United Firefighters Union threatens members over legal action levy

The United Firefighters Union (UFU) has threatened Victorian firefighters with legal action if they fail to pay a $644 Court Case Funding (CCF) levy. The levy was established to cover the union’s legal expenses, including protracted battles following the release of the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission’s (IBAC) Operation Richmond report.

UFU secretary Peter Marshall stated that the levy was “unanimously” endorsed by members. However, some firefighters have expressed frustration at being asked to fund legal disputes while facing potential interest and costs if they do not comply with the payment deadline.

The IBAC report investigated the union’s interactions with the state government during a 2016 pay dispute, finding that former Premier Daniel Andrews’ decision to strike a secret pay deal gave Marshall “extraordinary influence” and exposed the state to corruption risks. The union has also been involved in ongoing legal proceedings regarding a new pay agreement.