301 South African Firefighters go on strike in Canada

[PrinceOfPain]

http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/western-cape/sa-firefighters-go-on-strike-in-canada-2032827

Before leaving for Canada, the 300 firefighters signed contracts specifying their pay and benefits for the trip. Their South African employers would pay them their normal salaries. Canadian authorities would provide all accommodation and meals, and would pay Working on Fire a rate of Canadian $50 per firefighter per day. This would be paid out to the firefighters as a $15 daily allowance while in Canada, with the remaining $35 being paid out within six months of their return home.

But after they arrived in Canada, the Globe and Mail reported that Llewellyn Pillay, managing director of Working on Fire, said their salaries would be increased to $15 to $21 per hour – a massive increase from $50 per day.

This was supposedly due to an intervention by the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC), which allegedly told Pillay that they couldn’t pay South African rates, because the pay had to be “fair and equitable from a Canadian standard”.

“It opened our eyes,” Pillay was quoted as saying. “It’s a much more ethical way of doing it. It’s the right way to operate, morally. We had never thought about it – we were just happy to have the chance to go to Canada. Now we realize we can’t assume that South Africa’s rates are at parity.”

I don't know what exactly I'm missing, but it looks like Canada won't pay under a certain amount, which is way above what these guys would earn in South Africa. Canadian media reported they'd get a pay increase, which they won't because they signed a contract, so they went on strike and were brought back home.

We were all very proud of these guys, and now I think we're probably all ashamed that they're advertising that South African work ethic (more money, or everything comes to a standstill) abroad.

If anyone from Canada can provide insight from that side, I'd appreciate it... and if this was a case of our guys being jackasses, then, as a South African, I apologise.

Also, other than this, what's the current story with the fire over there. How long's it been now?

 

[Rod1]

Well, i think these firefighters are major assholes

They are not paying for accomodation and are being paid back at home. They get greedy and now are being sent back home.,

 

[Gregolian]

So... why are they striking again? I'm fucking lost. Seems like they are getting better pay than they were told they were....

 

[Rod1]

So... why are they striking again? I'm fucking lost. Seems like they are getting better pay than they were told they were....

No, they said the media said they were going to be paid more. It was a lie, so they got pissed and went to strike.

Ridiculous, you signed a contract and you arent paying for accomodation.

 

[Gregolian]

No, they said the media said they were going to be paid more. It was a lie, so they got pissed and went to strike.

Ridiculous, you signed a contract and you arent paying for accomodation.

So basically they went back on what they signed and got bounced for it? LOL, idiots.

 

[bref]

The fire is in my province and I seen some headlines about this, but I'm still not totally sure what's going on.. So they signed a contract for $50/day, then some random media source was quoted that they were getting more than that (which was incorrect), and now they're refusing to work because they've decided they want what the media reported?

I know they got a warm welcome when they arrived at the airport. After that I haven't really been following the story.

Is the South African government in charge of their salaries or the Canadian government?

 

[Renard]

Basically the gov. of Canada didn't want to underpay the workers so as not to create unfair cheap competition to Canadian workers. The South African organization said they would pay the higher salary but actually lied and made up bullshit excuses about the Canadian dollar being worth more and "making up" a higher salary. Then the workers also said they wanted to be paid the full amount immediately because they think their SA employer is going to screw them out of the remaining money. Which, knowing that absolute shithole of a country, is probably absolutely correct.

 

[Gregolian]

they think their SA employer is going to screw them out of the remaining money..

Let's be honest, that PROBABLY will happen.

 

[Krallang]

I was good friends with the civillian firefighters on my second deployment to Iraq. Air conditioner, satellite tv, and mountains of porn, nuff said.

KBR received 300,000 per firefighter from the government.

They contracted to a company out of texas which was payed 200,000 per firefighter.

The firefighters themselves were payed between 95 and 155000 per firefighter based on experience. Captain got 155k, new guys who's only firefighting experience was an 8 week course got 95k.

That's an example of how this shit works. I'd say its fair to say the south african company would have kept every dime not stipulated in the contract.