Andrews Government hands firefighters lucrative new income protection allowance

THE militant United Firefighters Union has been handed a massive election-eve sweetener that is likely to cost taxpayers more than $8 million a year.

EXCLUSIVE: THE militant United Firefighters Union has been given a massive election eve sweetener likely to cost taxpayers more than $8 million a year.

The Herald Sun can reveal the Andrews Government has directed the MFB and CFA to pay its career firefighters $48 a week to cover the cost of individual income protection insurance.

UFU boss Peter Marshall has for more than a year campaigned for the new allowance, which is expected to cost at least $8.2 million if taken up by more than 3300 firefighters.

UFU SUSPENDS TRADES HALL MEMBERSHIP

UNION LEADERS TURN ON LABOR ‘WRECKERS’

Senior fire services figures are furious Mr Marshall is now directing firefighters to join an income protection fund established by the Electrical Trades Union, with a source questioning if the UFU would benefit by signing up its members.

The deal has also sparked concerns within the government about the potential budgetary impact of other emergency services workers seeking a similar deal.

Paying the $2496 annual allowance to more than 14,000 Victoria Police officers would cost at least $35 million a year.

While WorkCover provides compensation for employees injured at work, income protection insurance is designed to cover non-workplace injuries and illness, as well as unemployment and personal difficulty.

UFU secretary Peter Marshall. Picture: Mark Stewart

Opposition emergency services spokesman Brad Battin accused Premier Daniel Andrews of using taxpayers’ money “for another payoff to his union mates”.

“This $8 million would be better spent on better safety equipment, new trucks and stations rather than making another downpayment for the United Firefighters Union to campaign for him,” Mr Battin said.

The government refused to answer a series of questions, with a spokeswoman saying: “What is included in the EBA is a matter for the CFA, the MFB and their workforce.

Mr Marshall spruiked the “win” in a bulletin to members last week as he urged them to sign up with the “union-friendly” Protect fund.

“We strongly encourage members to show strength in numbers and to access income protection through this scheme as a collective,” he said.

“We all know of instances where firefighters have suffered an injury or illness that is not work-related, or their claims have been denied by WorkCover, and they somehow still have to provide for themselves and their families while off work or undergoing treatment.”

An MFB spokeswoman said firefighters could choose their own provider and be reimbursed for up to $48 a week, and that they deserved “the security that this initiative brings”.

[e-mail]

Twitter: @tminear