The Andrews Labor Government has welcomed the approval of a new Enterprise Agreement with Metropolitan Fire Brigade (MFB) firefighters.
The agreement was approved by the Fair Work Commission after the Commission accepted undertakings on flexible working arrangements submitted by the MFB.
The agreement covers more than 2,000 firefighters working at the MFB and provides workplace certainty and security for these dedicated career firefighters.
This is the first MFB agreement approved in nearly a decade and ensures MFB firefighters have the conditions, pay, equipment and training they need to respond to incidents and keep Victorians safe.
The MFB agreement commences on 25 February 2019, and contains a number of new initiatives, including new safety, health and wellbeing measures, new leave clauses such as family-violence leave, and provides for part-time work options.
The Labor Government has continued to invest heavily in our fire and rescue services while the Enterprise Agreement was being negotiated and has delivered on its promise to recruit 450 additional career firefighters to protect and serve the Victorian community.
The Government is also funding new stations, trucks and equipment, while a new joint training course for MFB and CFA recruits ensures career firefighters have the same skills and knowledge and can respond to incidents in both urban and rural environments.
The Government has also followed through on a commitment to publish response-time data for the MFB and CFA, which was one of the recommendations of the Select Committee Inquiry into fire-services reforms.
As noted by Minister for Police and Emergency Services Lisa Neville
“I am pleased this Enterprise Agreement is finalised and that MFB’s firefighters can get on with the job of keeping Victorians safe.”
“Our firefighters put their lives on the line to keep Victorians safe, so it’s important their pay and conditions are commensurate with the vital service they provide.”
