Rachel Notley intervenes in South African firefighter pay dispute

Premier Rachel Notley is promising that South African firefighters who stopped working in a fight over their pay level will be compensated in accordance with Alberta labour laws.

Notley said Thursday the Albertagovernment had thoughtthe contract negotiated with the firefighters to help battle the Fort McMurraywildfirewould allow themto earn acceptablelevels of pay. Shewas "disturbed" to hear that had not happened.

About 300 firefighters involved in the wage dispute ceased workingWednesday andThursday due to the wage issue.

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While they continue to receive their regular pay fromSouth Africa, the contract for their workin Alberta is for$50 a day for 12-hour shifts, orjust over$4 an hour. The Alberta minimum wage is $11.20 an hour. Accommodation and food is being covered by the Canadian authorities.

In order to work in Alberta the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC) putout a tender to which the South African programWorking on Firemade a successful bid.

I can say right now that every hour that every firefighter from South Africa... will be compensated in accordance with our laws in this province.- Rachel Notley

The contract accepted by CIFFCis then paidby Alberta.

The $50a day is considered a per diem by Working on Fire.

Back in South Africa, the firefighters wages rangefrom about 2,400 rand a month (the equivalent of $205Cdn) to 14,000 rand (about $1,200 Cdn) for a crew leader.

According to a government website, a typical firefighter in the province makes around $30an hour.

WhileNotleysaidthe dispute is between the firefighters and the South African government, she said she would be taking steps to intervene.

"The fact of the matter is that it's not acceptable to me and my government that we would have people working for wages in our province that do not align with our labour laws," said Notley.

The premier said she hasasked ministry officials to resolve the matter.

"I can say right now that every hour that every firefighter from South Africa or anywhere else has worked on these fires will be compensated in accordance with our laws in this province," she said.

'Robbed'

Ditiro Moseki, one of the South Africanfirefighters based at a camp north of Fort McMurray,had described the $50-a-day pay as "peanuts."He said the firefighters had felt robbed.

"That makes me feel very much happy," said Moseki afterNotley made hercomments.

He and the other firefightersare grateful forthe premier's intervention, he said."I can say the premier is doing a very good job for us."

Notley said she willdirectgovernment officials to ensure that any further contracts with agencies from outside Alberta willhave to meet the minimum standards of Alberta law.

Meanwhile, senior management officials from the South African government job creation program whichhired the workers are expected to arrive in Alberta Friday.

A news release from the program calledWorking on Firesaysthe $50-a-day contract had been discussed with all the workers and signed by them before their departure to Canada.They arrived in Alberta May 29.

The releasesaid that the $50payment is essentially a daily allowance, whilethe firefighters continue to be paid in South Africa.

The South African officials coming to Alberta will helpwith the return home of the firefighters.