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Category: Unions / Fires / State Parliament / Emergency Planning / Industrial Relations

Fire union in bid to stop vote on CFA workplace agreement

Thursday, 17 Nov 2016 17:29:17 | Jean Edwards

The UFU's Peter Marshall is "deeply concerned" Fair Work will reject the CFA workplace deal. (ABC News: Stephanie Anderson)

Victoria's firefighters' union has tried to delay a vote on the controversial Country Fire Authority (CFA) workplace agreement because of fears the industrial umpire will reject the deal.

In an email to state Labor MPs accidentally sent to the Opposition, United Firefighters Union (UFU) secretary Peter Marshall said he was "deeply concerned" the CFA intended to put the proposed deal to a vote "without the necessary protections needed" as a result of the Federal Government's changes to the Fair Work Act.

"The UFU's Queens Counsel have suggested a number of protective mechanisms which have been dismissed by the CFA," he wrote.

"Clearly if the CFA apply to have the proposed agreement certified in its current form, the VFBV [Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria] and the Federal Government will intervene and object which will result in either the Fair Work Commission refusing to certify the agreement or the removal of a significant number of key clauses resulting in the significant loss of entitlements for employees.

"The UFU has acted in good faith with the Andrews Labor Government and respectfully requests that the agreements which have been made are honoured in full."

The union and the State Government have repeatedly argued the proposed agreement does not affect volunteers and branded the Turnbull Government's legislation forcing emergency services agencies to consider them in industrial deals a political stunt.

The Federal Government has formally vowed to intervene to try to block the CFA deal after the career firefighters' vote by requesting a hearing by the full bench of the commission and making a submission opposing the proposed agreement's approval.

Three years of dispute

In a letter to CFA management, lawyers for Employment Minister Michaelia Cash argue dozens of clauses are unlawful and discriminatory.

Last month, volunteer firefighters abandoned their Supreme Court battle against the deal, which they claim will hand too much power to the union.

But Mr Marshall warned Government MPs there was more industrial and legal wrangling to come.

"We are writing to inform you that there is a perception that since the VFBV's withdrawal of the Supreme Court action that this matter has been resolved. It hasn't," he said.

AustraliaPlus


 

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