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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/aug/12/victorias-cfa-board-endorses-pay-deal-to-end-long-running-dispute
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| Victoria's CFA board endorses pay deal to end long-running dispute | Victoria's CFA board endorses pay deal to end long-running dispute |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A long-running pay dispute between Victoria’s Country Fire Authority and the professional firefighters’ union has been resolved after the CFA board endorsed the controversial deal. | A long-running pay dispute between Victoria’s Country Fire Authority and the professional firefighters’ union has been resolved after the CFA board endorsed the controversial deal. |
| Eight weeks after the former board was sacked by the Victorian government for refusing to send the proposal to a vote, the new board endorsed the pay deal at the CFA headquarters in Melbourne’s east late on Friday afternoon. | Eight weeks after the former board was sacked by the Victorian government for refusing to send the proposal to a vote, the new board endorsed the pay deal at the CFA headquarters in Melbourne’s east late on Friday afternoon. |
| Related: Pay dispute pits Victoria's volunteer firefighters against professionals | Related: Pay dispute pits Victoria's volunteer firefighters against professionals |
| CFA chairman Greg Smith said that the board had “authorised the CEO to send out the proposed agreement for a vote of employees”. | CFA chairman Greg Smith said that the board had “authorised the CEO to send out the proposed agreement for a vote of employees”. |
| He confirmed there had been changes to the enterprise bargaining agreement and a statement of mutual understanding between the United Firefighters Union and CFA had been tabled about the operational status of firefighting. | He confirmed there had been changes to the enterprise bargaining agreement and a statement of mutual understanding between the United Firefighters Union and CFA had been tabled about the operational status of firefighting. |
| The independence of the chief fire officer would not be affected, he said. | The independence of the chief fire officer would not be affected, he said. |
| “This has been a difficult time for the CFA,” Smith told reporters. “We believe that progressing the [enterprise agreement] is the best way forward for our organisation.” | “This has been a difficult time for the CFA,” Smith told reporters. “We believe that progressing the [enterprise agreement] is the best way forward for our organisation.” |
| Union demands for more pay and that seven professional firefighters should attend every CFA fire ground have proved divisive. | Union demands for more pay and that seven professional firefighters should attend every CFA fire ground have proved divisive. |
| Volunteer firefighters feared the agreement would lead to a union takeover and diminish their role. CFA management also raised concerns that the deal would give the union veto powers over operational decisions including resourcing and equipment. | Volunteer firefighters feared the agreement would lead to a union takeover and diminish their role. CFA management also raised concerns that the deal would give the union veto powers over operational decisions including resourcing and equipment. |
| It was a major issue during the federal election campaign and threatened to undermine an emergency service that depends on volunteers in rural areas. | It was a major issue during the federal election campaign and threatened to undermine an emergency service that depends on volunteers in rural areas. |
| The pay dispute has claimed the scalps of former emergency services minister Jane Garrett, CFA chief executive Lucinda Nolan, the CFA board and CFA chief officer Joe Buffone. | The pay dispute has claimed the scalps of former emergency services minister Jane Garrett, CFA chief executive Lucinda Nolan, the CFA board and CFA chief officer Joe Buffone. |
| They all believed the proposed deal – which the premier Daniel Andrews pushed through cabinet – gave too much power to the union at the expense of the CFA’s 60,000 volunteers. | |
| Andrews welcomed the CFA board’s decision on Friday and said the dispute had gone on “far too long”. | |
| Now that the deal has been endorsed, it will go to UFU members for a vote and then needs to be ratified by the Fair Work Commission. | Now that the deal has been endorsed, it will go to UFU members for a vote and then needs to be ratified by the Fair Work Commission. |
| Even if that happens, it is unlikely to be the end of the long-running saga, as the Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria is still threatening legal action after lodging an intention to extend an existing injunction on the vote. | Even if that happens, it is unlikely to be the end of the long-running saga, as the Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria is still threatening legal action after lodging an intention to extend an existing injunction on the vote. |
| That injunction means there cannot be a vote until the VFBV has been consulted over the deal – which it says has not occurred. | That injunction means there cannot be a vote until the VFBV has been consulted over the deal – which it says has not occurred. |
| That claim is disputed by the CFA board. | That claim is disputed by the CFA board. |
| Victorian opposition leader Matthew Guy supported the action taken by the VFBV and slammed the CFA’s decision. | Victorian opposition leader Matthew Guy supported the action taken by the VFBV and slammed the CFA’s decision. |
| “A stitch up by the Daniel Andrews CFA board in another attack on volunteers. Andrews and his board are a disgrace,” Guy tweeted on Friday night. | “A stitch up by the Daniel Andrews CFA board in another attack on volunteers. Andrews and his board are a disgrace,” Guy tweeted on Friday night. |