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The United Firefighters Union says a controversial levy is “currently under review”, less than a month after the ABC reported union members had quit in protest after being pursued by debt collectors.
In a bulletin sent to all operational members last week, the union’s Victorian branch said “the Branch Committee are considering the removal of the levy in the very near future”.
“We require our accountants to provide us with budget projections and a recommendation regarding the removal of the levy,” the bulletin said.
UFU members were invited to attend one of two special general meetings on Monday to discuss the future of the levy, as well as continuing negotiations on the 2016 MFB and CFA staff agreements and the 2018 state election.
A number of firefighters last month spoke up against the $520-a-year levy, which union members are required to pay on top of normal dues, which start at about $1,000 per year.
At least four firefighters who refused to pay the legal levy have quit the union in protest after they received final notices from debt collectors.
John* resigned after receiving a debt collection notice for $2,040.
“It seems very coincidental that they are now going to review the levy, given that a number of resigned in protest,” he told the ABC.
John wrote to the union in 2015 saying: “I do not wish to pay the litigation levy, however, I am happy to stay as a member of the UFU.”
He hopes the fact the UFU is reconsidering the litigation levy is a sign the union is listening to members.
“It’s about time they reviewed it,” John said. “It was meant to only go for a short period of time and they kept extending it.”
The litigation levy was first introduced in the lead up to the 2014 state election, when the UFU was fighting the Napthine government for an improved workplace agreement.
The levy was going to run for two years, but UFU secretary Peter Marshall last year wrote to members explaining it was being extended.
“Substantial litigation is still on foot and the UFU will continue to protect the conditions of its members,” the letter read.
Mr Marshall declined to comment.
*Not his real name
Topics: government-and-politics, unions, melbourne-3000, vic
