Issues of Interest

Don't Let Union Campaign Cause Panic

Media Release:

The body representing CFA volunteers has urged people in the Geelong region not to be anxious over irresponsible claims that they are not adequately protected from fire.

Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria (VFBV) says the claims are just part of a union campaign for more paid positions with the CFA.

“We respect their right to campaign for their members, but if you listened to the United Firefighters Union, you would almost think there were no fire brigades in the area at all,” said VFBV Executive Officer Allan Monti.

“The union campaign ignores the reality that there are 60,000 CFA volunteers in Victoria, and that the volunteers manning your local tankers are professionally trained firefighters,” Mr Monti said.

He said the union is just doing what it is paid to do, campaigning for more jobs and more influence.

“Unfortunately, what serves the union’s best interests is not always what serves the community’s best interests,” Mr Monti said.

“The volunteers agree there should be better use of paid firefighters in Victoria, but they should be stationed where they will do the most good, not where they do the most good for the union,” he said.

Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria wants paid firefighters sent to stations where they can take over the shifts that are most difficult to fill with volunteers.

“That usually means the day shift at busier stations would be the best place for any paid firefighters,” Mr Monti said.

“But the union wants stations manned by paid firefighters round the clock, which means the community could well be paying them to sit there during the quieter times,” he said.

“And the union’s campaign is doing no good at all for the confidence or comfort of communities that are perfectly well served by volunteer brigades.”

VFBV points out that when it comes to the local CFA brigade, there’s a lot of training, experience and knowhow that goes into the word ‘volunteer’.

“When your local volunteer brigade turns out, the people on that tanker will have TAFE-level qualifications in fire fighting and rescue work, and most will have 10 or 20 years of fire fighting experience as well,” Mr Monti said.

“All across the state, every day of the year, those volunteers are providing a professional service,” he said.

Media inquiries:

Peter Beaton, VFBV, (03) 9886 1141 or 0419 504 111.
 

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