By ANEEKA SIMONIS
A FIREFIGHTER union takeover of the CFA will force Victoria’s longest-serving member, Duncan Holman, of Bunyip, to resign.
With 78 years of experience under his belt, Mr Holman, 93, holds the title as the longest-serving member of the life-saving firefighter group, however he is prepared to give it all away if the Fair Work recommended EBA deal goes ahead with the deal to further unionise the organisation.
It would mean the United Firefighter Union would have greater control over the CFA, shaking up operational responsibilities between paid and volunteer firefighters.
The EBA agreement has been officially rejected by the CFA which deemed it as “unlawful”.
Mr Holman, a CFA life member who captained Longwarry Fire Brigade for 36 years, will resign if the controversial pay deal goes ahead along with his son Peter Holman, a lieutenant at Warragul CFA, with 45 years’ service.
The Gazette was unable to make contact with Mr Holman, however his “heart and spirit” have been broken over the protracted union dispute which has now entered its third year.
The CFA had to design and mint a special medal to honour Mr Holman’s 70th year of service – with no such medal ever being handed out in the history of the firefighting service.
In two years’ time, the CFA will have to mint another medal to commemorate Mr Holman’s record 80 years’ of service – that is, only if the current deal isn’t put through cabinet.
A statement released from Minister for Emergency Services Jane Garrett on Monday night said the government are “undertaking further work” on the commission’s recommendations, particularly relating to the “seven on the fire ground”, consultation, dispute resolution and diversity issues.
She has reportedly been at loggerheads with Premier Daniel Andrews over the dispute and there is still a possibility she will resign if the deal goes ahead.
The State Government intends to finalise the agreement in the coming days.
