WoF team to meet with fire fighters in Canada over wage dispute
A senior management team of the organisation Working on Fire (WOF) is expected to leave for Canada on Thursday evening to meet with a group of South African fire fighters who are refusing to help fight devastating fires in the country.
They declared a dispute over the daily wage after they landed in Canada to help fight devastating wildfires in the Fort McMurray.
The group of more than 300 fire fighters had their world at their feet, when they broke into spontaneous song and dance during their landing in Alberta, but just more than a week later the group said they were promised more than the Canadian $15 they were receiving per day.
WoF said in a statement Canadian $15 was the amount agreed upon.
"During their deployment the Canadian authorities would cover their accommodation, meals and each fire fighter received a daily stipend of Canadian $15 for discretionary purposes. In addition, after their return to South Africa each fire fighter will receive an 'out of the country daily allowance' to the Rand value equivalent of Canadian $35 per day. This was discussed with fire fighters before their departure to Canada and everyone signed the agreement," WoF said.
WoF said they wanted to emphasise the intended beneficial experience of their deployment to Canada for the South African fire fighters and they reiterated that the experience would be life changing.
"We are dispatching a senior management team to Alberta, Canada this evening to address the fire fighters' concerns and to assist with the smooth demobilisation of our fire fighters and their safe return back home to South Africa."