UFU boss Peter Marshall hints of secret deal between the firefighters’ union and Premier Daniel Andrews
THE FIREFIGHTERS’ union has lashed out at the state government over the appointment of a UK firefighter as the new MFB chief.
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UNITED Firefighters Union secretary Peter Marshall has hinted at a secret deal between himself and Premier Daniel Andrews over fire services.
The enraged union boss said Mr Andrews and Emergency Services James Merlino had broken promises made to his union after the MFB appointed a chief executive his union did not approve of.
GOVERNMENT PUTS HEAT ON MFB DEAL
Mr Marshall said there “were discussions” with Mr Andrews and Mr Merlino held prior to the last state election and promises had been broken.
“What we want is the promises made by Daniel Andrews and James Merlino,’’ he said speaking to ABC radio.
“They will come out closer to the election”
“I just want promises to be kept and they will come out in the near future.”
“There were discussions that will come out in the near future.”
Mr Marshall said the new MFB boss — Dan Stephens the former head of Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service — was a union attack dog.
He said Mr Stephens appointment had “broken a promise” Mr Andrews and Mr Merlino had made during the heat of political combat.
Mr Marshall also repeatedly refused to answer questions by presenter Raf Epstein if he held a secret tape of discussions he had with the Premier before the 2014 election.
UNION LASHES OUT AT MFB APPOINTMENT
THE FIREFIGHTERS’ union has lashed out at the state government over the appointment of a new MFB chief.
The United Firefighters Union said the appointment of UK firefighter Dan Stephens was a “low-point in government and union relations and will be a defining moment in the short and long term relationship.”
The UFU released a bulletin which said the Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service chief in England, Dan Stephens, was a reported union-buster.
The bulletin — which was authorised by state secretary Peter Marshall — said it was concerned the appointment would import the UK fire services’ “culture of forfeiting safe working conditions and firefighter positions for pecuniary purposes.”
The bulletin says Mr Stephens’ appointment would “reinforce the anti-union, anti-employee culture.”
The bulletin lashed out that the union was not consulted before Mr Stephens was approved.
“The UFU was assured that the union would be consulted prior to any appointment,’’ it said.
“The MFB Board and the Andrews’ Government had repeatedly made statements about building positive relationships and undoing the damage of the past.
“The UFU was not consulted and is yet to be officially informed that Mr Stephens has been appointed.”
MFB: “WE FOUND THE VERY BEST”
Earlier the MFB announced former senior British fire chief Dan Stephens would head the Metropolitan Fire Brigade.
Mr Stephens, former chief fire officer at Merseyside in the United Kingdom, will move to Melbourne to head the MFB.
The MFB announced Mr Stephens as both chief officer and CEO on Wednesday, following an international search for a candidate.
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Board president Jasmine Doak said: “We really wanted the absolute best person for the MFB so we didn’t want to limit ourselves to this town, or this state, or this country”.
“We looked internationally and we found the very best person in Dan.”
Mr Stephens has a wealth of experience in firefighting and emergency services, as well as working with unions, Ms Doak said.
“Dan has a great relationship with the (Fire Brigades Union) in the UK at the moment, he works in a unionised workforce and he knows how important that is.
“He will build all the relationships he needs once he gets here.”
The Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service released a statement on Monday confirming Mr Stephens’ departure for Australia.
The Liverpool Echo reported Mr Stephens had become a very vocal opponent of government cuts to fire engines and stations. He said the cuts compromised public safety.
Mr Stephens was backed by rank and file firefighters in Merseyside for his “down to earth” approach. Union bosses described his tenure as a “breath of fresh air”.
Mr Stephens appointment comes at a time of turmoil at the MFB.
He will take over from acting chief executive Greg Leach, who took the reins in January following the resignation of Russell Eddington.
Former president Andi Diamond resigned in January after the passage of a controversial workplace agreement between the MFB and the United Firefighters Union.
The Turnbull Government is considering legal moves to block the deal on the grounds it is discriminatory.
Earlier Emergency Minister James Merlino said the MFB would make the announcement when ready, despite the information being made publicly available in the UK already.
“Obviously there are processes within the MFB,’’ Mr Merlino said.
“We are getting towards the end of that and an announcement will be made shortly.
“What we have seen for not one or two years but for decades is that we have had management and the workforce at war with each other we need to find the best person for the job whether that person is from Australia or overseas.
Mr Merlino declined to discuss whether the United Firefighters Union and the secretary Peter Marshall directly opposed Mr Stephens appointment but the minister said “we will continue to work with our firefighters” if concerns were raised.
“I am not going to divulge conversations that I have had as a minister with each individual stakeholder.”
His comments come after the UFU sent around a Bulletin on Tuesday night about an emergency meeting to be held on Monday raising concerns about “the future of the fire services”.
It highlighted recent MFB activities as a concern, mainly in the escalation of workplace disputes rather than resolutions.
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