UFU Victoria

United Firefighters Union of Australia
Victorian Branch

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It is with immense sadness that the United Firefighters Union informs members of the passing of David Langmead.

David was a barrister who both advised and represented the Union for 30 years. 

First admitted to the Supreme Court of Victoria in 1986, David practiced as a solicitor and eventually became Partner in the Employment and Industrial Law group at law firm Maurice Blackburn. 

David became a Barrister in 1998 and enjoyed a long career at the Victorian Bar until his passing.

It was in David’s capacity as a Solicitor that he first commenced his work representing the UFU.  With his sharp knowledge of industrial and employment law, David was involved in the 1995 UFU Victorian Branch Election Inquiry, of which the Branch was successful.

Soon thereafter, David fiercely represented the Union and its Branch Committee of Management after the Kennett Liberal Government served Supreme Court writs on individual BCOM members during a period of intense industrial action. 

David was also closely involved in further Supreme Court action against the UFU and its members, whereby Justice Beach of the Supreme Court effectively ordered that Fire Trucks be incarcerated in fire stations – rendering firefighters/UFU members unable to leave stations to inspect, purchase lunch, etc. 

The real purpose of the Supreme Court injunction was to prevent Firefighters/UFU members displaying fluorescent campaign banners on fire trucks with messaging about budget cuts to the fire service and wage justice for Firefighters.  Ultimately, the UFU prevailed and that is predominately because of the strategic and legal expertise of David and his team.

David went on to advise and represent the UFU in the Termination of Bargaining Period case in 1996 which ultimately led to an arbitration from which Victorian Firefighters were awarded extraordinary pay outcomes after Firefighters went more than 5 years without a pay increase, as well as the ground-breaking introduction of the EMR model, defeating the MFB’s argument that Firefighters should perform the EMR role for free. The Victorian EMR model remains the prominent model for Firefighter EMR work in Australia.

Since the 1990’s, David has been a constant in our Union and was always present to advise and advocate on the record in various jurisdictions including the Australian Industrial Relations Commission (and now Fair Work Commission), Magistrate’s Court, Supreme Court of Victoria and Federal Court of Australia.

It is impossible to capture and do justice to David’s commitment to the UFU over three decades, in one Bulletin. 

David was involved in well over 60 Commission and Court matters representing the UFU in his capacity as a Barrister. This does not take into account his extensive work on behalf of the UFU and its members when David was an instructing Solicitor.

At the time of his passing, David was representing UFU and its members in matters before the Federal Court of Australia.

David was a constant presence in our Union and very much a part of our Union.

Always making himself available both day and night, David represented the United Firefighters Union and its members with such fervour.

David’s work for the UFU demonstrated a passion for trade unionism and the rights of organised labour in both Victoria and nationally.

Beyond his role as a Barrister advising and representing our Union, David was a close friend of our Union.

David will be dearly missed.

Vale David Langmead.

The United Firefighters Union also extends its deepest condolences to the family and friends of David Langmead. 

David was highly respected within the legal fraternity and, as such, we also extend our condolences to his colleagues.