By KATH GANNAWAY
CFA VOLUNTEER firefighters from Gruyere through to Warburton voiced their opposition on Sunday 26 June to what they say is a union take-over of the CFA – and many have labelled it an attack on democracy.
A convoy of fire trucks made its way along the Warburton Highway from Wandin, stopping at Yarra Junction and Warburton to address supporters.
The convoy included volunteers from Gruyere, Wandin, Seville, Hillcrest, Hoddles Creek, Yellingbo, Yarra Junction, Wesburn/Millgrove, Warburton, Reefton and Little Yarra brigades.
CFA Volunteer brigades have rallied across the state in recent weeks as the bitter, protracted and complex dispute between the CFA and the United Firefighters Union (UFU) representing paid firefighters has spiralled out of control.
The CFA board, which has since been sacked by the State Government, expressed their concerns, saying the proposed Enterprise Bargaining Agreement at the heart of the dispute, undermined volunteers and allowed the UFU operational and management control of the CFA.
Hillcrest CFA Captain Fiona Burns’ on-line call out in the Mail on Thursday was rewarded with a strong show of support from communities along the highway.
Ms Burns said people came out to the roadside, honked their horns, flicked lights and gave the volunteers the thumbs up out of their cars as the convoy passed.
“It’s always really good to see that level of support out of the community and it is really appreciated,” she said.
Captain Burns said their message to the local communities was that the brigades were speaking with a united voice and still had concerns about parts of the proposed EBA.
“I think one of the positives that has come out of this (CFA rallies) is that there has been a promise of some consultation as part of that, so we hope now that that will be real and meaningful consultation and not just a token offer.”
The Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria (VFBV), representing CFA volunteers, announced on Friday that an agreement had been reached under a Supreme Court Order that would provide the organisation with a court supervised process to ensure “… genuine engagement occurred with the new CFA Board and CEO”.
According to the VFBV website, under the Order, the CFA is not permitted to initiate the EBA approval process prior to 20 July.
In an open Letter to the Editor sent to the Mail last week, Premier Daniel Andrews said lies spread about the new CFA agreement were causing unnecessary concern for volunteers, and gave reassurances over some of the contentious issues stating again that the role of volunteers was not altered by the agreement.
“To suggest it will destroy the CFA is the most irresponsible lie of all,” he wrote.
Captain Burns, in an Open Letter to CFA and All Victorians, refutes that claim however, saying “The dispute is about clauses which would give effective control of certain decisions to those who have no responsibility of accountability for them.”
“The intent in these clauses is not clear and open to interpretation,” she said.
Her letter addresses the concerns voiced by thousands of CFA volunteers in recent weeks, saying the dispute has transcended the EBA and is “ … now about much more – it is about fairness, respect and democracy”.
Read their letters on the Mail website Mail.Starcommunity.com.au (Caravan of Courage – 24 June).
See Page 23 for more Convoy photos by Mail photographer Greg Carrick.
