FENZ has agreed to return to bargaining and the parties will meet this afternoon and tomorrow.
Today, Te Pati Maori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer sent the attached letter of support and copied in the Minister for Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden.
The NZPFU has made the practical preparations for bargaining to continue as planned on the 3rd and 4th September.
FENZ walked away from the bargaining during the August session unilaterally declaring that bargaining had ended. FENZ then sought
mediation. The NZPFU has refused mediation as it is our strong view that bargaining has not concluded. In fact, Workplace
Relations Manager Michael Stephenson admitted in recent correspondence that there had been some productive discussions during the last day
we met in bargaining.
The NZPFU Uniform and PPE group have been continuing their work to update the structural firefighting boots and helmets that are available for ordering by Career Firefighters.
FENZ Workplace Relations Manager Michael Stevenson who leads the FENZ bargaining team contacted the mediation services but did not have the courtesy to include the NZPFU in his request for mediation. Hardly the efforts of someone who wants to achieve a positive outcome. We believe he misled the mediation service by claiming both parties had agreed to mediation.
This week, FENZ abandoned the bargaining by unilaterally declaring that bargaining had run its course. Their behaviour has demonstrated that FENZ was just biding its time, only providing an offer in June which did not reflect their own claims. Why? So that they could claim they have made savings by refusing any form of backdating on any matters including wage increases.
Our members serve their communities to protect and preserve life, property and the environment. NZPFU representatives are based on all career fire stations. There are also 19 Union Locals in the major metropolitan and principal centres where career firefighters are employed.
