Fire Rescue Victoria Commissioner Accuses Union Boss of Bullying

Victoria's Fire Rescue Commissioner Gavin Freeman has formally accused the head of the firefighters' union of bullying and intimidating staff, including himself. In a letter to United Firefighters Union (UFU) secretary Peter Marshall, Freeman expressed concern over "excessively aggressive and inappropriately personal communications" disseminated by the union.

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excessively aggressive and inappropriately personal communications

Freeman stated these communications are part of an ongoing campaign of harassment and intimidation directed at sections of the Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) workforce. He noted that even union members face pressure if they support the organization's interests over the union's preferred positions. Freeman also highlighted that FRV employees have reported feeling "targeted, distressed and reluctant to participate in legitimate organizational processes for fear of public vilification or reputational harm."

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These communications form part of an ongoing campaign of harassment and intimidation directed at sections of FRV's workforce, including its own members when they take action in support of the organisation's interests, rather than the union's preferred position.

Commissioner Freeman claims he has written to the union "countless times" about the issue. He asserted that FRV has a duty to protect its employees' psychological safety, which may include legal action or reporting matters to authorities. Freeman, who has been commissioner since 2023, also alleged that FRV executives have been targeted with "hurtful and derogatory content" for over a year as part of a no-confidence campaign. This included distributing a satirical coloring sheet of the executives to children at a recruit graduation ceremony.

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I reject the letter in its entirety

However, Peter Marshall, the UFU secretary, rejected the commissioner's claims "in their entirety." He argued that the union's scrutiny of Freeman and other FRV officials is legitimate and protected, especially given Freeman's status as a public official. Marshall pointed to a majority vote of no confidence in Commissioner Freeman passed by the heavily unionized FRV workforce last year. The union stated that grievances with FRV officials include an ongoing dispute over an enterprise bargaining agreement and the removal of certain benefits.

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given the FRV commissioner was a public official, scrutiny of his performance, by his workforce, by their union, and by the public, is legitimate, it is protected, and it will continue.