SA firefighters leave Canada amid fiery wage dispute

JOHANNESBURG — Hundreds of South African fire-fighters left Canada on Monday following a 



strike over a wage dispute, the SA government said. 



The 301 fire-fighters downed tools while fighting a forest fire in Alberta, Canada to press their 



demand for higher pay. On Sunday, the SA government sent a mediation team to Canada to 
assist in resolving the wage dispute. 


team that we had dispatched to Canada, they have agreed to their demobilisation and to return 
"Following successful discussions, between the firefighters and the high-level Working on Fire 

back home to South Africa," said Minister for Environmental Affairs Edna Molewa, who was 

tasked by President Jacob Zuma to help resolve the dispute. 



The mediation regarding continuation of the fire suppression was no longer necessary owing to 



weather conditions in both Fort McMurray and Edmonton where it has been raining heavily, 

Therefore, the SA firefighters have been demobilised and are returning home, she said 
and therefore meaning that the number of international fire-fighters from other countries had 
to return home, Molewa said. 

us can only demoralise them despite their successful track-record. Upon their arrival at home, 
"We call upon the nation not to condemn the fire-fighters. Condemning them for disappointing
we will engage in the appropriate manner in which they should raise any legitimate concerns in 


establish an over-arching Memorandum of Understanding to set parameters for the two 
future, should they have any," the minister said. 

She said her ministry will continue to engage directly with the Canadian government to implementing agencies to work together in the future. 

agencies. Established in 2003, WOF has received international recognition for its role in supporting 
The firefighters were deployed to the Canadian province earlier this month to assist with 

wildfire suppression, as part of a resource sharing agreement with Canadian firefighting 
conservation and sustaining ecosystems and community upliftment through the provision of 

skills and increase their capacity to earn income, and to enter the formal workplace.
job opportunities and skills and training of participants. 

The organisation is part of the SA government's Expanded Public Works Programme which aims 
to create job opportunities for South Africans who cannot find work, enabling them to gain skills and increase

 their capacity to earn income, and to enter the formal workplace. 

Reuters. "SA FIREFIGHTERS LEAVE CANADA AMID FIERY WAGE DISPUTE." Eyewitness News. Reuters, 2016. Web. 13 June 2016

An interesting predicament for the Canadian society, 

one that has not often been a case especially in this wealthy nation.

 As hundreds of doctors go annully as soon as they finish their training in

South Africa to Canada to gain more money (and become etremely welathy there 

more often than not), it is very ironic that even firefighters (of a much lower income) 

have had the courage to not only protest but also leave. As people are very skeptical 

about the South African government at the moment, their assistance in this case may boost 

their overall face and perception. A slight bias is presented against the canadian side as 

there is no mention of their initial reponse or any say or reason for them not increasing 

the pay. As a South African publishing company there is obvious reason for this bias. This 

article serves to enlighten the south African population that they still do care and expose 

the Canadain government as well as serve as a reminder that coming to Canda for the wealth 

only is not always a valid enough reason.