Mond

Friday, 28 July 2006

BRACKS MUST SUPPORT CFA VOLUNTEERS

Victoria’s 58,000 CFA volunteers’ concerns with the current enterprise bargaining agreement (EBA) of the United Firefighter’s Union (UFU) must be fixed by the Bracks Government immediately according to Bill Sykes, Member for Benalla and Nationals Spokesperson for Police & Emergency Services.

Dr Sykes said, “The CFA Board has refused to sign off on ‘rolling over’ of the current EBA because a number of clauses in the EBA have enabled the UFU to frustrate the CFA Board carrying out its statutory responsibilities to provide effective fire protection services for country Victoria and outer metropolitan Melbourne.

“It is totally unacceptable that the CFA Board is prevented from doing the job it was appointed to do.

“The CFA volunteers have become frustrated by this situation and have threatened to stage a mass protest in Melbourne unless the CFA Board can efficiently carry out its statutory responsibilities and CFA volunteer interests are protected.”

Dr Sykes continued, “The Leader of The Nationals, Peter Ryan and I have this week met with local CFA volunteers at Euroa, Benalla and Mooroopna.

“We have assured them of our 100% commitment to protecting volunteers’ interests whilst at the same time ensuring that career fire fighters’ interests are also protected.”

“All parties in the current dispute agree on over 80% of the EBA which ensure appropriate pay and work conditions for career fire fighters. The sticking point relates to the requirement of UFU ‘agreement’ on management issues such as protective clothing, building construction, payment of CFA volunteers to train other volunteers etc.

“The CFA Board must be given and must accept responsibility to manage without undue interference. In the unlikely event that they fail to execute their responsibilities properly they can be sacked.”

Dr Sykes concluded, “I join Peter Ryan, Leader of The Nationals, in calling on the Premier, Mr Bracks, to do what is necessary to resolve this stalemate in the best interests of CFA volunteers, career fire fighters and the communities which they service so well”.

Media contact: Bill Sykes (03) 5762 2100 or 0427 624 989