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Victorian Firefighters’ Union Threatens Legal Action Against Its Own Members - Melbourne, VIC
Smart summary
The United Firefighters Union’s Victorian branch is pursuing unpaid $644 levies from members to help cover legal expenses, sparking criticism from some firefighters over the additional financial burden.
The Victorian branch of the United Firefighters Union of Australia is threatening legal action against some of its own members who have not paid a special $644 levy intended to help cover the organisation’s legal expenses. The dispute has raised questions about the financial pressure on firefighters and the costs associated with the union’s ongoing legal battles.
The union introduced the levy following a decision made at member meetings. According to the union, the additional payment is intended to help fund legal proceedings involving Fire Rescue Victoria, particularly disputes over the firefighters’ enterprise bargaining agreement. Some members have already paid the levy, while others have received formal letters warning that court proceedings could follow if the outstanding amounts are not settled.
The letters were sent through law firm Slater and Gordon. They warn recipients that, if legal proceedings commence, members could be required to pay the levy along with interest and legal costs ordered by a court. The union has not disclosed how many members have received these letters.
Some firefighters have criticised the approach, arguing that a union should support its members rather than threaten them with legal action over an additional payment. One senior firefighter, who spoke anonymously, questioned whether pursuing relatively small debts through lawyers could ultimately cost more than the unpaid levies themselves. The firefighter also raised concerns about the effect the dispute could have on members’ wellbeing.
Union secretary Peter Marshall defended the decision. He said members had agreed to the levy through five union meetings and that the decision was carried unanimously. Marshall also said the members who received legal letters had been contacted several times beforehand, rather than being approached without warning. He added that members experiencing financial or other difficulties could contact him confidentially to discuss their circumstances.
The dispute comes amid substantial legal expenditure by the union. Its financial statements indicate that the Victorian branch spent almost $2.3 million on legal fees in the previous financial year and more than $10 million over six years. The union has also been involved in proceedings concerning the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC), which investigated matters relating to earlier firefighter enterprise bargaining negotiations.
The current industrial dispute with Fire Rescue Victoria has continued since 2021, with the service reportedly making seven enterprise bargaining offers during that period. The disagreement is one of several legal matters involving the union. Some firefighters have argued that a more restrained approach to litigation could have reduced the need for extra payments from members.
The union has previously imposed additional levies to cover legal expenses. Between 2014 and 2018, members were charged an extra $500 annually to fund legal action against the then Victorian Liberal government. The immediate issue is whether members who have not paid the current levy will settle their debts or face court proceedings. The disagreement also highlights a wider challenge for membership organisations: balancing collective legal action with the financial obligations imposed on individual members.
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The Victorian branch of the United Firefighters Union of Australia is threatening legal action against some of its own members who have not paid a special $644 levy intended to help cover the organisation’s legal expenses. The dispute has raised questions about the financial pressure on firefighters and the costs associated with the union’s ongoing legal battles.
The union introduced the levy following a decision made at member meetings. According to the union, the additional payment is intended to help fund legal proceedings involving Fire Rescue Victoria, particularly disputes over the firefighters’ enterprise bargaining agreement. Some members have already paid the levy, while others have received formal letters warning that court proceedings could follow if the outstanding amounts are not settled.
The letters were sent through law firm Slater and Gordon. They warn recipients that, if legal proceedings commence, members could be required to pay the levy along with interest and legal costs ordered by a court. The union has not disclosed how many members have received these letters.
Some firefighters have criticised the approach, arguing that a union should support its members rather than threaten them with legal action over an additional payment. One senior firefighter, who spoke anonymously, questioned whether pursuing relatively small debts through lawyers could ultimately cost more than the unpaid levies themselves. The firefighter also raised concerns about the effect the dispute could have on members’ wellbeing.
Union secretary Peter Marshall defended the decision. He said members had agreed to the levy through five union meetings and that the decision was carried unanimously. Marshall also said the members who received legal letters had been contacted several times beforehand, rather than being approached without warning. He added that members experiencing financial or other difficulties could contact him confidentially to discuss their circumstances.
The dispute comes amid substantial legal expenditure by the union. Its financial statements indicate that the Victorian branch spent almost $2.3 million on legal fees in the previous financial year and more than $10 million over six years. The union has also been involved in proceedings concerning the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC), which investigated matters relating to earlier firefighter enterprise bargaining negotiations.
The current industrial dispute with Fire Rescue Victoria has continued since 2021, with the service reportedly making seven enterprise bargaining offers during that period. The disagreement is one of several legal matters involving the union. Some firefighters have argued that a more restrained approach to litigation could have reduced the need for extra payments from members.
The union has previously imposed additional levies to cover legal expenses. Between 2014 and 2018, members were charged an extra $500 annually to fund legal action against the then Victorian Liberal government. The immediate issue is whether members who have not paid the current levy will settle their debts or face court proceedings. The disagreement also highlights a wider challenge for membership organisations: balancing collective legal action with the financial obligations imposed on individual members.
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