HUNDREDS of CFA volunteers protested in Belgrave yesterday outside state emergency service minister James Merlino’s office.

Members of the CFA met with Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop with local member for Latrobe Jason Wood as the march along Burwood Highway took place.

Up to 200 volunteer firefighters and 100 plain clothed civilians walked laps of the local shopping strip, chanting “hands off the CFA.”

Ms Bishop braved miserable weather as she shook hands and posed for selfies, while passing motorists tooted their horns in support. The volunteers donned yellow ribbons and carried signs saying “hands off the CFA” and “Mr Andrews, stop the sell out of volunteers.”

Ms Bishop said she would do whatever she could to protect the CFA and the “spirit of volunteerism.”

“We will not stand idly by and allow a Labor government to unionise a volunteer organisation,” she said.

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’Labor issues are beginning to bite’

“I’m calling on other Labor premiers to give a guarantee they will not unionise the volunteer fire services across Australia. If they can get away with it this time, there’s nothing to stop them. That’s why we’ve got to stand up and fight now.

“I spoke to the Prime Minister and we’re determined, if re-elected, to make alterations to the Fair Work Agreement.

“This is the very fabric that makes a community yet a Labor government is putting the interests of union officials ahead of the interests of local communities.”

State member for Albert Park Martin Foley spoke on behalf of the Labor Party and said Ms Bishop’s visit to Belgrave was a stunt and called for her to apologise.

“They’ve sought to demonise and politicise career firefighters,” he said.

“Julie Bishop should hang her head in shame for putting at risk the co-operative relationship between career and volunteer firefighters.”

“This government values all our firefighters and we will see this difficult matter through.”

Sassafras CFA volunteer Norm English wore a “not happy Dan” sticker as he shook hands with the politicians, saying the state government was a farce.

“It’s like an episode of The Apprentice, if you don’t say the right thing, you’re fired,” he said.

Members of the southern metro region gathered yesterday afternoon at Dandenong fire station and said the politicisation of the issue was “unethical.”

Volunteer CFA member Elise De Lany said the it was “drastically effecting” both volunteers and career firefighters.

“It’s utterly disappointing to be used as pawns in a political agenda that has nothing to do with the CFA individually and it’s affecting our service to the community,” she said.

Hallam Station Officer Hallam Michael Lia criticised Ms Bishop’s visit to Belgrave, saying it was “disgraceful.”

“I’ve been 33 years in the fire brigade and this is the most distressing and upsetting time I’ve ever seen.”