Daniel Andrews hopes to seal pay deal for firefighters

The deal would see firefighters receive a 12 per cent pay rise over four years, as well as a one-off bonus of about $7000 and annual cash bonuses of about $2000.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Andrew Henshaw

Daniel Andrews says he hopes the United Firefighters Union will agree to a deal which would see firefighters receive a 12 per cent pay rise over four years, as well as a one-off bonus of about $7000 and annual cash bonuses of about $2000.

The Victorian Premier confirmed on Tuesday that cabinet’s expenditure review committee had signed off on the offer, which is being made to the UFU through Fire Rescue Victoria.

“This has been a long journey. I’m keen to resolve it and strike that balance between fairly rewarding our firefighters for the amazing work that they do, but also leaving enough money in the budget so we can keep recruiting more of them, as well as dealing with all the other significant priorities across the public sector,” Mr Andrews said.

Asked whether he was concerned about the “optics” of firefighters receiving $7000 bonuses at a time when government departments have been forced to cut budgets and make staff redundant, the Premier said: “No, no. There’s a wages policy and the wages policy has been applied.”

“I’d just remind people to … have a look back when the last deal was done, when their last pay deal was awarded,” he said.

“Like it’s in line with the government’s wages policy, and that was important to us, and no doubt the union won’t be happy with that because they’d like to see the wages policy a lot higher, but again, balance, you’ve got to strike that balance between being absolutely respectful and grateful to our workforce, no matter which sector they’re in, but also leaving enough money in the budget.”

United Firefighters Union Secretary Peter Marshall. Picture: Aaron Francis.

The UFU had previously demanded a 25 per cent pay rise over three years.

In April, Treasurer Tim Pallas doubled the public sector wage cap from 1.5 per cent to 3 per cent amid rampant inflation, and in June, senior Victorian public service executives were granted a 4 per cent pay rise, and MPs 3.5 per cent.

The firefighters’ offer comes after The Australian last week revealed witnesses in a top secret anti-corruption investigation into dealings between the Andrews government and the UFU were grilled by IBAC about the conduct of the Premier in 2016 ­EBA negotiations, which delivered generous terms and operational control over the Country Fire Authority to the union.

The 2016 EBA prompted the resignation of then Emergency Services Minister Jane Garrett, who fell out with the Premier over the deal.

The Andrews government sacked the entire CFA board that year, and the CFA’s first female chief, Lucinda Nolan, and chief fire officer Joe Buffone, were among others who resigned.

In what was widely seen as a quid pro quo, UFU members played key roles in the Andrews government’s 2014 and 2018 election campaigns.

A subsequent souring of the union’s relationship with the government saw secretary Peter Marshall publicly back the Greens and a range of other left wing minor parties and independents in the most recent November poll.