BULLETIN
Bulletin No: 001 Volume: 21 Monday 4 January 2016
To ALL UFU MFB AND CFA OPERATIONAL MEMBERS
OPEN LETTER TO EMERGENCY SERVICES COMMISSIONER, CRAIG LAPSLEY, MFB CEO, JIM HIGGINS, AND THE MFB EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM
4th January 2016
Dear Mr Lapsley, Mr Higgins and Executive Leadership Team of the MFB,
On behalf of the MFB professional firefighters and support staff we respectfully seek that you correct the miss information which states, in part, on page 22 of this morning’s Herald Sun that;
“Metropolitan Fire Brigade counterparts are not able to fight bushfires as they are not trained to do so and their vehicles are unable to go off road.”
This is clearly derogatory to MFB Firefighters and is disrespectful to combined firefighting efforts that involved all agencies. It is very wrong and not good for morale, let alone public perception, when a situation is allowed to go unchecked where one agency is highlighted over another.
It is extremely disappointing that once again neither the Emergency Services Commissioner nor the MFB Leadership Team have attempted to correct the denigration of the MFB workforce.
The UFU could simply write to the editor to correct the above statement but one would have thought that in the interest of interoperability and morale either the Emergency Service Commissioner or the CEO of the MFB would undertake this task, given that it is your proper domain and responsibility, as we are continually reminded.
In closing could you please show some leadership to your team and correct the misinformation in the public arena.
Yours Sincerely,
Peter Marshall
Branch Secretary
Strength in Unity
READ OUT AT MUSTER AND PIN ON NOTICE BOARD
Authorised by Peter Marshall, Branch Secretary