United Firefighters' Union of Australia (259V) v Fire Rescue Victoria
Citation: [2026] FWC 2775
What happened
The United Firefighters' Union of Australia (UFU) initiated a dispute with Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) regarding a claim for a new allowance related to an 'Income and Associated Financial Loss Management Scheme'. The UFU notified the Fair Work Commission (FWC) on February 16, 2026, following correspondence in January 2026. FRV challenged the FWC’s jurisdiction to hear the dispute. This stemmed from ongoing efforts to reach an agreement on an income protection policy under their Enterprise Agreement. The dispute relates to clauses within Division A and B of the Fire Rescue Victoria Operational Employees Interim Enterprise Agreement 20201, concerning allowances and dispute resolution.
What was decided
The FWC is currently considering jurisdictional matters related to the dispute between the UFU and FRV. the Commissioner has not yet made a final determination on the merits of the allowance claim itself. However, it is assessing whether the Respondent correctly followed the dispute resolution procedures outlined in their Enterprise Agreement before referring the matter to the FWC. the Commission noted that previous Full Bench decisions had highlighted the importance of clear particulars when seeking agreement and considered this relevant to the current jurisdictional challenge.
What it means for employers
Employers should ensure any claims for new allowances are clearly defined, providing sufficient detail for meaningful negotiation. Employers must also strictly adhere to dispute resolution procedures outlined in enterprise agreements before involving the FWC. Failing to do so can impact jurisdiction and potentially delay resolutions.
What it means for employees
Employees and unions need to follow established dispute resolution processes within enterprise agreements when pursuing claims. Clear communication of claim details is crucial for facilitating negotiation and ensuring a proper referral to the Fair Work Commission if necessary.
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This summary was drafted from the published decision and reviewed before publishing. It is general information, not legal advice. For your specific situation, speak to the Fair Work Ombudsman (13 13 94) or a qualified lawyer. About these summaries & corrections