Victorian firefighters launch bid for $50m in backdated overtime

Victorian firies claim they have been underpaid for years and are seeking overtime backpayments which could cost the government up to $50m.

A fight is underway by Victorian firefighters, who have launched a bid for backdated overtime, totalling up to $50 million.

The 31 former CFA staff and one MFB member are all now employed by Fire Rescue Victoria and want the Fair Work Commission to clarify overtime provisions in their enterprise bargaining agreements.

They argue they have been underpaid since at least 2016 because of the way special rosters and rest period provisions have been applied.

If successful the 32 member claim is expected to cost the FRV an estimated $500,000 in backdated overtime.

But that cost is tipped to blow out to up to $50 million once applied to the force’s 3,600 operational staff.

Members say they have been pressured to drop the action in exchange for a one-off payment from FRV who have set up a working group to address issues from the old CFA and MFB enterprise agreements.

The working group includes representatives of the United Firefighters Union, FRV, CFA and is chaired by former Fair Work Commissioner Julius Roe, who approved prior agreements.

But concerned members say it is an attempt to reduce the full impact of the claims.

It comes amid record overtime claims for career firefighters.

Victorian firefighters have launched a bid to claim millions of dollars in backpay. Picture: Zoe Phillips

Last year MFB operational career firefighters lodged $37.73 million in overtime claims, with just $1.8 million of that spent responding to a fire call.

In 2014-15 the MFB’s overtime bill was just $16.1 million.

Under the United Firefighters Union enterprise agreement with FRV career firefighters receive an hour’s pay if contacted at home on a work-related matter, are paid a minimum of four hours at double time, if retained on duty at the end of their rostered shift for 60 minutes or more, and are entitled to 65.06 days recreation-annual leave per annum which shall accrue.

Gembrook MP Brad Battin said he was aware of widespread concern about the legal fight.

“Daniel Andrews and Labor signed off on sweetheart deal with the United Firefighters Union to silence the UFU at the 2018 state election with promised payments no other emergency services worker gets,” he said.

“UFU Secretary Peter Marshall is working with his Labor mates to prevent his union members from cashing in on these excessive payments in order to save Labor from an embarrassing payout worth tens of millions of dollars.”

Opposition Emergency Services spokesman Tim Smith accused the Andrews government of signing an agreement with the UFU that “treats the taxpayers of Victoria like an ATM”.

“This waste must stop,” he said.

“We always knew that this EBA was a blank cheque for the UFU. Don’t forget that Peter Marshall is the highest paid union official in the country with his annual salary well over $450,000.

“The EBA that the Andrews Labor Government signed with the UFU was an attempt to buy off a militant union. A number of the provisions in this agreement simply wouldn’t pass the pub test.”

A government spokesperson said it would be inappropriate to comment on industrial relation matters currently under consideration by the Fair Work Commission.

“Firefighters work tirelessly to keep the community safe and we work closely with Fire Rescue Victoria and CFA to ensure they’re supported,” she said.

An FRV spokesperson refused to comment.