ONE HOUR STRIKE TOMORROW AT 12 NOON
NOTICE GIVEN OF A ONE HOUR STRIKE ON 31 OCTOBER
NZPFU members very reluctantly walk off the job for an hour tomorrow as FENZ continue to refuse to bargain.
Sadly as FENZ is refusing to bargain, and has not provided a new offer, tomorrow’s strike at noon will go ahead.
Yesterday afternoon (Monday) the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) set down a timetable for FENZ’s urgent application for facilitation of bargaining. The ERA member has directed parties to try and resolve the issue of facilitation in mediation to be held before 28 October 2025. The mediation is solely about FENZ’s application for facilitation and if the parties resolve the matter at mediation FENZ’s application for facilitation will be withdrawn.
The NZPFU Auckland Local is providing this update to ensure members have clear and accurate information regarding the recent asbestos testing and subsequent actions at Auckland City Fire Station.
Come and support our strike action – be there before 12 noon start and picket with the NZPFU members for an hour. Approximately 2,000
members are walking away from fire stations and workplaces for one hour from 12 noon on 17 October 2025.
FENZ is refusing to meet to bargain with the NZPFU or provide a new offer they say they have. We have no option but to take strike action.
The NZPFU will be seeking an independent inquiry into how firefighters and other FENZ staff were again exposed to asbestos at Auckland City Station. Our members should not be repeatedly, and avoidably, contaminated in their workplace.
FENZ management have issued instructions that firefighters wearing NZPFU t-shirts instead of FENZ t-shirts are not to undertake usual fire
safety duties including installing smoke alarms and school visits.
This is a shockingly petty call by FENZ management to try and pressure firefighters at the expense of necessary fire safety
programmes that particularly benefit children and the elderly.
An election for the Timaru Local President position shall be conducted by electronic voting commencing at 0900 (9am) Monday 6 October 2025 and closes 1700 (5pm) Friday 17 October 2025.
FENZ has notified the NZPFU that it will not bargain with the NZPFU and will file for facilitation in the Employment Relations Authority unless we withdraw the notice for the one-hour stoppage on the 17th October. FENZ says it will not provide any new offer while the strike notice remains.
At the close of the nomination period the following three nominations have been received for the position of Timaru Local President.
Tauranga and Kawerau Local members were balloted on a new agreement to replace the 2007 Tauranga Kawerau Amalgamation agreement.
Today the NZPFU gave FENZ notice of a one-hour full strike/stoppage from noon to 1pm on 17 October 2025.
FENZ has responded to NZPFU members’ claims for the outstanding parental leave payments on the basis they will appeal the ERA decision.
Nominations are hereby called from Union Members for Local Committee positions as below.
In 2007 the NZPFU and NZFS signed the attached Tauranga Kawerau Amalgamation document grandparenting conditions for those employed in the
district and setting out transfers and travel terms and conditions.
In recent years the Tauranga and Kawerau Locals have been meeting with FENZ management to resolve matters affected by the 2007 agreement
and the attached 2025 document has been drafted as a result.
At the close of the notified nominations period one nomination for the position of Timaru Local Secretary has been received.
I therefore declare Jeremy Gaskin as Timaru Local Secretary.
As a result there is the Timaru Local President position is now vacant.
Nominations are now called for the position of Timaru Local President.
NZPFU members are encouraged to participate in events organised around the country on Saturday, 20 September to protest the gutting of the pay equity legislation that the National-lead Government has claimed saved $13 billion and therefore taken from the wages of women workers.
The NZ Firefighters Welfare Society is conducting a survey to understand the types of support firefighters and fire agency personnel need.
The Employment Relations Authority has agreed that the parental leave incentive payment for early return from parental leave is payable whether the NZPFU member sought 12 months leave or less.
Progress has been made in bargaining with FENZ now finding ways to agree to some NZPFU claims and undertaking to re-consider others. The NZPFU also moved on some matters.
Gisborne members are informed that Daniel Latu has been elected Gisborne Local Vice President.
Mike will be known by many of our members as a firefighter for many years, before transferring to Waitemata District as a Volunteer Support Officer.
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.