Head of CFA volunteer association pleads with members to stay and fight against United Firefighters Union

FEARS of an volunteer firefighter exodus have led the head of the CFA volunteer ­association to plead with members to stay on and fight against the United Firefighters Union.

CFA volunteers from Sassafras Ferny Creek are threatening to resign over the MFB/CFA EBA agreement. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

COUNTRY Fire Authority volunteers are threatening to quit over the ­Andrews Government’s union takeover of their organisation.

Fears of an exodus have led the head of the CFA volunteer ­association to plead with members to stay on and fight the United Firefighters Union.

As tearful CFA members told the Sunday Herald Sun they would quit if the new workplace deal went ahead, the crisis deepened yesterday with:

CFA chief executive Lucinda Nolan’s job was placed under increasing threat;

A SACKED CFA board member ­hitting out, saying Victorians were the losers in the dispute;

OPPOSITION leader Bill Shorten’s election campaign in Victoria was ­derailed by the dispute as he avoided campaigning in marginal seats that are CFA strongholds.

CFA volunteers have been enraged that a new pay deal for career firefighters would hand control of the CFA to the Peter Marshall-led UFU.

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CFA volunteers from Sassafras Ferny Creek Shane Miller, Sarah Krumins, Harry English and Norman English. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Andrew Ford, head of Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria, pleaded with his members to stick with him as he vowed to win the battle.

“We need to stay and serve, not succumb to this. We shouldn’t let the union bosses or politicians push us out,” he said.

Sassafras volunteer Sarah Krumins said that she would quit if the UFU took control of the CFA.

“I’ll either walk or I’ll get pushed out,” she said.

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“The union does not want women in the CFA, it’s as simple as that. The women are the ones who go out during the day and fight the fires.”

The State Government sacked the entire CFA board on Friday after it ­refused to sign the pay deal.

A Sunday Herald Sun survey of more than 2440 readers last night found that more than 80 per cent said volunteer firefighters were the most trusted emergency services workers. Paid firefighters received only 4.5 per cent of the vote.

(L-R) Wye River CFA captain Roy Moriarty, Max McCaffrey,Rex Brown, Michael Winn (in truck) and Tony Maly back former minister Jane Garrett. Picture: Norm Oorloff

Brad Battin, Opposition spokesman for emergency services, said: “Everybody agrees this EBA is unlawful and Daniel Andrews is bullying to get the result he wants.”

The CFA board was sacked despite volunteers getting a Supreme Court injunction late on Friday to prevent the government ramming through the deal. The injunction barred the board from signing the deal until the court sits on June 22.

The fate of CFA chief ­Lucinda Nolan now remains under threat, with a new board potentially reviewing her job.

New Emergency Services Minister James Merlino did not guarantee her job yesterday. Asked if he would like her sacked, he said: “That would be a matter for the board.”

The dispute has derailed Labor’s federal campaign. Yesterday Mr Shorten avoided electorates with large CFA numbers, instead choosing to visit the eastern Melbourne electorate of Chisholm.

Asked about whether he supports the CFA EBA given that the Victorian Human Rights Commission found that it breached anti-discrimination laws, Mr Shorten said he supported “equal opportunity”.

Shadow Minister for Emergency Services Mr Brad Battin. Picture: Darrian Traynor

“I do expect that the Government and the CFA will resolve this issue,” he said.

UFU chief Mr Marshall did not comment yesterday.

Mr Ford said that the CFA was a proud organisation that had outlasted more than 45 premiers. “Premiers, governments, politicians and union leaders all come and go. They are small footnotes in history, but volunteers and volunteerism are forever. It’s the Australian way,” he said.

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QUESTIONS PUT TO THE GOVERNMENT

1. Why has Mr Andrews put the demands of Peter Marshall ahead of the CFA volunteers?

This is a complete lie. All sides have made concessions and it is now time to end this dispute. Volunteers will play the vital role they always have going into this fire season and this will never, ever change.

2. Does Mr Andrews want paid firefighters to take over the CFA?

This is a complete lie being told by the Liberal Party and others who don’t have the interests of the CFA at heart. Volunteers are the lifeblood of country communities and this will never, ever change.

3. Did Mr Andrews pressure Jane Garrett to resign?

Absolutely not.

4. How can the CFA provide a good service while in turmoil?

The most important step in protecting our community this upcoming fire season is ending the misinformation, ending the scare campaigns, and ending this war that has been going on for over 1000 days.

Our volunteer and career firefighters are the world’s best and are always fiercely committed to keeping our state safe.

5. Has Bill Shorten called Mr Andrews to raise concerns about the damage this is doing to his campaign?

No, but I do talk to Bill regularly about how disastrous a Liberal Government is for working Victorians.