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In response to media enquiries on the sit-in staged by the Hong Kong Fire Services Department Staffs General Association (SGA) today (August 20) regarding their appeal for reduction of weekly conditioned working hours, the Fire Services Department (FSD) expressed deep regret over the SGA's action.
A spokesman for the FSD said that the FSD management has always attached great importance to the quest of the staff members for reduction of conditioned working hours. Adopting a pragmatic and open approach, the management has been maintaining close communication with the concerned staff unions and staff members on the issue.
"It was agreed at the meeting between the Security Bureau, the Civil Service Bureau, the FSD and the SGA on June 6 that the management and the staff side of the FSD would explore feasible proposals on reduction of the working hours in three months. Pursuant to this agreement, the FSD management met with the executive committee members of the SGA on June 14 to discuss the initial ideas of the management and immediately started working on the proposal," the spokesman said.
"Throughout the process of formulating the proposal, the FSD management has actively discussed with the staff unions concerned and Divisional Commanders have also briefed front-line staff on the salient features of the proposal to enhance their understanding by way of holding briefing sessions in various units. In the light of the concerns expressed by the staff unions and some staff members, the management has made certain modifications to the proposal. After briefing the FSD Departmental Consultative Committee on the refined proposal, the management has issued a consultation document on the 'new 51 Proposal' earlier for full consultation with all Fire Stream members."
In the course of formulating the new proposal, the FSD management has been maintaining close communication with the staff unions and staff members and has listened to their views with an open mind. The management finds the SGA's allegation that the "new 51 proposal" was the management's "one-side proposal" difficult to comprehend.
The spokesman said that the SGA has taken industrial action from July 1, without specifying an end date. However, it has neither clearly explained the details of the industrial action nor discussed with the department the actual duty items involved and their details in advance. In view of this, the FSD informed the SGA in a letter on July 12 of issues that require clarification and attention.
"The FSD management has a duty to take appropriate measures to ensure that the department's core operations, including emergency services, will not be adversely affected by the industrial action before the department reaches a consensus with the SGA on details of such action. During the SGA's ongoing industrial action, the department's top priority is to ensure that the efficiency of emergency services and related daily operations are not adversely affected. Under these circumstances, the FSD is not able to make arrangements for the SGA to conduct activities that are not relevant to the department's core duties. This is in no way a sign of disrespect for the rights of staff unions," the spokesman said.
The spokesman again appealed to members of the SGA to exercise restraint and maintain continuous dialogue with the management in a pragmatic manner, so as to make concerted efforts in fostering favourable conditions for the implementation of the "new 51 Proposal".
Ends/Monday, August 20, 2012
Issued at HKT 19:58
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