31/12/2025

A significant pay boost for MFS firefighters is on the way, along with improvements to training and health screening, after firefighters voted overwhelmingly in favour of the State Government’s latest enterprise agreement offer.

The ballot of all firefighters closed this week, with 88.5% of those who cast a ballot voting in support of the new agreement.

It comes after months of good faith negotiations between the United Firefighters Union of South Australia (UFUSA) and the State Government.

The agreement includes:

  • A total wage increase of 10.5% including 4% in January 2026, 3.5% in January 2027, and 3% in January 2028.
  • A $3,000 uplift to base wages of all employees to be covered by the agreement to reflect rescue qualifications and advanced skills.
  • Increasing the base wages of recruit firefighters.
  • The creation of new increments for Station Officers, Marine Officers, Communications Officers and Commanders to provide further opportunities for career progression.

The agreement also has a focus on health and training. As part of the agreement the MFS will employ additional staff to develop and deliver training to firefighters, with the State Government also committing to a broader review of training arrangements to occur during the life of the enterprise agreement.

As part of the agreement, the MFS will provide medical support and screening and monitoring services for all employees covered by the agreement.

This is in addition to legislation recently passed by the Parliament which will provide greater workers compensation protection for MFS firefighters and CFS volunteers diagnosed with firefighting-related cancers, with an expansion of the list of cancers to now include:

  • Primary site cervical cancer
  • Primary site uterine cancer
  • Primary site ovarian cancer
  • Primary site penile cancer
  • Primary site thyroid cancer
  • Primary site liver cancer
  • Malignant mesothelioma
  • A reduction in the qualification period for primary site oesophageal cancer from 25 years to 15 years.

The endorsed agreement will be lodged with the South Australian Employment Tribunal for approval in the coming weeks.

This enterprise agreement is the latest of many successfully negotiated in recent months including allied health workers, doctors, aged care, disability services, early childhood educators, hospital orderlies and sterilisation technicians.