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Embattled Emergency Services Minister Jane Garrett remains at her post following negotiations in the bitter CFA dispute, which continues to dog Premier Daniel Andrews.
But there is no resolution to the protracted war yet, with anger burning among volunteers about a deal that had been backed by the Premier that they fear would diminish the role of volunteers and impact on community safety.
Many on Spring Street expected Ms Garrett to resign if the Premier forced a deal through, but following talks on Monday and over the weekend it is understood an undertaking was given that the deal would not be rammed through cabinet.
Instead time will now be given to examine in detail the more contentious issues from last week's Fair Work Commission's recommendations, including union consultation and the controversial 'seven on the fire ground' rule.
It will seek to clarify Emergency Management Commissioner Craig Lapsley's role in implementing the agreement to ensure volunteers are not worse off.
On Monday night Ms Garrett said the government understood the concerns expressed by some CFA volunteers and others in the community about the impact.
"The government is undertaking further work around the Fair Work Commission's recommendation, particularly relating to 'seven on the fire ground', consultation and dispute resolution, and diversity issues," Ms Garrett said in a statement.
The government hopes to resolve the matter in "coming days".
The saga has plunged the Andrews government into chaos, and reinforced perceptions that the Premier is beholden to unions.
It also threatens to dent Labor's efforts to win seats in Victoria at the July 2 federal election.
The Premier and Ms Garrett have been at loggerheads following his decision to intervene in the dispute between the CFA and United Firefighters Union which enters its 1159th day on Tuesday.
Up until Mr Andrews met with the union boss Peter Marshall the Premier had backed his minister -- it remains unexplained why he joined the bogged down negotiations, other than to say it had gone on too long.
Ms Garrett, who has been seen as a rising star, has been under immense pressure over the impasse, either to back the government or stand by the CFA and face the sack or quit.
Fanning the crisis was the CFA Board's Monday decision to formally declare that it will not sign the agreement as proposed due to concerns about undue union influence and legal advice that the deal breached Victorian law.
And in the wake of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's dramatic intervention, union firefighters will make a public stand on Tuesday at State Parliament with a rally it hopes will end the dispute.
UFU secretary Peter Marshall on Monday repeated calls for an end to the scare campaign, saying the agreement would not hurt volunteers.
He also took a swipe at the "Hands off the CFA" campaign which is being run by the Liberal Party – the website is authorised by Liberal State Director Simon Frost.
A spokesman for the CFA said that the authority had sought legal advice that confirmed serious concerns about the EBA.
"We have serious concerns many of these proposed clauses are unlawful and we have legal advice that indicates CFA would be in breach of its statutory obligations," a CFA spokesman said.
Central to the board's concerns are whether the deal complies with the equal opportunity laws and clauses that provide the union with the power to veto operational decisions.
"The proposed EBA undermines volunteers, our culture, allows the UFU operational and management control of CFA and are discriminatory."
With a deal appearing likely to be signed off by the Premier it became apparent Ms Garrett would have to resign over the saga.
Over the weekend it is understood talks have been held by Ms Garrett's allies to try and save her, including work from left-wing unions where much of her factional support comes from.
The pay war will dominate State Parliament when it resumes on Tuesday, with the Opposition promising to raise issues about Fair Work Commissioner Julius Roe.
Both the Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten were campaigning in Melbourne on Monday, with the PM saying if re-elected he would try and add negative impacts on volunteers to the list of Objectionable Clauses in the Fair Work Act.
Mr Shorten called on the state government to bring the warring parties together.
With Timna Jacks
