Johannesburg - The firefighters dispatched to Canada were expected to land at OR Tambo at 11am on Monday.
On Friday, Trevor Abrahams, a mediator appointed by Minister of Environmental Affairs Edna Molewa, landed in Canada hoping to negotiate peace between the firefighters and the management of Working on Fire (WoF).
However, it appears to have been too late as the firefighters were already on their way.
In a statement on Sunday, the Department of Environmental Affairs said: “The minister is confident that the matter can be resolved in a mutually satisfactory manner, failing which the firefighters will be demobilised and will return safely back to South Africa.”
Spokesman for the minister, Albi Modise, said the ministry agreed that the firefighters should be paid a fair and equitable wage for the reputable work they do.
“We are immensely proud of our well-trained firefighters who have done excellent work over a number of years, which has been recognised by the international firefighting community,” he said.
The 301 firefighters downed tools last week, a few days after they had started assisting with battling a massive blaze in Fort McMurray, Alberta.
WoF indicated that media reports about a salary increase for the firefighters and speculation about their hourly rate had caused confusion and led to the dispute.
Molewa’s move came after WoF sent three senior managers to Canada on Thursday to bring the firefighters home.
The team of firefighters made international headlines last month and were hailed as heroes as footage emerged of them singing and dancing in their bright yellow uniforms after they landed in Canada.
Modise said the department had been placed in a tricky situation because, although WoF was a government agency, the deal had been made directly between WoF and its Canadian counterparts.
“What we have learnt from this is we need to have a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between South Africa and Canada to create a template to guide the country-to-country agreements, so that if you have any challenges, you could deal with it within guidance found in the MOU,” he said.
Media reports stating that the firefighters had received a salary increase of C$21 R246 an hour were believed to have caused the dispute.
WoF stated that according to an agreement signed by the firefighters, Canadian authorities would cover their boarding, food and transport costs.
“Each firefighter received a stipend of C$15 for discretionary purchases. In addition, after their return to South Africa, each firefighter will receive an out-of-country allowance equivalent to C$35 per day,” said WoF.
Alberta Premier Rachel Notley allegedly also expressed concern that the South African firefighters were earning C$4 an hour, while the minimum wage in her province was C$11.20.
The South African Municipal Workers Union on Sunday expressed its support for the firefighters.
“We commend these workers for having taken a strong and decisive stance against their employer’s exploitation,” it said.
[email protected]; @Gabi_Falanga
Additional reporting by Quinton Mtyala
The Star