HORSHAM Country Fire Authority volunteers might be required to defend their autonomy at the Fair Work Commission.
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Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria, the authority and the United Firefighters Union agreed last month to head back to the commission to find a solution to disagreements over a new workplace agreement.
Volunteer brigades claimed the union has been pushing for enterprise bargaining clauses that would grant veto powers over decisions concerning volunteer firefighters.
The state government and the union have both stated that their preferred deal would protect volunteers while ending a years-long dispute over paid firefighters’ wages and conditions.
The commission is expected to test whether the proposed deal would violate new federal legislation designed to block agreements that would undermine volunteers.
Volunteer brigades district 17 state councillor John Davies said members were mostly happy with the situation.
“The process is now up to the Country Fire Authority, the union and the state government,” he said.
“If the commission finds that the agreement could break federal laws, volunteer brigades will be asked to argue its case.
“It’s also possible that the commission will find that the agreement has been altered too much and will have to go back to negotiation.”
Mr Davies attended a meeting of the volunteer brigades state council on Sunday where the group’s executives updated councillors on the situation.
Last week volunteer brigades threatened to walk away from the commission hearings.
A letter sent by the volunteer brigade’s lawyers to the commission slammed a confidentiality clause covering details of the talks.
Volunteer brigades spokesman Garth Head said the organisation had a requirement under the volunteers charter to keep its members informed.
The authority has started an investigation into firefighters raising money for volunteer brigades’ legal action against the government.
-With The Age