Metropolitan Fire Brigade prepares to battle United Firefighters Union over continuing pay dispute

VICTORIA’s firefighting crisis is opening up on another front as the Metropolitan Fire Brigade prepares to battle the United Firefighters Union over a continuing pay dispute.

Victoria’s firefighting crisis is opening up on another front as the Metropolitan Fire Brigade prepares to battle the United Firefighters Union over a continuing pay dispute.

VICTORIA’s firefighting crisis is opening up on another front as the Metropolitan Fire Brigade prepares to battle the United Firefighters Union over a continuing pay dispute.

Negotiations over the MFB Operations Enterprise Agreement will return to the Fair Work Commission next Monday, as the union tries to close another contentious pay deal.

It is believed the State Government will face similar opposition to that in the CFA dispute, which saw 11 casualties: nine CFA board members, chief executive Lucinda Nolan, and former emergency services minister Jane Garrett. They lost their posts as Premier Daniel Andrews pushed for a deal with the union.

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The MFB and UFU met 28 times last year but were unable to strike a deal.

Escalating problems with the CFA pay dispute meant talks with the MFB were put on hold in March.

MFB spokesman Phil Buckley flagged talks would restart after the end to the CFA saga.

“MFB has now received confirmation from the UFU of their availability to recommence negotiations through … the Fair Work Commission,’’ Mr Buckley said.

“MFB will continue to bargain in good faith and seeks to quickly resolve all outstanding issues during the upcoming Fair Work hearings.”

Speaking on behalf of the State Government, Hayley McNaughton said: “The government will continue to bargain in good faith and participate in the Fair Work Commission process.

“Like any EBA, the MFB EBA will go through proper process at the Fair Work Commission.”

Liberal leader Matthew Guy said: “Daniel Andrews claimed he had ended his dispute with firefighters, but like most things he says it isn’t true.

“This bullying Premier is running a chaotic, dysfunctional government, which is at war with each other and at war with 60,000 CFA volunteers, and putting the safety of Victorians at risk. This isn’t a government, it’s a circus.”

The UFU did not respond to requests from the Herald Sun for a comment.

At the weekend, hundreds of CFA volunteers protested outside new Emergency Services Minister James Merlino’s office in Belgrave, despite the Government’s claims to have ended the crisis.

Up to 200 volunteer firefighters and 100 plainclothes civilians walked laps of the local shopping strip, chanting “Hands off the CFA.”

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