THE dispute between the CFA and the United Firefighters Union was continuing to heat up yesterday after the State Government refused to ratify a controversial enterprise bargaining agreement.
The government will rework the proposed agreement after the CFA rejected clauses around consultation and dispute resolution, diversity issues and a requirement for seven career firefighters to be present on the fireground in certain districts before firefighting can begin.
The CFA has called the proposed agreement unlawful and said a Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission review of the EBA found a number of clauses could be discriminatory.
Emergency Services Minister Jane Garrett has refused to back the agreement, and on Monday met with Premier Daniel Andrews, before issuing a statement indicating the government would review the pay deal.
The EBA has been in the pipeline for three years but in Monday’s statement, Ms Garrett said a resolution was expected in the “coming days”.
UFU members converged on the steps of Parliament House yesterday to voice their concerns, two days after Victoria’s volunteer firefighters held a similar rally attended by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
In Melbourne yesterday to attend the protest, Mildura firefighter and UFU deputy shop steward Malcolm Hayes said the EBA was driving a wedge between paid firefighters and volunteers.
“This has caused a rift that may not ever be healed,” he said.
For more on this story pick up a copy of Wednesday’s paper (June 8, 2016).
