Eruptions and tantrums in special relationship
UNION boss Peter Marshall’s most recent public explosion isn’t the first. The first glimpse of his special relationship with Daniel Andrews’ government came just five months after his troops had campaigned for Labor’s victory.
VIC News
Don't miss out on the headlines from VIC News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
THE first glimpse of Peter Marshall’s special relationship with Daniel Andrews’ government came five months after his troops had campaigned for Labor’s victory in polling booths across Victoria.
In April 2015, a 17-page dossier from the UFU secretary landed in the inbox of every Labor MP.
It was headed “Failure of Andrews Government to honour their agreement with the UFU”.
The public explosion was prompted by the refusal of the new emergency services minister, Jane Garrett, to intervene in a disciplinary case the Metropolitan Fire Brigade was bringing against a commander who had accessed pornographic and racist material at work.
Dubbed a “manifesto” by one unimpressed Labor MP, the email showed Mr Marshall had a hotline to the Premier’s office.
DANIEL ANDREWS’ PACT WITH UNITED FIREFIGHTERS UNION ALL FOR NOTHING
According to Mr Marshall, Chris Reilly, one of the Premier’s right-hand men, had ordered the chief of staff of Industrial Relations Minister Natalie Hutchins to deal with him.
The sense of entitlement on display stunned most MPs.
When Mr Marshall has a problem, he goes directly to the Premier’s office, which tries to make sure he gets what he wants. But if the Premier and his staff fail — for reasons beyond their control — a public explosion follows.
The next Marshall eruption came in October 2015, when Ms Garrett refused to give him what he wanted in a new CFA workplace agreement.
In April the next year, Mr Andrews met personally with Mr Marshall while his emergency services minister was on holiday, and flipped. Six months later, the landscape had completely altered.
MATT JOHNSTON: DANIEL ANDREWS’ BIZARRE UFU STOCKHOLM SYNDROME
Ms Garrett quit as minister rather than accept the EBA.
The CFA’s CEO Lucinda Nolan and chief officer Peter Rau also quit, and its board was sacked.
It was all for nothing.
In October, the Turnbull Government passed legislation to protect volunteer firefighters and kill the agreement in the Fair Work Commission.
Keen to keep the union sweet, in May last year the government announced a radical fire services restructure.
While legislation stalled, the government tried to placate Mr Marshall with a new MFB EBA.
In January, the MFB board agreed 4-3 to an agreement which strengthens the union’s grip on the organisation. The MFB president Andi Diamond quit immediately.
It wasn’t enough.
Later that month, the union headed to court accusing the government of a “union-busting strategy” because it objected to the explanatory memorandum of the agreement.
Mr Marshall got his way again.
When word came this week that UK firefighter Dan Stephens — dubbed a union-buster by the UFU — had been appointed MFB chief, Mr Marshall again accused the government of breaking promises.
On radio, he hinted at a secret deal between himself and the Premier and threatened to reveal all before November’s election. The saga continues.
‘Angels’: Hero Coles workers save mum’s life
A mother of three has opened up on how her life was saved after she suddenly collapsed while doing a routine supermarket shop.
Wildlife and traffic fears over music festival
Wildlife advocates fear a weekend music festival in central Victoria will endanger native animals including rescued joeys.