South African firefighters in pay dispute to leave Fort McMurray early

The South African government is sending a senior management team to Alberta to help bringhome around 300 firefighters who have been involved in a dispute over pay.

The firefighters became a sensation around the world for video that captured their singing and dancing at the Edmonton airport when they arrived to help fight theFort McMurray wildfire.

South Africanofficials were expected to arrive in Edmonton on Fridayto straighten outwhat they describe in a news release as "confusion among our firefighters in Canada."

But the delegation will also bearrangingthe "demobilization of our firefighters and their safe return back home."

• Singing South African firefighters dispute pay at wildfire
• South African firefighters arrive eager to help fight wildfire

TheSouth Africa firefighters refused to work Wednesday.

On Thursday, the firefighters were still not on duty, but they gatheredat the workcampwhere they're based north of Fort McMurray.

The firefighters becameupset when aSouth African broadcast quotedCanada'sGlobe and Mail newspaper story that suggestedthey're being paid between $15 and $21 an hour.

In fact, their contract revealsthey're only making $50 for a 12-hour dayon a14-day cycle.

Of that, only $15 a day is directlypaid to the firefighters, withthe balance to be paidwithin sixmonths of their returnto South Africa.

ASouth African government news release makes it clear the amount of $21 an hour quoted in the media is "incorrect and was never agreed to with anyone."

It also statesthat what thefirefighters make inCanada is on top of what they make at home.

That rangesfrom about 2,400 rand a month (the equivalent of $170 Cdn)to 14,000 rand (about $1,200 Cdn)for a crew leader.

The firefighters are employed by the South African government job creation program Working on Fire.

All contract details were "discussed with firefighters before their departure to Canada and everyone signed the agreement,"the program said in astatement.

The agreement acknowledges accommodation and meals are provided by Canadian authorities.

Meanwhile, the Alberta government said the controversy is not affecting firefighting efforts in Fort McMurray.

The province said that the Fort McMurray fire is now 70 per centcontained, with2,000 firefightersinvolved in the effort.