SA firefighters have every right to strike: Expert.
A labour law expert says the striking South African firefighters who had gone to Canada to help fight the Mount McMurray wildfire have every right to be concerned about whether or not they are being short-changed.
It is understood Working on Fire, which employs the men and women is receiving $170 (Canadian Dollars) per firefighter per day, from the Alberta government which is about R2 000.
Working on Fire is paying the workers $50 per day or R600 from the negotiated amount, with $35 of the daily allowance apparently to be paid out once they've returned home.
While the organisation's spokesperson has described the pay dispute as an embarrassment to WoF, South Africa and Canada, the Premier of Alberta, Rachel Notley, has sided with the firefighters.
She says the contract was meant to allow the firefighters to earn decent pay for their efforts but is disturbed after leaning this was not the case.
Labour economist, Bukani Mngoma, says if the firefighters were briefed about what the Canadian government was paying for them, they could have raised the issue when handed their contracts.
"Assuming that they got injured in Canada they would not be covered by the South African health and safety reform. The Canadian health and safety laws would then apply," he said.
"So, one fails to understand that when it comes to salaries why should they be paid in the South African currency", Mngoma.
Senior officials from WoF have left for Canada to quell the situation, but also to bring the firefighters home, cutting the South African mission short.
(Photo supplied)