Taking all available steps to reduce firefighters’ exposures to carcinogens is fundamental and this week level 2 PPE was removed from the engine bay at Christchurch City Station.
Please be advised that:
Congratulations to Joe Stanley who has been elected Vice President of the Union. We welcome Joe to the team and look forward to working with him to further the interests of the members.
The Fire Service have had the Project running for some months now. Black Watch workers (who are the most affected) have been remediated.
44 days in, the emails have grown exponentially as have the phone calls and the sleep has decreased! It is most certainly a busy but productive time!
It is with sadness that we advise the sudden passing of John Woolley, Senior Station Officer at Hamilton Fire Station.
The Auckland Local Committee is aware of the upcoming retirement of Area Manager Denis O’Donoghue in early January 2019.
In accordance with the Rules of the New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union, we are pleased to announce the following vacancies have been filled in the Taupo Local.
The Auckland Local Committee advises that the Special Meeting called for Thursday 6 December at 10.30am is cancelled.
The Auckland Local Committee understands from Regional Manager Kerry Gregory that FENZ will be withdrawing from next year’s Pride Parade to be held in Auckland.
The Auckland Local has received communication from John and Sulu that they are undertaking Court proceedings and they no longer wish us to engage or entertain any offer from the National Committee about their expulsions.
The Auckland Local Committee hereby calls a Special Meeting of all Auckland members to be held at Avondale Fire Station, Thursday 6 December at 10.30am.
The Auckland Local Committee met yesterday with Sulu and John to discuss the proposal from the National Committee. This proposal was an outcome of Friday’s meeting that the Local had in Wellington with the National Committee.
Members are currently the target of an international scam involving the purchase of iTunes vouchers.
Most members would have seen the news of the appointment of Wattie Watson as your new Secretary – this is really good news for the Union and its members.
In accordance with the Rules of the New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union, nominations are hereby called for the following position:
The Union and some of our members have been approached by management regarding having PRFO’s and DPRFO’s on response to fill IMT positions or respond alongside/as well as, on the fireground where Career urban Firefighters are operating or undertaking on call duties in Urban areas.
The Auckland Local Committee is determined to win the reinstatement of SSO Devoe and SFF Waldow, seeing them returned to their elected positions.
The National Committee are extremely proud and excited to announce Joanne (Wattie) Watson as our new Secretary.
Members are advised that Mike Powell has only just written to the National Returning Officer that he wishes to withdraw from the election.
Members will be aware that some St Johns Ambulance officers are taking industrial action by not attending non-emergency commercial events as a way of impacting St John’s income.
It’s been a couple of very busy weeks, both personally and Union wise. I am extremely pleased to have a meeting date agreed and set with the Auckland Local for the 23rd November here in Wellington. The National Committee and I are looking forward to constructive and robust discussions around the present, and most importantly, the future of the Auckland Local and the Union overall.
Please refer to the Notice of 12 October.
National Vice Presidential Ballots will shortly be distributed to all Stations throughout Areas Three, Four and Five.
Some of you may be aware that Jeff Shrimpton (Northern Branch President and Auckland Local Committee member) recently had an accident and banged his head. As a result of this he underwent a CT scan.
The Auckland Local Committee would like to invite members who have an interest in representing us on the Auckland Working Group working party.
On Thursday 25 October 2018 Auckland Local Committee members – James Hall, Martin Campbell & Boyd Raines along with National Officials, Ian Wright & Derek Best met with Senior FENZ Representatives – Brendan Nally, Chris Wells, Richard Dagger & Brett Warwick regarding the formation of a Working Group to look at Auckland Recruit and Retention issues.
There has been a great deal of kneejerk misinformation regarding the supply and use of J Rated tyres.
My name is Ian Wright and I am privileged to be writing this first blog as the newly elected President of the NZPFU, a Union I have been a proud member of for 31 years.
By now, members will be aware of the actions taken by the National Committee against Sulu Devoe and John Waldow.
The Union is advised that the last date for payment of the increase in wages and the back pay is planned for 21 November 2018.
Attached is the Returning Officers declaration of the Ballot to appoint the new National President of the NZPFU.
Last week a meeting of the National Committee was convened. The focus of this meeting was to provide leadership and direction to our members after a period of unprecedented disruption.
Members will be aware that Fire Hazard Assessment is a new requirement under the FENZ Act 2017.
Attached is the Returning Officers declaration of the Ballot to Ratify the CA.
A number of members have been asking when do the very many benefits/improvements arising out of the Terms of Settlement for a renewed CA actually happen.
Attached please find an updated Auckland Local Committee contact list for the benefit of members.
Ballot voting papers and boxes have now been sent out to all the Assistant Returning Officers in Auckland, by courier, to enable members to vote for the National President.
Members will be aware of a Detective Sergeant Salter being employed by FENZ as an Area Manager’s Assistant (AMA) in Area 3.
Nominations closed on 28 August 2018 for the following positions:
Following the recent election for additional Auckland Local Committee members, six nominations were received.
Unfortunately due to circumstances beyond our control, the closing date for this Ballot has to be extended.
Today – 10 September – is World Suicide Prevention Day.
The purpose of this notice is to make members in the Auckland Local aware of the meeting timetable for ratification meetings.
The Local writes to remind members that, upon joining the Union, an agreement was made wherein the Union is your workplace representative on all matters pertaining to your employment. This includes any secondments or temporary appointments to positions outside the terms of the Collective Agreement.
Members will have started to have local consultation meetings with their leaders, below we have written up points of interest and or concern to the Union and our members. Under each section, we have given our guidance and our thoughts on what it means and where we think the future state should be.
Members have been advised of the nominations received for the President and Vice President positions, and the reasons for the delay in commencing these Elections (4 July 2018).
The purpose of this notice is to make members within the Branch aware of the meeting timetable for ratification meetings.
Members are advised that the Auckland Local Annual General Meeting will be held on Tuesday 28 August 2018.
Members will know that the rules were changed in 2017 in relation to the National Secretary’s position.
Further to NTM 26 July 2018 and the Union’s concerns regarding the process of the Bullying and Harassment review.
In accordance with the Rules of the New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union, nominations are hereby called for the following positions:
Attached are the Terms of Settlement arising out of Bargaining. The Terms will be put to members for Ratification shortly.
Members may be surprised to hear that some 7.5 years after the Christchurch Earthquake Firefighters in Christchurch are still operating out of so called ‘temporary’ accommodation.