UFU Victoria

United Firefighters Union of Australia
Victorian Branch

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Closing The Loopholes!

A successful campaign relies on an effective strategy. For a small union such as ours to effect change to federal law is no small feat. Our strategy relied upon:

· having the expertise to recognise flaws in legislation prior to them being used against us

· ⁠leveraging established relationships with other unions

· proving our case to the federal Industrial Relations Minister Tony Burke

· the Branch Secretary making in person submissions to the Senate Inquiry

· out-lobbying the Victorian Treasurer to gain cross bench support

· Securing changes to the Fair Work Act!

At the 2023 Delegates Conference, the Branch Secretary gave a report on the possible consequences of some ‘new’ intractable bargaining laws. It was explained that there were some serious flaws in the legislation that could be weaponised against firefighters. Work had already begun on how the UFU could prevent negative outcomes occurring.

On the 6th of October, after intractable bargaining laws had been turned on workers across multiple industries, the UFU, National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU), and the CFMEU sent a joint letter expressing concerns to the federal government. The UFU also began meeting with the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU), who went on to take the UFU’s position as ACTU policy.

After becoming aware of these concerns, the Industrial Relations Minister Tony Burke sat down for a meeting with the UFU Branch Secretary Peter Marshall on October 31st. Following this, the Branch Secretary was permitted by the Senate Committee to make written submissions to the Senate Inquiry, and then make an appearance at the Senate Inquiry to advocate our case.

The Senate report backed the UFU’s changes however the Branch Secretary had to still to go on an extensive campaign of over 14 scheduled meetings with politicians to get the support of the Greens, and 2 of the Crossbench senators.

During this time the Victorian Treasurer began his own campaign to water down the proposed changes to the intractable bargaining. Despite this attack on workers from the Victorian Treasurer, the Branch Secretary was able to gain the support of the Greens party, David Pocock and Lidia Thorpe.

On Thursday the 8th of February the Senate passed the Closing the Loopholes Bill 2.0, including the UFU’s changes to Intractable Bargaining. The House of Representatives passed the amendments on Monday 12 February.

These changes will improve and protect the working conditions of millions of Australian workers. A huge achievement that could not have occurred without the effective strategy of the UFU

The UFU acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the land, and we pay our respect to their Elders, past and present.

The UFU supports the call of First Nations peoples for a Voice to Parliament to be enshrined in the Constitution.

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