a one- off lump sum of $58,000, equivalent to only 2.5 years of the old scheme's pension, but in many cases would receive as little as only $10,000! The third worker, "might" qualify for a maximum $54,000 one-off lump sum payment, but in many cases would not qualify at all, i.e. $0.00 payment!! This is the situation faced by Gary Bartlett, who tells his story opposite. Firefighters put their lives on the line everyday, saving other people's lives and property. It is absolutely scandalous that they and their families are not covered by adequate, let alone generous, D&D schemes, in the circumstances. The State Government has been well aware of the situation for years, yet still fails to seriously negotiate an adequate and fair D&D scheme for these emergency workers. The attitude of the Government is made even more outrageous and unjustifiable when comparisons are made between the paltry provisions offered to Brigade members and the pollies themselves. Compare death benefits: "firefighter's family" — $8,775 (no that is not a misprint!) for a 50- year-old, $17,750 if 45 years of age, $43,200 if 40 years of age; "politician's family" — 40%-60% of salary per year lifetime pension plus child's pension, indexed to future politicians' salary increases. Or compare disability benefits where the person is total and permanently incapacitated for any other work: "firefighter" — NIL payment if the insurer determines that they can do any other work, or if the member's account balance is less than $1,000 or if no insurance premium of $5 per month was paid; "politician" — 48.8%-80% of salary per year lifetime pension, indexed to politicians' salary increases.* * * Guardian readers in NSW can support the FBEU's campaign by contacting their local MPs (fax, phone, email, letter) and calling on them to vary existing legislation or introduce new legislation to ensure that the State's firefighters and their families have adequate and equitable protection. Remind them of their far superior death and disability benefits. For more information visit the FBEU's website: http://fbeu.labor.net.auor contact the FBEU directly.