CFA-Guardian angels of our state

[Rosy]

From the UFU agreement.

45.13
The CFA will meet it's duty of care by ensuring seven firefighters to fireground incidents before commencement of safe firefighting

45.14
The CFA will meet it's duty of care by ensuring that there are four professional career firefighters on all appliances except where agreed as provided*

*different set numbers for different appliances.

 

[Rosy]

That isn't really the main concern though as ludicrous as it may seem. A major concern is the core business of the CFA and the UFU's ability to manipulate and overrule it. The new EBA has the power of veto over all CFA training. Last year in our region a course was organised for 250 volunteers to learn chainsaw familiaristion. The union stopped it proceeding. As a result the volunteers were out in the field using chainsaws they weren't trained or qualified to use.

From Alex Caughy, VFBV District 12 Sectretary..

The CFA, comprising 56,000 to 60,000 volunteer firefighters and around 1000 paid firefighters, made an appeal to make a representation in front of the Fair Work Commission, however they were only granted 10 minutes out of the 5 hours.

The Volunteers Association had also made a request for a representation in front of the Fair Work Commission but were rejected and therefore weren't heard.

In contrast the UFU were given 5 hours.

How such a powerful union could have the power to control the CFA is beyond me. They obviously don't have the volunteers at heart unfortunately. Meanwhile while Nero fiddles...........

Proud to be long serving and active members of our local brigade...and sick of the beaurocratic :bs

 

[Slinger]

It is correct that is what has being put forward to the CFA brigades of that the UFU wants. Slinger is wrong.

"At 31 of the 34 integrated stations (that's 31 out of 1200 CFA fire stations), 7 career firefighters will be dispatched to fires that they are attending. Whoever arrives first, volunteer or career, will immediately begin the firefight. If the first responding vehicle advises that the matter is under control, other trucks will be recalled" - UFU Secretary Peter Marshall.

"The role of volunteers in fighting bushfires and maintaining community safety and delivering high quality services to the public in remote and regional areas and in integrated stations is not altered by this Agreement." -Fair Work Commissioner Roe


Rosy and mk33 your concerns are unwarranted.

 

[LeeToRainesToRoach]

that is allegedly not true. hence my point.

It's the belief of an emergency services worker I spoke to yesterday. Says the agreement is unworkable and needs to be re-written, but the union is slapping band-aid fixes on it and trying to railroad it through.

 

[mk33]

Jacinta Garrett has resigned from Cabinet, the CFA board likely to be sacked.
The UFU has got their way because Dan loves a union and there is no votes for him in the country.
Not a great day for Victoria and CFA volunteers.

 

[Baloo]

I admire Garrett for sticking to her guns. I can only assume she's part of a big faction and this will only be seen as a minor career setback. Or maybe even the dreaded "1 step backward, 2 steps forward"

 

[Rosy]

Looks like the CFA board is about to be sacked. Wonder what Shorten thinks of all this. I don't know a volunteer CFA member who is happy about it.

 

[Baloo]

It all depends on how many swing seats there are in country areas

 

[Slinger]

Jacinta Garrett has resigned from Cabinet, the CFA board likely to be sacked.
The UFU has got their way because Dan loves a union and there is no votes for him in the country.
Not a great day for Victoria and CFA volunteers.

If you can, explain to me how this EBA is a negative for CFA volunteers.

 

[Slinger]

Looks like the CFA board is about to be sacked. Wonder what Shorten thinks of all this. I don't know a volunteer CFA member who is happy about it.

I know plenty of CFA & MFB fireys who are very happy the CFA board will be sacked.

Anyone who had to train at Fiskville will be downing a few cold ones tonight.

Good riddance- they're lucky the sack is all they're getting.

 

[Tommy H]

I admire Garrett for sticking to her guns. I can only assume she's part of a big faction and this will only be seen as a minor career setback. Or maybe even the dreaded "1 step backward, 2 steps forward"

Jane is my local member. She is an amazing woman who represents my beliefs. She has been shafted by Andrews. Hopefully this post gets posted in the next 48 hours....disgraceful behavior happening with my account on this site.

 

[MB78]

I know plenty of CFA & MFB fireys who are very happy the CFA board will be sacked.

Anyone who had to train at Fiskville will be downing a few cold ones tonight.

