Victoria’s Fair Work Commission has ruled in favour of the state’s firefighters’ union in a bitter dispute over pay and conditions.

The industrial umpire gave a series of non-binding recommendations in support of the United Firefighters Union's push for greater control of the CFA.

It is the latest move in a dispute that has already lasted over 1,000 days.

The recommendations are expected to isolate Victoria’s tens of thousands of volunteer firefighters, and could be politically-damaging for key non-metro seats in Bendigo, Ballarat, around Geelong and elsewhere.

The volunteers' representative group - Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria - slammed the recommendation.

Volunteer Fire Brigade Victoria chief executive Andrew Ford it would “be a betrayal of the work CFA volunteers do to protect the community every day of the year”, for the government to take on the FWC’s call.

“If implemented these recommendations will mean the progressive dismantling of the CFA as a volunteer and community based fully integrated service.”

It puts pressure on the Premier to work out how to impose the recommendations.

Mr Andrews had recently supported Emergency Services Minister Jane Garrett’s view that the firefighters’ union’s demands were expensive, unworkable and “outrageous”.

But Fairfax Media reports allege that the Premier’s view changed after meetings with union secretary Peter Marshall.

“All members of the government and all parties in this dispute agree it has gone on too long,” the Premier told Parliament last week.

“It needs to be resolved, and it will be, with the assistance of the independent umpire and in the interests of volunteer firefighters, career firefighters and the safety of the Victorian community.”

Only Ms Garrett can compel the CFA board to sign the agreement, placing her in a tough position to either backflip on her public position, or continue standing her ground against the firefighters’ union.

There are also concerns that it would be an incredible cost to taxpayers to appease the “militant” union, and even more if other public sector unions decide to push the government for similar deals.

One of the most contentious of the union's demands is a requirement for seven career firefighters to be present at an incident before any of the 35 stations that deploy both professionals and volunteers can begin to tackle it.

There are also concerns that the union wants too much consultation power over decision made at the CFA.

The CFA board is reportedly resolute in its rejection of the union's log of claims.

The CFA raised “serious concerns about the impact of the UFU claims on both community safety and on our operational ability” on multiple occasions, according to a CFA spokesperson.

“The CFA proposed a number of resolutions that were not accepted by the Commission. The Board will now consider the recommendations and provide a further update to members as soon as possible.”

The UFU says it is still considering the content and findings of the FWC review.