Firefighters pass no-confidence vote against leadership
The United Firefighters Union revealed that 90 per cent of its members have lost faith in Fire Rescue Victoria's top leadership team, making it the third emergency service in the state to withdraw support for its leadership in the past year.
The union has been locked in a long-running dispute with the state government over pay and allowances, while also raising serious safety concerns about ageing and unsafe vehicles.
Nine-out-of-ten members expressed "no confidence" in Commissioner Gavin Freeman, Acting Deputy Secretary Tony Matthews, and Acting Executive Director Tom McPherson.
The latest vote comes just months after Victoria Police members passed a similar motion, which led to the resignation of former Chief Commissioner Shane Patton.
Ambulance Victoria's chief executive Jane Miller also stepped down last year following a no-confidence vote by staff.
Union Secretary Peter Marshall has written to Premier Jacinta Allan and Emergency Services Minister Vicki Ward advising them of the vote and requesting action to repair the relationship with workers and executive leaders.
"In an organisation like a fire brigade, which follows a quasi-military structure, this is not a step that anyone has taken lightly," he said.
Mr Marshall said the vote follows years of mismanagement and leadership failures, which include an 800 per cent rise in spending on consultants in three years, along with a hostile industrial strategy where leaders reneged on promises made to the workforce.
He also said many trucks are past their use-by date, with potentially life-threatening breakdowns putting firefighters and the public at daily risk.
"To keep Victorians safe, emergency service workers need leaders who understand and respect emergency responders and put public safety first" Mr Marshall said.
Mr Freeman said he would continue to work with the state government to resolve the matter as quickly as possible.
"I have full confidence in my executive leadership team, whose commitment to leading with integrity and accountability is delivering a world-class, values-led fire and rescue service for Victorians," he said.
"I am aware that the protracted and complex nature of industrial bargaining has caused frustration and concern among our people."
An industrial dispute concerning pay and conditions between the union and Fire Rescue Victoria has been referred to the Fair Work Commission, after both parties have been unable to reach an agreement.
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