The Source: Sparks fly in UFU’s latest row with Fire Rescue Victoria

A heated dispute over electric vehicle charging has revealed relations between the United Firefighters Union and the management of Victoria’s fire services remain as spiteful as ever.

Relations between the United Firefighters Union and the management of Victoria’s fire services remain as spiteful as ever.

Putting the squeeze on Victoria’s movers, shakers and headline makers

Readers craving certainty in the upturned industrial landscape that has seen the almighty CFMEU smashed at the hands of a Labor government, can take comfort that relations between the United Firefighters Union and the management of Victoria’s fire services remain as spiteful as ever.

To paraphrase Churchill the integrity of their quarrel is one of the few institutions that has been unaltered in the cataclysm which has swept the industrial world.

The latest dispute is about the charging of electric vehicles, and shows the union is still as dedicated to fighting for the last perk as it was back in 2015 when it filed a formal grievance charging management with “cutting back on the amount of milk and margarine provided for lunch and tea breaks” at the Thornbury workshop.

On Friday morning Fire Rescue Victoria issued a bulletin to all staff decreeing that “In the interests of safety, no privately owned or operated electric vehicles (EVs) are to be charged at FRV stations or other work sites.”

This followed “an incident at our Burnley site where charging of an employee’s private EV tripped a circuit in the switchboard resulting in some areas losing power”.

The latest dispute in the UFU is about the charging of electric vehicles, and shows the union is still dedicated to fighting for the last perk. Picture: Sam Wilson

Not only that, management had also become aware of “other unsafe practices on our sites to facilitate the charging of EVs” including “the running of extension cords from power outlets through station or workplace windows and doors to carparks – creating trip and electrical hazards for staff and visitors as well as overloading our electrical infrastructure.”

The order was signed by Deputy Commissioners Costa Katsikis, Michelle Cowling, and Michael Morgan.

This might seem reasonable, but the UFU was having none of it and within hours it released a bulletin to all members headed: “COSTA THE UNPLUGGER: Ensuring FRV’s Electrical Bill does not Costa-lotta-money”.

“This morning,” it thundered” “the three Deputies wrote to you about “Charging of personal electric vehicles at FRV stations and work sites” and your safety.

“However, the UFU has been informed that DC Katiskis’ own safety might be at risk as he has been sighted unplugging Electric Vehicles at Eastern Hill FS01!”

More seriously it said the union would be writing to FRV to request it develop a procedure for the safe unplugging of EV chargers, saying “such a procedure would of course protect DC Katsikis, DC Cowling or any other deputy, from inadvertently electrocuting themselves in their pursuit to cut FRV’s electricity bill.”

Charging of electic vehicles has caused a hullabaloo at the UFU. Picture: iStock

It also “respectfully” suggested “that, rather than FRV engaging Kings Counsel, Barristers and an army of lawyers to prosecute Firefighters, Fire Rescue Victoria could repurpose these public monies to ensuring that firefighters can benefit from, and contribute to, the Victorian government’s own renewable energy & zero emissions commitments!”

Wielding the union’s mighty veto power, which prevents management implementing any changes without its consent, it concluded, the “grievance remains unresolved and, accordingly, the Status Quo remains. The Status Quo is that charging of electric vehicles at FRV facilities can continue.”

Not content to let the matter rest there the ‘three amigos’ fired back another directive later that day claiming “Contrary to the UFU’s bulletin regarding the status quo, the charging of EVs at FRV stations and work sites is prohibited and has never been an FRV sanctioned work practice.”

The standoff continues…

Victorian Fire Rescue Commissioner Gavin Freeman.

Still on the FRV, along with its heroic determination to protect its members’ every perk, one of the constants for decades in Victorian fire world has been the UFU’s resolve to maintain the caste system that places career – read paid – firefighters on a different plane to their volunteer counterparts.

Alas on this front too, it appeared to the union that management had been up to no good recently, for also on Friday there appeared another bulletin to all UFU members telling of “A slap in the face to all FRV Professional Career Firefighters.”

What fresh insult could this be, The Source wondered.

Apparently word had reached the union that Fire Rescue Commissioner Gavin Freeman had given “Commissioner’s Citation” awards to two CFA volunteers for their part in last December’s fatal fire at a Dandenong South paint factory.

The union, it said, was “disgusted” at this “latest provocation” which it called “a slap in the face to all FRV professional career firefighters” and had reinforced its view Freeman “is more interested in a photo opportunity, rather than engaging in anything of substance.”

How could this possibly happen when “No member at FS87 – the first responding crews on scene – received a Commissioner’s Citation for their enormous efforts in responding to this dangerous incident”?

“To announce a Commissioner’s Citation against this backdrop is not just poor form – it is a clear demonstration of disrespect towards members and yet another example of Commissioner Freeman turning his nose up at the FRV Values he is meant to embody.”

Indeed so upset were UFU members at the Commissioner’s faux pas that a number of them apparently downed hoses – or to put it in union-speak: “The UFU understands that a number of crew members booked off duty after learning” of his actions.

“Where,” it asked, “is his leadership by example? Where is his value of your teamwork? Where is his integrity? Where is his respect? Where is his accountability?”

Where indeed….

Luckily it was all a big misunderstanding, no disrespect was intended and there was no need for members offended to contact the “Confidential Support Services” listed at the end of the bulletin.

As Freeman later explained in his own bulletin, the CFA volunteers in question had merely been presented with certificates of appreciation for their efforts at the fire.

“The volunteers were not presented with a citation,” which would require very specific criteria be met, he explained, adding “I deeply regret if any of our people feel undervalued and apologise for that. Unfortunately, any reactions people have experienced may well have been made worse by the incorrect information being circulated in relation to the level of presentation made.”

As you can see, it’s same old, same old in fire world.