The United Firefighters Union has been accused of being "anti-worker" by rival unions over its campaign against cancer compensation for mechanics in the fire services.
Earlier this year, Victoria's Labor government extended a presumptive cancer compensation for firefighters to include 90 mechanics employed by Fire Rescue Victoria.
The decision enraged the UFU secretary, Peter Marshall, who has declared war on Labor, accusing it of "trashing" the rights of firefighters.
His union is actively campaigning against Daniel Andrews's re-election in key seats.
It has infuriated mechanics and other unions.
"I'm upset. I'm angry. I'm annoyed. It's disheartening, knowing that we attend these fires, we're exposed to the same carcinogens as they are and there's people that want to take it away from us,'' Fire Rescue Victoria mechanic Daniel Kraft said.
Mechanics are called to major incidents, including big factory fires, to support firefighters, including performing maintenance of vehicles, as well as refuelling.
They also work on fire trucks and equipment that return from incidents covered in chemicals and asbestos.
Firefighters carry a high risk of certain cancers due to the exposure of chemicals in their work and were granted access to automatic cancer compensation in 2019 by the Andrews government.
It has since been widened to include around 90 mechanics working for Fire Rescue Victoria.
Mr Marshall argues that extending the scheme will make it easier to mount a legal challenge but the state government disagrees.
The long-serving UFU secretary said there was no scientific basis for mechanics to be included. He also cited a Senate Committee that found mechanics should not be included in presumptive rights schemes.
"The inclusion of occupations in presumptive legislation designed to protect firefighters completely undermines the viability of the scheme and is betrayal of firefighters, who put their lives on the line every day to protect others,'' Mr Marshall said.
"The reality is that mechanics do not run into burning buildings as part of their daily work and are not exposed to the same toxic chemicals that firefighters are exposed to on a daily basis."
UFU secretary draws criticism from unions
Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) secretary Tony Mavromatis labelled Mr Marshall "anti-union" over the campaign to remove cancer compensation for his members.
"Would you say it's unsociable behaviour? Is it an anti-union behaviour? Yes, I think so. I think that the UFU should be coming out being a shining light on this," Mr Mavromatis said.
He said the AMWU had turned out and supported the firefighters union's public rallies to campaign for the presumptive legislation.
"It's disappointing to hear the words coming from the UFU and Peter Marshall," Mr Mavromatis said.
The AMWU and the Electrical Trades Union have backed Mr Marshall's election to the UFU for years.
ETU secretary Troy Gray said they were now walking away from Mr Marshall over the "utter stupidity" of his position.
"What firefighter, what worker, what union would begrudge mechanics getting access to compensation? It's outrageous and unprincipled,'' Mr Gray said.
"He will ruin the reputation of firefighters if he keeps going."
Some firefighters have told the ABC they are very uncomfortable with the UFU's campaign and cannot understand why the union is arguing against protection for their colleagues.
Within the Labor movement, there is anger about Mr Marshall turning on the Andrews government, given it had risked plenty of political capital in delivering the UFU's demands for fire service reforms.
Trades Hall Secretary Luke Hilakari said maintenance workers deserved the right to be protected from cancers.
"Getting cancer from doing their job is terrible and they should be entitled to presumptive rights. This compensation doesn't undo the damage caused from the work but can help these workers in their toughest of moments,'' Mr Hilakari said.
Mechanics fear for their long-term health after years of service
Darren Darling has been a fire mechanic for nearly 40 years. He can still vividly recall the Coode Island fire in 1991, the impact of the fumes and chemicals often weighs on his mind.
"I remember refuelling appliances with contaminants blowing up around you, for a young bloke it was quite testing,'' Mr Darling said.
Mr Darling said he worried about the effect prolonged exposure has to his health, especially after some of his retired colleagues have died from cancer in their 50s and 60s.
In recent years, mechanics have been dispatched to major factory fires in Tottenham and Campbellfield as well as the 2014 Hazelwood Coal Mine fire.
Harry Lollis remembers working at the coal mine fire and said mechanics were dropped into the fire pit — which was full of sludge — with little protection.
It was one of a number of major incidents Mr Lollis attended alongside firefighters.
"Side-by-side with them on the fire ground, being exposed to chemicals, hard metals, smoke and fumes," Mr Lollis said.
"In the back of your mind, you think to yourself 'Well, down the track, if it does occur, why aren't I being protected?'''
