In July 2026 the PSA surveyed members regarding arbitration of the Rural Fire Service (RFS) Award and the Salaries Award. You can read that bulletin HERE. Members voted overwhelmingly for using the Work Values Changes Principle to arbitrate the RFS Award.
The PSA is committed to having a new RFS award in place by 1 July 2027 and presented this view to the Industrial Relations Commission (IRC) on 31 August in a directions hearing on the matter.
On 3 September 2026, the Commission set a timetable for arbitration. The key dates are:
- 28 September 2026 – PSA to file its award.
- 16 November 2026 – RFS to files its competing award.
- 26 March 2027 – Final evidence from parties to be submitted.
- 10–25 May 2027 – Hearing dates.
- 8–9 June 2027 – Closing submissions.
Your delegates and the PSA legal team have drafted the PSA amended RFS Award for submission to the IRC. The drafted award is based on the member supported log of claims, and includes:
- Wage increases.
- Expanded overtime entitlements.
- Increased and expanded allowances (including the after-hours allowance).
- Defining when incident conditions apply, with roles to be remunerated appropriately.
- Protection against AI displacing jobs.
- Other benefits.
The PSA has allocated significant resources to running the case, involving a team of solicitors, barristers and your delegates working together. However, keep in mind that there is no certainty in the outcome of the arbitration, and the agency will push back against the PSA’s case.
Your delegates are currently working to identify potential members who can demonstrate clear evidence across the claims and the different types of workers required to operate the RFS. If you would like to know more about what is involved in being a witness, please reach out to your delegate.
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