According to the AWU, forest firefighters working under the Field Staff and Wild Dog Controller Enterprise Agreement are paid in the bottom five per cent of all employees working for the Victorian Government. Photo: Facebook.
Union members working at Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMV) have begun protected industrial action in their effort to bargain for better wages and conditions under their employer, the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA).
Since June, delegates of the government agency from the Australian Workers’ Union (AWU) have been negotiating an enterprise agreement, following the union’s lodging of a dispute with the Fair Work Commission (FWC) in April.
The AWU claims discussions have been cordial and there has been progression of several non-monetary claims. However wage negotiations have allegedly stalled due to the Victorian Government’s wage policy, which mandates wage increases no greater than three per cent per annum.
AWU Forest Firefighters are demanding five per cent increases in addition to parity with their Parks Victoria counterparts.
Union president and lead organiser for country Victoria Ross Kenna said its members didn’t take industrial action lightly and had ensured their actions wouldn’t impact the safety of Victorians – “but we need to do something to get the government’s attention”.
“Every single day they work hard to ensure the Victorian community is protected,” he said. “That these workers are paid poverty wages is a disgrace and indictment on the government.
“Whilst we understand Victoria is under financial stress, it is not because of the wages of these hardworking members. The debt should not be paid off on the back of the workers that protect Victoria.”
On 23 October, workers from across the Fire Rescue Victoria service held a rally through Melbourne’s streets amid union efforts for better wages, job security and safer conditions. Photo: Facebook.
FFMV employees are often the first workers on the ground when communities are threatened by bushfires, though also provide recovery and prevention support in floods and storm strikes. The workforce is also called on for biosecurity threats – such as the Avian influenza in western Victoria earlier this year – where employees are sent to manage and contain outbreaks.
AWU members are demanding Emergency Services Minister Jaclyn Symes and Premier Jacinta Allan take down the government’s wages policy so they can achieve their bargaining goal.
Mr Kenna said now was the time for the government to show this workforce that Victoria not only thanked them but rewarded them for the service they provided.
“This isn’t a greedy money grab; we worry if the wages policy is upheld that most of our experienced workers who have the knowledge and skills to protect the state will be forced out, unable to raise a family with the wages currently on offer.
“None of our members do the job for the money; every single firefighter I’ve been lucky enough to speak to loves their job, but they just can’t continue with the wages they are paid.”
FFMV’s industrial action comes amid negotiations between the Victorian Government, Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) and the United Firefighters Union (UFU) over a new wage deal and revitalisation of the service’s equipment.
In October the UFU held a rally through Melbourne’s CBD, for which attending firefighters on duty at the time had their pay docked by the government.
According to a memo sent to all FRV staff that was seen by the ABC, Commissioner Gavin Freeman said “blocking Melbourne’s streets and a public transport route to major hospitals with appliances funded by Victorian taxpayers was a misuse of public resources”.
Over the past few months, each of the parties have been attending regular bargaining hearings at the FWC due to their failure to strike a deal. The State Government’s last offer to increase pay over four years by 12 per cent with bonuses was rejected by the union.
FFMV recently urged Victorians to prepare for an increase in fire activity across large parts of the state this coming summer. Photo: AFAC.
On the same day of the AWU’s industrial action launch, FFMV put out a release informing the public of a higher potential for fire in the west and northeast of Victoria, southwest Gippsland and the Mornington Peninsula.
Citing data from the National Council for Fire and Emergency Services’ (AFAC), FFMV Chief Fire Officer Chris Hardman AFSM said “recent fires and hot, dry weather conditions in Victoria are a clear warning about the risks this summer”.