Good riddance- they're lucky the sack is all they're getting.

Slinger you seemed to be very well informed on this subject. Why are everyday volunteers speaking out across rural Vic in protest?

Will this new agreement help make the community safer due to the changes?

And does this cover DSE staff who do a lot of the burnoffs in rural Vic?

 

[Slinger]

Slinger you seemed to be very well informed on this subject. Why are everyday volunteers speaking out across rural Vic in protest?

Will this new agreement help make the community safer due to the changes?

And does this cover DSE staff who do a lot of the burnoffs in rural Vic?

G'day 78

1- I'm not sure why some volunteers are speaking out & seeing this EBA as a negative- that's why I asked mk33

2- the new agreement will make the community safer due to faster response times in the relevant areas (as I wrote earlier, there are only 34 integrated CFA stations in Victoria- out of 1200). Importantly it will also make the job of the firefighters safer.

3- As for the DSE, sorry no idea.

 

[WesternTiger]

Slinger you seemed to be very well informed on this subject. Why are everyday volunteers speaking out across rural Vic in protest?

Will this new agreement help make the community safer due to the changes?

And does this cover DSE staff who do a lot of the burnoffs in rural Vic?

Doesn't cover DELWP MB. They are covered under the VPS EBA which was just signed off and we are represented by the Community and Public Sector Union. DELWP seasonal fire fighters are also under a different agreement and represented by the AWU.

 

[kb7882]

I have been a volunteer in 2 rural CFA brigades.
One relatively remote, and the other close to a major regional centre with Professional firefighters employed.
Guess which brigade was more effective at "getting the job done", without the "big town" red tape slowing us down ?
I don't wish to have big-city union officials telling me how to do my duty.

"PROTECTING LIVES AND PROPERTY" Doing it proudly, and bloody well properly.

Hope you don't have too much blood on your hands next fire season, Mr. Andrews. And I don't mean Jane Garrett's either.

 

[dcstar]

I have been a volunteer in 2 rural CFA brigades.
One relatively remote, and the other close to a major regional centre with Professional firefighters employed.
Guess which brigade was more effective at "getting the job done", without the "big town" red tape slowing us down ?
I don't wish to have big-city union officials telling me how to do my duty.
.........

And yet there still hasn't been one example in the media about how "big-city union officials" will be able to "tell" anyone to do anything, just nebulous fear which seems to be totally based on ignorance given what I have read when I decided to do some research into this saga.

The "big-city union officials" are the actual Professional firefighters that are now being slandered in the media by people who don't seem to realise this, and they happily work next to volunteers in the bigger CFA stations. Now it seems that a lot of the CFA volunteers in these stations are getting rather pissed-off with these attacks on their colleagues by people who have nothing to do with the EBA and basically don't know what they are talking about.

 

[joegarra]

I don't know the details, but I hope the CFA board wait until the four volunteer members are appointed before they vote on the EBA. It is very worrying that James Merlino said the board is now operational because it has 5 members (all government appointees). It looks fairer if the vote is 5-4 then 5-0.

 

[Brodders17]

is this issue at all about the fact that metro areas have expanded greatly, and previous country towns are now regional centres. As a result many outer suburbs and urban areas outside of melbourne are still protected by the CFA when they should have the same service as areas closer to the CBD?

 

[Slinger]

I don't know the details, but I hope the CFA board wait until the four volunteer members are appointed before they vote on the EBA. It is very worrying that James Merlino said the board is now operational because it has 5 members (all government appointees). It looks fairer if the vote is 5-4 then 5-0.

G'day Joe- CFA & VFBV are now discussing the EBA. Won't be signed before July 20. (2016 hopefully!)

 

[Slinger]

And yet there still hasn't been one example in the media about how "big-city union officials" will be able to "tell" anyone to do anything, just nebulous fear which seems to be totally based on ignorance given what I have read when I decided to do some research into this saga.

The "big-city union officials" are the actual Professional firefighters that are now being slandered in the media by people who don't seem to realise this, and they happily work next to volunteers in the bigger CFA stations. Now it seems that a lot of the CFA volunteers in these stations are getting rather p!ssed-off with these attacks on their colleagues by people who have nothing to do with the EBA and basically don't know what they are talking about.

Excellent post David