Vic MFB appeal a waste of money: union

The Metropolitan Fire Brigade is wasting Victorians' money pursuing an appeal against a Fair Work Commission decision, the firefighters' union says.

The MFB has filed an appeal to the commission after it refused to terminate the organisation's enterprise agreement.

"People are not paying fire service levy money so the MFB can give it to its high priced lawyers," United Firefighters Union secretary Peter Marshall told AAP on Friday.

Mr Marshall said MFB management should be made accountable for how it spent Victorians' money after the original case was comprehensively rejected.

Emergency Services Minister Kim Wells backed the MFB's decision to appeal the judgment.

He said the current agreement meant the union had to be consulted on decisions like moving a truck to another station.

"It means the MFB is restricted in managing day-to-day operations and the ability to run its organisation safely and effectively," Mr Wells said.

"This is not about undermining firefighters' terms and conditions of employment but about allowing the MFB to manage this essential service for all Victorians."

Mr Wells said the Napthine government had never cut funding to the MFB or Country Fire Authority.

But Mr Marshall said on Monday a document revealed that as a result of budget cuts, 164 jobs had been removed from the CFA.

The CFA has said the cutbacks, in back office positions, were the result of natural attrition or the completion of contracts including projects stemming from the Victorian bushfires royal commission.