About the role

The Queensland Professional Firefighters Union (the QPFU) is seeking an experienced union organiser based in the union’s state office in West End, Brisbane.

The QPFU represents professional and auxiliary firefighters and fire communications officers employed by Queensland Fire and Rescue right across Queensland and is one of Queensland’s strongest unions. We have a long history of successfully representing the industrial and professional interests of our members through enduring advocacy and powerful action.

Our Union is entirely worker-led. It has a deeply embedded democratic structure that makes active decisions about the union’s future, which is supported by well attended branches in every part of the state and underpinned by one of the highest densities of any union in Australia. Our executive leadership and state committee of management are all operational firefighters and communications officers representing the workforce of which they are a part.

To assist in empowering our membership, strengthening our structures, and increasing our capacity for collective action, the QPFU is seeking an industrial organiser to take the lead in organising our membership, working alongside industrial officers of the QPFU.

We are seeking a committed and experienced unionist who will represent our members collective interests frankly and directly, quickly gaining and utilising an in-depth understanding of our membership and their professional needs, as well as a basic understanding of the industrial, legislative and policy environment in which they work, and from time-to-time assisting members with their individual needs. All of the work that you undertake be actively supported in a collaborate relationship by our small team of experienced industrial officers.

This role represents an excellent opportunity for an organiser who is interested in working within a union with a very high density and a well-developed democratic structure over a period in which its members will need to be organised to be ready for action to defend their profession and the community they serve.

In this role you will:

1. Represent the union in a variety of forums, internal to QPFU, with the department and with other stakeholders
2. Organise professional firefighters, auxiliary firefighters and fire communications officers in to their Union
3. Understand and represent members issues to management
4. Engage in workplace health and safety matters with members and the department
5. Identify collective issues and develop plans with local branches to resolve them
6. Develop strong relationships with existing branch delegates and leaders
7. Encourage the active involvement of all members in the branch structure
8. Meet regularly with groups of members to hold meetings and discuss workplace issues
9. Develop the skills of elected delegates in formal and informal settings
10. Assist in the design and oversee the implementation of workplace campaigns
11. Assist in triaging incoming enquiries to the union
12. Provide basic industrial advice
13. Maintain accurate records

To be considered for this role you require:

1. Demonstrated experience organising workers
2. A high level of personal organisation
3. Highly developed communication skills, including the ability to speak confidently to groups
4. Proficiency in workplace systems (Microsoft Office Suite etc)
5. A strong demonstrable commitment to union values
6. A valid driver’s license
7. Eligibility to hold a Right of Entry permit
8. Ability to attend occasional out of hours meetings and travel to regional centres in Queensland.

For more information:

Please contact Senior Industrial Officer Mr Anthony Cooke via email at [email protected] using the subject line: Organiser enquiry via EthicalJobs or by telephone at 0738440366.