The Public Service Association (PSA) is aware that the Department For Environment and Heritage (DEH) appears to continue to inappropriately remunerate Park Rangers and other DEH staff called upon to perform emergency fire fighting activities.

In recent correspondence, the PSA has outlined the DEH's responsibilities and obligations in regard to appropriately remunerating employees during bushfire response duties. The PSA has confirmed with DEH that members are to be paid accordingly if they are not privy to the allocated minimum eight-hour break, and that shift hours are not ceased at 12:00am and recommenced under a new shift. Overtime rates are to be paid until the shift has concluded forthright, not at the stroke of midnight.

The PSA has explicitly outlined that its members are to be paid in accordance with the applicable industrial award, The South Australian Public Sector Salaried Employees Interim (SAPSSEI) Award 2006 as confirmed by the Public Sector Workforce Division. DEH has accepted that it is bound by the overtime conditions of the SAPSSEI Award 2006 and therefore all applicable payments and terms should be adhered to at local level.

The PSA is aware that overtime payments for DEH employees are outstanding from as late as November 2007. This is unacceptable and the PSA urges any DEH employee with outstanding overtime payments or concerns over applicable overtime rates to contact their PSA Industrial Officer immediately.

It has also been brought to the attention of the PSA that some regions including those recently affected by bushfire disasters have to contend with vehicles and fire trucks that are ill-equipped. The PSA is greatly concerned that a lack of appropriate resources could place its members in harm's way and limit members' ability to effectively perform their role in dangerous emergency situations.

The PSA is committed to ensuring that its members are paid appropriately and that resource allocation for such imperative duties is sufficient.

If you have any queries regarding this issue please contact PSA Industrial Officer Wayne Dungey wkd@cpsu.asn.au or phone 8205 3238