Politics · Australia · 2 hrs ago
Victorian firefighters’ union threatens legal action over $644 levy
The United Firefighters Union’s Victorian branch is seeking a $644 levy from members to cover legal costs.
It has sent letters warning that it may take members who have not paid to court to recover the money.
The levy is separate from union membership fees, which are more than $2,000 a year for senior firefighters.
Union secretary Peter Marshall says members approved the levy unanimously at five union meetings and that those sent letters were contacted several times first.
The levy is funding the union’s ongoing case against Fire Rescue Victoria over a workplace agreement that has remained unresolved since 2021.
The union’s legal fees have exceeded $10 million over six years, according to its financial statements.
Members who do not resolve the matter could face interest and legal costs if court proceedings begin.
The Victorian firefighters’ union is threatening court action against members who have not paid a $644 levy for its legal costs.
The United Firefighters Union Victoria says members approved the levy unanimously over five union meetings.
The levy is on top of annual membership fees of more than $2,000 for senior firefighters.
Some members have criticised the legal letters, saying they could harm firefighters’ wellbeing.
The levy is linked to the union’s ongoing Fair Work Commission case against Fire Rescue Victoria over an enterprise bargaining agreement.
- Who
- The United Firefighters Union Victoria is pursuing members who have not paid the levy.
- What
- The union is threatening legal action to recover a $644 levy intended to cover legal costs.
- When
- The union resolved to impose the levy last year. The article was published on October 13, 2026.
- Where
- Victoria, Australia.
- Why
- The union says the levy covers legal costs, including its ongoing case against Fire Rescue Victoria over the firefighters’ enterprise bargaining agreement.
United Firefighters Union Victoria
Critics among its members
Levy approval
United Firefighters Union Victoria
The union says members approved the levy unanimously over five meetings.
Critics among its members
Critics question the levy and describe the legal action against members as “ridiculous.
Legal letters
United Firefighters Union Victoria
The union says recipients were contacted several times first and that members facing difficulties can discuss their circumstances confidentially.
Critics among its members
A senior firefighter said the union should support members, not attack them, and called the action harmful to mental health and wellbeing.
The union and Fire Rescue Victoria were unable to resolve the firefighters’ enterprise bargaining agreement.
The union resolved to charge members the $644 levy over five union meetings.
An IBAC report was published after the union and Peter Marshall failed in a bid to stop its release.
ABC Australia reported that the union was threatening legal action against members who had not paid the levy.
- Levy
- $644 per member
- Senior firefighters’ annual union fees
- More than $2,000
- Union legal fees over six years
- More than $10 million
- Legal costs last financial year
- Almost $2.3 million
- Letters known to FRV staff member
- More than 40
- EBA dispute
- Unresolved since 2021
What people are saying
Most members expected the request and have already paid.
No member received a legal letter out of the blue. Every one of them was contacted several times first.
[It's] unhelpful and detrimental to the mental health and wellbeing of our people.
Sources
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