CFA dispute: Daniel Andrews is our man, says firefighters union

United Firefighters Union chief Peter Marshall has praised Daniel Andrews for his handling of the CFA dispute.

Firefighters rallying on the steps of the Victorian state parliament in Melbourne yesterday listen to United Firefighters union chief Peter Marshall. Picture: Tim Carrafa

United Firefighters Union chief Peter Marshall has praised Daniel Andrews for his handling of the Country Fire Authority dispute, suggesting at a rally outside state parliament that the “compromise” being promoted by the Victorian Premier might yet see the union get much of what it wants.

However, the crisis over the UFU’s push to further unionise the CFA is far from over, despite Victorian Emergency Services Minister Jane Garrett stepping back from threats to quit.

The CFA remains steadfastly opposed to signing a proposed ­enterprise bargaining agreement and says flagged changes will be window dressing.

The compromise struck is light on detail, but commits the govern­ment to examining elements of the union’s claim that ­ignited the row between the CFA, the government and the UFU, in particular mandatory dispatch of seven professional firefighters and the dispute-resolution mechanism that critics say amounts to a right of veto over CFA management’s decisions.

Yesterday, the state opposition used parliament to attack Mr ­Andrews over the issue, asking the Premier what it was that Mr Marshall had over him. The Premier replied that the question was “beneath” Opposition Leader Matthew Guy.

Mr Guy, during a fiery question time that saw 13 MPs booted from the house, was also forced to withdraw a suggestion that ALP frontbencher Martin Foley was a go-between and “bag man” for the Premier and Fair Work Commissioner Julius Roe.

The remark was not backed by any ­detail other than the suggestion the two men were friends and former union officials.

Mr Andrews ­remains on a collision course with the CFA board and volunteers, even if he now has the strong support of the UFU.

Mr Marshall, at a rally of more than 600 unionised firefighters outside parliament just ­before question time, attacked the ­federal and state Coalitions for using firefighters as “political footballs”.

The absence of any criticism of Mr Andrews highlights that the compromise from the Premier on the issue clearly doesn’t worry the union and its leader.

“The Premier is a good man. This is a Premier who came into office and increased firefighting resources that were critically needed,’’ Mr Marshall said.

He said the proposed changes to the EBA didn’t deliver the union everything it wanted, but it accepted the compromise.

As Speaker Telmo Languiller ejected a total of 13 MPs — from both sides — Mr Foley raised a planning controversy involving Mr Guy during his time as a minister. Despite the probing from the opposition, Mr Andrews’s shaky internal truce held together and the government survived the parliamentary day unscathed.

However, federal reverberations continued, with revelations that unhappy volunteers could vent their anger in a slew of ­marginal seats.

Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria remains unhappy with the outcome, and is still seeking to have input into the shaping and implementation of the EBA as well as for the act to prevail over the EBA where there are disputes, and no restrictions on volunteers.