Firefighters protest in Melbourne following bitter pay dispute
Hundreds of firefighters have taken to the streets of Melbourne to protest against ongoing pay disputes and workplace conditions.
Victoria
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Hundreds of firefighters have taken to the streets in protest against ongoing disputes over pay and workplace conditions.
The rally, led by the United Firefighters union, began at Fire Rescue Victoria headquarters before protesters marched towards parliament.
They have called for the resignation of Fire Rescue Victoria Commissioner Gavin Freeman.
Protesters were heard shouting: “Andrews burns firefighters … (Emergency Services Minister Jaclyn) Symes has sold us out.”
UFU boss Peter Marshall warned the protest marked the beginning of a campaign.
He refused to rule out entire walk-offs, but said he hoped it didn’t get to that.
Senior government minister Ben Carroll was booed by angry protestors as he walked past the rally.
“We know we’re negotiating in good faith,” he told the media, as firefighters stood behind him holding up signs.
“Unions are doing what they should be and that’s defending their workers and fighting for their workers.
“Fire Rescue Victoria is also negotiating in line with the government’s wages policy.”
Asked if he was happy with the performance of Ms Symes, Mr Carroll said: “She’s working very hard”.
Up to 1500 firefighters are set to strike on Tuesday over an ongoing dispute for better pay, leaving stations across the state undermanned.
The powerful United Firefighters Union is claiming the Andrews government has ripped up its enterprise bargaining agreement after 76 meetings and 16 appearances before the Fair Work Commission, sparking a fresh war after two years of bitter negotiations.
The mass walk-off comes just days after the Herald Sun revealed that firefighting crews are showing up to emergencies undermanned.
The Herald Sun last month revealed Victorian firefighters had been offered a whopping 12 per cent pay increase over four years, and thousands of dollars in cash bonuses, under a new wage deal approved by the government and put forward by Fire Rescue Victoria.
That offer, which Premier Daniel Andrews described as “fair and reasonable”, fell short of the union’s demands for a 25 per cent increase over three years.
The government has rejected the union’s claim that the EBA had been torn up, insisting the wages offer released last month remained on the table.
A statement from the Fair Work Commission on June 19 said bargaining between both parties had “progressed very well” and that all outstanding matters had been resolved, except for an offer on wages and allowances.
The UFU is pushing to have its fight for higher wages and allowances decided by an independent mediator, but the government has refused that demand.
“Our priority is for FRV to continue to negotiate with the representatives of their employees on that offer,” a government spokeswoman said on Monday night.
In what the union is labelling its biggest rally yet, firefighters from every part of the state – including Portland, Wodonga, Traralgon and Mildura – will be carted into the city, forcing night crews to hold the fort by carrying out double shifts.
It comes as parts of Victoria face their worst bushfire season since the horror Black Summer bushfires tore through the state during the 2019-20 New Year period.
United Firefighters Union boss Peter Marshall said while fire stations would have fewer crews, the community would not be placed at risk.
Mr Marshall said taking industrial action is “the last thing professional firefighters should be thinking about as they enter another difficult bushfire season”.
“Instead of supporting professional firefighters as they confronted the coming bushfire season, FRV Commissioner Gavin Freeman and Emergency Services Minister Jaclyn Symes have stabbed them in the back and have thrown two years of hard work into the flames,” the union boss said.
“As a result, professional firefighters’ safety and working conditions are now on the chopping block.”
Firefighters will begin their protest at Eastern Hill fire station before marching to parliament and then to the Fair Work Commission.
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Originally published as Firefighters protest in Melbourne following bitter pay dispute
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