Zuma asks minister to look into dispute over firefighters’ pay

PRESIDENT Jacob Zuma has requested Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa to intervene in the pay dispute involving 301 South African firefighters who were dispatched to help fight a bushfire in Canada.

The firefighters downed tools over pay. The group was managed by the Working on Fire agency, one of the projects of the government’s flagship Expanded Public Works Programme.

Working on Fire yesterday apologised to the Canadian government and people for any inconvenience the strike caused.

According to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, South African firefighters would earn the equivalent of four Canadian dollars an hour (about R48) compared with the Alberta minimum wage of $11.20 (R133.50) an hour. Accommodation and food is covered by Canadian authorities. The firefighters went after a tender by the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre.

The Presidency said environmental affairs would be assisted by the Department of International Relations and Co-operation in finding a solution.

Working on Fire said: “We always agree on remuneration with our firefighters when going on deployments of this nature and‚ as in this instance‚ formal contracts were signed.

“To have a dispute about remuneration‚ and to be accused of being unfair towards our people‚ is in direct contradiction of our company values.”

The agency said it was part of the firefighter ethos to first and foremost deliver an emergency service, and it was disappointed it could not resolve the debacle internally before it became an international incident.

“For Working on Fire it has never been about making money. It has always been about assisting countries facing massive and destructive wildfires.”

The agency apologised to Canadians “for any inconvenience this may have caused”. — TMG Digital

The firefighter ethos is to first deliver in an emergency