PSA members at the Rural Fire Service (RFS) have accepted an offer from the NSW Government to settle unpaid overtime. After it was revealed staff had not been paid overtime since the RFS was created, the PSA went into negotiations with the State Government to resolve the issue.

Negotiations resulted in an in-principle agreement with the state to settle the PSA’s claim in the Supreme Court that the employer had contravened the RFS Award and Conditions Award by failing to pay overtime to day workers and failing to provide leave in lieu of overtime to shift workers.

The PSA’s action forced the State Government to allocate $5 million to be distributed to all eligible employees. The fund will be distributed evenly and fully to all eligible employees.

The RFS has been instructed to follow the award and pay staff overtime in the future.

The PSA polled members before agreeing to accept the deal. The vote to accept the package was unanimous.