Fireys strike: Bushfire safety fears as UFU agrees industrial action

VICTORIAN firefighters are set to start rolling stoppages for more than two hours a day in a dramatic escalation of the ongoing industrial dispute.

UFU boss Peter Marshall is instructing MFB and CFA firefighters to walk off the job. Picture: Mark Stewart

• UFU demands ‘extremely unusual’
• Union puts pressure on MFB
• MFB under fireys union a warning to CFA

VICTORIAN firefighters are set to start rolling stoppages for more than two hours a day in a dramatic escalation of the ongoing industrial dispute.

The Herald Sun can reveal the United Firefighters Union is planning industrial action against the MFB and CFA from Tuesday, which the ­Opp­osition fears will compromise safety in the bushfire season.

The CFA is seeking an ­urgent Fair Work Commission hearing to stop the extraordinary action, telling firefighters it would not help seal a new workplace agreement.

The CFA and UFU agreed on a deal five months ago but have since been in ­negotia­tions before the workplace umpire to deal with the union’s concerns about the ­impact on the agreement of new federal laws to protect volunteers.

UFU boss Peter Marshall is instructing MFB and CFA firefighters to walk off the job between 9.15am and 10.15am and 7.15pm and 8.15pm daily to campaign with union T-shirts, badges and stickers.

Peter Marshall National President of the UFUA talks at the meeting at the Melbourne Trades Hall over polling day plans

Firefighters will still resp­ond to incidents as normal and the UFU has told members to stop the action if public safety could be affected.

CFA chief executive Frances Diver said the CFA was committed to working with the UFU to finalise the new EBA.

She said even if the stoppages went ahead, it would “not impact our ability to respond to operational incidents”.

The Herald Sun understands the MFB is considering asking Fair Work to intervene.

The action also includes firefighters ignoring bans on displaying union ­material on fire trucks, refusing to participate in disciplinary procedures, and respond­ing to all work emails in capital letters.

Firefighters will also stop reporting false alarms that call-out fees are charged for.

Peter Marshall speaks to the firefighters. Picture: Tim Carrafa

Opposition emergency services spokesman Brad Battin slammed the Andrews Government for backing the UFU “even when it puts community safety at risk”.

Mr Marshall said firefighters were entitled to exercise their rights but emphasised safety would not jeopardised.

He said the government had “control over this process” and could intervene to end the dispute, but that “it seems it’s not high on the agenda”.

Acting Premier James Merlino said he understood the frustrations of career firefighters and defended their right to protest, amid plans for a mass rally on Parliament on January 19.

He said the CFA and the UFU had reached an agreement and blamed the Federal Government for intervening.

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