Metropolitan Fire Brigade facing $30 million overtime bill after sharp increase in payments

The Metropolitan Fire Brigade is facing a $10 million blowout in its overtime budget as the United Firefighters Union’s control over rostering drives up costs.

A massive $10 million blowout in overtime payments to Melbourne’s firefighters is causing a budget headache for the Metropolitan Fire Brigade.

The Herald Sun can reveal brigade leaders expect to spend as much as $30 million on overtime payments to firefighters in the current financial year, up from $20.45 million last year.

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It is understood $14 million was paid out in overtime between July and November, with fire services sources saying the sharp increase had caused internal concern.

The overtime budget for this year was set at about $18 million, but the state government will have to find as much as $10 million to cover the extra costs.

Firefighters prepare to work on the giant West Footscray factory fire. Photo: William West/ AFP

The massive West Footscray factory fire in August swamped the MFB’s resources and is understood to have contributed to the increase in overtime payments.

Industry sources also pointed to higher minimum crewing requirements pursued by the UFU, which meant the brigade has had to have more firefighters working on every shift.

The Herald Sun has also been told of continuing concerns that a small number of MFB staff have been taking sudden leave and giving up shifts so that colleagues can be called in and paid overtime.

It comes after reports of a similar budget blowout on overtime in the Country Fire Authority.

The MFB’s 2018 annual report, tabled in parliament this week, showed the brigade was struggling with an $8.9 million net deficit, although its bottom line had improved from a $31 million deficit.

The MFB’s 2018 annual report, tabled in parliament this week, showed the brigade was struggling with an $8.9 million net deficit, although its bottom line had improved from a $31 million deficit.

Overall wage and allowance payments to staff hit $335.8 million last year, up by $6.4 million, as the annual overtime bill increased from $16.1 million in 2015.

An insider said staff at some fire stations employed “a variety of tactics and strategies to maximise overtime opportunities” for themselves and their colleagues.

An MFB spokeswoman said she was “unable to confirm what the actual overtime bill” would be for the current financial year. But she said the spending reflected “increasing demand and improved response arrangements and MFB will always prioritise community safety and the safety of our firefighters”.

“Firefighter safety considerations have increased crewing levels, and other factors such as additional recruit courses and training, along with attendance at several significant and protracted emergency incidents to protect the Victorian community we serve, have all directly affected costs,” the spokeswoman said.

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