Firefighters from Corio and Belmont are among those heading to State Parliament in Melbourne on Tuesday morning, for the largest rally in the history of the United Firefighters Union.
The union is accusing the Andrews Government of ripping up an enterprise bargaining agreement with professional firefighters after two years of negotiations.
Union Victorian Branch Secretary Peter Marshall, said hundreds of professional firefighters, including some from the Geelong region, will hold a protest march in Melbourne’s city centre.
“Firefighters from across Victoria, in particular down in Geelong, Corio and Belmont – they will all be bussing into this rally because they’re over this state government,” Mr. Marshall said.
“We’ve actually got approximately 1,500 to 2,000 firefighters from across the state,” he said.
“And that’s as far as Mildura, Warrnambool and other places.”
Firefighters, along with 20 trucks, will be gathering at the Eastern Hill Fire Station in East Melbourne from 9.15am, before starting their march to the Victorian Parliament on Spring Street and onto the Fair Work Commission on Exhibition Street.
Mr. Marshall said firies have been forced by the Andrews Government to protect their safety and working conditions, when their main focus should be on protecting the community.
“The 2023 bushfire season is expected to be the worst since the Black Summer Fires,” he said.
“But instead of focusing on how they will protect their communities, professional firefighters must now rush to protect their own safety and working conditions against attacks from Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) Commissioner Gavin Freeman and Emergency Services Minister Jaclyn Symes.
“Professional firefighters have done the right thing and have been bargaining with FRV in good faith for over two years, reaching agreement on all but two matters, which was confirmed by FRV to the Fair Work Commission.
“However, FRV and the Victorian Government have reneged on the agreement before the Fair Work Commission.
“After 76 face-to-face meetings and 16 appearances before the Fair Work Commission, the Andrews Government has ripped up the enterprise bargaining agreement in firefighters’ faces.
“As a result, professional firefighters’ safety and working conditions are now on the chopping block.
“This is the last thing professional firefighters should be thinking about as they enter another difficult bushfire season.”
