Vic firefighters dispute back to Fair Work

Victoria's premier wants a controversial firefighters pay dispute sorted quickly, but won't say if he'll back the Country Fire Association against the union.

The CFA and the United Firefighters Union are in Fair Work Commission hearings over the deal, with management refusing to budge on three clauses they say threaten the CFA's existence.

One of the proposed clauses allows the union to effectively veto management decisions.

Premier Daniel Andrews refused to say if he backed the CFA against the union.

"What I support, what the government supports is our career firefighters, our volunteer firefighters, and a fair and appropriate resolution of a dispute that has just gone on for too long," he told reporters on Tuesday.

CFA bosses fear being forced out if the government directs them to sign the deal.

It's understood newly-appointed CFA chief executive Lucinda Nolan will not sign any agreement that includes the three clauses.

They include an effective veto on management decisions, limiting the ability of the chief officer to allocate and deploy resources, and potential negative impacts on volunteers, who make up the vast majority of the CFA.

The union walked out of the Fair Work Commission in December but requested new hearings last week.

It's expected the commission will not make binding rulings out of the hearings.

Emergency Services Minister Jane Garrett has publicly backed the CFA, while the CFA's board has also come out strongly against the union's current proposal.

"We will not negotiate on the inclusion of certain clauses being sought by the UFU," the CFA board said in a letter last week.

A UFU spokesman said the union wasn't commenting on the Fair Work Commission hearings.