The Employment Relations Authority has set down facilitated bargaining for the 9th and 10th December – next Tuesday
and Wednesday – in Wellington
Thursday we are in mediation on the joint application we filed with the PSA on FENZ’s failure to consult with the Unions on the restructure
that will slash 160 jobs.
Approximately 2,000 NZPFU members will strike for one full hour from 12 noon today.
Notices have also been issued for the 12th and 19th December 2025.
These strikes could be avoided if FENZ agreed to meet and progress the bargaining. The notified strikes for the next two weeks will
be dependent on FENZ’s attitude to getting bargaining going again.
PPTA Secondary Teachers have accepted a pay offer of 2.5 and 2.1 over a 24-month contract.
Today, the Employment Relations Authority has issued a determination sending FENZ and the NZPFU to facilitated bargaining on the basis of
protracted bargaining.
FENZ has refused to meet or agree to bargaining dates pending that decision, despite the process not precluding the parties continuing to
meet to try and resolve the issues.
The NZPFU is taking legal advice on the decision.
About 2000 NZPFU members walk off the job for one hour today from midday in 19 cities and towns in a bid to try and get FENZ and the Government to act to address the dire state of the fire service.
FENZ’s application to send the parties to facilitation was heard in the Employment Relations Authority yesterday.
Today at 12 noon, NZPFU members will walk off the job for one hour, striking for safe systems of work and pleading with FENZ to prioritise community protection and safety.
The NZPFU and FENZ have been in bargaining for the past day and a half.
Yesterday the NZPFU put up an option resulting from the information we received the week before that FENZ would not agree to.
The NZPFU and PSA have filed legal action against Fire and Emergency New Zealand’s failure to consult on the botched restructuring proposal,
released last week.
When FENZ pre-warned that a restructuring document was to be released (without any information about the nature, scope or content of that
restructure), the NZPFU wrote to Kerry Gregory reminding him of the obligation to consult in accordance with the NZPFU FENZ collective
agreement, which does not limit consultation to the consequences of a proposed change, or to numbers, but also includes consultation on
whether change should occur and the reasoning behind that change.
Today the Employment Relations Authority adjourned the hearing of FENZ’s urgent application for facilitation determining that the Authority
was best served to allow bargaining to continue as planned next week and then to have updated evidence on the status of that bargaining.
FENZ filed for their urgent application for facilitation on the 7th October 2025.
That application was to be heard today.
The NZPFU has called off tomorrow's strike action.
The NZPFU and FENZ are back in bargaining Monday and Tuesday. The Union has received new information that is pivotal to the bargaining.
More information and an update on the annual conference held in Whanganui this week will follow.
The NZPFU has been informed that other staff including those working in health, safety and wellbeing team have also been notified of
meetings to discuss the impacts on their role.
Please text or email your Local secretary the time and date of such meetings and we will make sure Union representatives are there.
FENZ’s conduct of this process is appalling and we will be challenging it.
Members are advised that due to asbestos being identified in one sample bulk air supply tank that was used prior to 2023 to fill Breathing Apparatus (BA) cylinders at Auckland City Station, we are concerned about a possible risk of asbestos contamination in breathing apparatus cylinders that were filled from that air tank.
At 6pm today (Monday 10th November) FENZ Deputy National Commander Megan Stiffler sent out an email to staff in the Community
Resilience and Risk Reduction teams inviting them to a meeting on Wednesday to discuss proposed restructuring and “what it could mean for
your roles”.
The staff have not been provided with any information at all about the proposal so they are naturally thinking the worst case scenario –
FENZ wants them gone.
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Chris 'Picko' Pickering, who has died peacefully at home, surrounded by his loving family.
The NZPFU and FENZ met for bargaining over three days this week.
The discussions were meaningful.
It was refreshing to be able to have intelligent and thoughtful discussions which was in stark contrast to the first 12 months of bargaining
where some FENZ representatives were disinterested, disrespectful and out of their depth.
NZPFU has now issued notices for one-hour full stoppages/strikes from 12 noon for Friday the 7th and Friday the 14th November.
This notice is about the impact of FENZ’s mismanagement on the state of the fire service from a career staff perspective. We acknowledge the service and dedication of volunteers and their brigades and that they too are facing a Dire Emergency. The NZPFU has been inundated with calls from volunteers seeking support and advocacy as they struggle with failing appliances, increased demands on their time and failing mental health due to the impacts of emergency response.
31 OCTOBER STRIKE WITHDRAWN
7 NOVEMBER STRIKE NOTIFIED
Yesterday, the NZPFU and FENZ met in mediation.
The NZPFU and Fire and Emergency met in mediation today which was part of the facilitation application process.
The Parties have agreed to reconvene bargaining for the 3rd, 4th and 5th November 2025 in Christchurch.
I declare Phillip Swatridge elected to the position of Timaru Local President.
More than 100,000 workers and supporters are expected to gather at rallies and events from Kaitaia to Hokonui/Gore this Thursday 23 October 2025 as the pressure mounts on the Government to address the serious systemic issues in the health, education and emergency service sectors.
Today media has covered a story featuring FENZ Deputy National Commander Megan Stiffler as claiming the Employment Relations Authority has
accepted the need for urgent facilitation for the NZPFU FENZ bargaining.
That is not true. There is no order for facilitation. FENZ must withdraw that false statement immediately.
With heavy hearts NZPFU members walk off the job for one hour today in a bid to get FENZ back to the bargaining table.
Firefighters, 111 fire emergency dispatchers, volunteer support officers, trainers, those working in community resilience and risk
reduction, those working in health, safety and wellbeing and other roles will walk away from their jobs and take their fight for safe
systems of work and fair terms and conditions of employment to the streets.