Melbourne's MFB loses Fair Work case

The feud between Melbourne's Metropolitan Fire Brigade and the firefighters union looks set to continue after the industrial umpire dismissed a move to terminate its enterprise agreement.

The MFB took its case to the Fair Work Commission back in July, saying it wants to be able to make decisions without interference from the unions. The industrial umpire ruled against it on Monday.

The enterprise agreement expired last September and negotiations over a new agreement have now exceeded 18 months.

United Firefighters Union secretary Peter Marshall said the termination of the employment agreement would result in reduced firefighter and fire truck numbers, and Monday's decision was a win for community safety.

MFB CEO Jim Higgins said its primary objective was to negotiate a new enterprise agreement that responded to the needs which emerged from the royal commission into the Black Saturday bushfires.

He said the MFB would review the decision and then decide what to do next.