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Victoria firefighters row: pay dispute 'resolved', says new minister Victoria firefighters row: pay dispute 'resolved', says new minister
(2 months later)
Victoria’s newly appointed emergency services minister says the CFA pay dispute is over, despite the existence of a supreme court injunction preventing a vote and the sacking of the board.Victoria’s newly appointed emergency services minister says the CFA pay dispute is over, despite the existence of a supreme court injunction preventing a vote and the sacking of the board.
James Merlino, who dumped the CFA board on Friday just hours after his predecessor Jane Garrett resigned over the controversial union enterprise bargaining agreement (EBA), also announced the establishment of a CFA consultative committee, which he says will bring a “fresh start”.James Merlino, who dumped the CFA board on Friday just hours after his predecessor Jane Garrett resigned over the controversial union enterprise bargaining agreement (EBA), also announced the establishment of a CFA consultative committee, which he says will bring a “fresh start”.
“The cabinet made a unanimous decision to end the dispute yesterday,” he told reporters on Saturday.“The cabinet made a unanimous decision to end the dispute yesterday,” he told reporters on Saturday.
It was vital for the dispute to end before the next fire season, the minister said.It was vital for the dispute to end before the next fire season, the minister said.
Related: Victoria firefighters row: minister resigns after government announces pay deal
“Now, sure, there is a process we need to go through,” he said. “There will be a new board, there will be a vote of our firefighters in regards to the EBA.“Now, sure, there is a process we need to go through,” he said. “There will be a new board, there will be a vote of our firefighters in regards to the EBA.
“But the position of the government is crystal clear. We ended the dispute yesterday.”“But the position of the government is crystal clear. We ended the dispute yesterday.”
Merlino had promised to sack the CFA board, which had repeatedly rejected the United Firefighters Union agreement, if it didn’t back the deal by 5pm on Friday.Merlino had promised to sack the CFA board, which had repeatedly rejected the United Firefighters Union agreement, if it didn’t back the deal by 5pm on Friday.
Asked on Saturday whether the government had confidence in the CFA chief executive, Lucinda Nolan, Merlino said it was a matter for the new board.Asked on Saturday whether the government had confidence in the CFA chief executive, Lucinda Nolan, Merlino said it was a matter for the new board.
He said the consultative committee, to be modelled on one established in the wake of the ambulance EBA crisis, would bring together management, career and volunteer firefighters to improve the CFA’s culture.He said the consultative committee, to be modelled on one established in the wake of the ambulance EBA crisis, would bring together management, career and volunteer firefighters to improve the CFA’s culture.
It will involve the emergency management commissioner, Craig Lapsley, in a senior role; he will monitor the implementation of the pay deal.It will involve the emergency management commissioner, Craig Lapsley, in a senior role; he will monitor the implementation of the pay deal.
Merlino said he had not spoken to Garrett since her resignation.Merlino said he had not spoken to Garrett since her resignation.
A last-minute legal injunction means the pay deal can’t be signed before 22 June.A last-minute legal injunction means the pay deal can’t be signed before 22 June.