Firefighter Committee - OPI Terms of Reference

Purpose / Objective

The Union of National Defence Employees (UNDE) has established a Firefighter (FR) Steering Committee to address concerns and issues affecting firefighters, on a national basis. The UNDE FR Steering Committee's main role is to keep firefighters, in their regions, informed; and to identify and recommend actions that will be submitted to the UNDE National Executive Committee (NEC) through the UNDE FR OPI (Office of Primary Interest).

The main purpose and objectives of the UNDE FR Steering Committee are:

• to collect and identify national concerns and issues affecting all UNDE firefighters;
• to review and research national concerns and issues affecting all UNDE firefighters;
• to develop recommendations to improve and promote the UNDE firefighters' role within DND work sites.

Selection of Committee Members

The selection and appointment of the UNDE Firefighters Committee members are the responsibility of the National President / NEC / UNDE FR OPI. The UNDE VP from the region that the member will represent must approve of the appointment.

Composition of the Committee

The seven (7) UNDE FR Steering Committee members will be selected from each of the following regions:

• one member - NL / NB
• one member - Nova Scotia
• one member - Quebec
• one member - Ontario
• one member - Manitoba / Saskatchewan
• one member - Alberta / North
• one member - British Columbia

The UNDE FR OPI will be a member of the UNDE FR Steering Committee and the OPI will be recognized as the chairperson of the Committee. The UNDE National President will be recognized as an ex officio member of the UNDE FR Steering Committee.

Roles and responsibilities of the Committee

The roles and responsibilities of the UNDE FR Steering Committee covers but is not limited to the issues of the Firefighters Physical Fitness Maintenance Program (FFPMP), FR Wage Parity and FR Early Retirement.

The roles and responsibilities of this committee are also:

• to review input from the UNDE FRs, across Canada, on issues that may have national impact on the membership;
• to keep the FRs and the UNDE Vice-Presidents in their region informed on all active FR issues;
• to coordinate and transmit all FR information, through the UNDE resource officer and ensure that actions are properly disseminated to all parties involved;
• to keep the UNDE FR OPI informed of all actions taken in their regions regarding national issues;
• to attend UNDE FR Steering Committee meetings, when meetings have been called following consultations between the Committee, the UNDE FR OPI and the National President;
• to report back in writing to the region and the Vice-President for the region.

Roles and responsibilities of the Committee Chair

• organize all committee meetings;
• prepare an agenda for all meetings;
• chair committee meetings;
• present committee report to the NEC;
• coordinate with the committee, UNDE FR resource officer, national office and national officers on all FR national issues.