‘We are simply fodder’: Fire rescue staff revolt against union boss

Fire rescue staff working in non-operational roles at Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) have launched a formal push for the government to step in and end what they describe as a five-year stalemate in wage negotiations. The corporate and technical staff, covering areas such as administration, legal, technology, and support, have signed a petition demanding that the state government and FRV bypass the United Firefighters Union (UFU) and present a direct pay deal to them. Their frustration stems from the lack of a new enterprise agreement since 2021, during which time they have not received a raise that accounts for inflation. According to internal sources, the UFU leader, Peter Marshall, appears to be delaying the process while awaiting developments in a separate pay dispute involving operational firefighters. That dispute, which began in 2022, is currently under review by the Fair Work Commission. Typically, such rulings would restrict the UFU's ability to conduct campaigns on FRV premises. However, the ongoing negotiations for the corporate staff’s enterprise bargaining agreement (EBA) have created a loophole allowing the union to continue its outreach efforts, including the placement of posters and other promotional materials, which are otherwise prohibited for operational staff. Staff members described feeling used as leverage in the broader union strategy. One anonymous employee said, “We are simply fodder for uniformed staff.” This sentiment reflects the belief among many corporate workers that their stalled negotiations are being manipulated to serve the interests of operational firefighters rather than addressing their specific needs. FRV has acknowledged the concerns raised by these staff members. A spokesperson stated, “FRV understands that the prolonged industrial negotiations have been challenging for our corporate and technical workforce.” They confirmed that the organization has made seven offers to the UFU since 2021, with the most recent submitted on August 14. The union was expected to respond by the following Friday. However, the UFU’s public website characterizes the latest offer as inadequate, stating it does not adequately compensate workers for the past six years. The proposed deal includes an $8,000 lump sum payment and back pay up to January, along with wage increases of 6 percent in 2026 and 3 percent annually through 2029. Despite these figures, the union has yet to put the proposal to a vote, leaving the staff in limbo. The situation has drawn attention from the Victorian government, which expressed concern over the extended duration of the talks. A government spokesperson noted, “The ball is now in the UFU’s court, FRV has made seven offers to resolve this agreement and deliver the pay rises workers deserve.” Meanwhile, Marshall faces additional challenges as new federal legislation compels the Fair Work Commission to reassess the arguments surrounding the firefighters' pay deal. This could allow him to retain certain provisions within the union’s current agreement, which have been highlighted in two reports by the Independent Broadsheet Audit Commission (IBAC). These provisions have been the subject of scrutiny by the government, which has attempted to phase them out. The firefighters’ pay deal reached in 2025 remains a focal point in the broader labor disputes affecting FRV. As the situation unfolds, the outcome of the negotiations could set a precedent for how future agreements are structured, particularly regarding the influence of unions in multi-tiered work environments. With both sides entrenched in their positions, the resolution of this conflict remains uncertain, pending the UFU’s response to FRV’s latest offer and the potential impact of the new federal legislation on existing union agreements.