The NZPFU has informed FENZ that monitoring for Carbon Monoxide (CO) levels and individual testing for firefighters are required in Nelson after three incidents of volunteer firefighters experiencing dizziness, nausea and vomiting.
By the closing date for nominations for the position of Tauranga Local Vice President, the following nominations have been received.
Members are advised that an interim national deployment policy has been agreed to. This has been based on the Christchurch negotiated policy.
Well work has well and truly started to ramp up here! There’s a few things I would like to cover off on this blog.
We have been advised by NHQ who have been advised by BNZ that there may be an issue in the pay run tonight.
The five Auckland NZPFU Representatives on the Auckland Working Group are currently visiting stations in Areas 3, 4 and 5 (including Comms and R1TC) to inform members of an upcoming electronic survey due for release in a few weeks.
Members attention is brought to the notice below from FENZ payroll whereby the texting of pay information to members will cease from early February. Members will still be able to access their pay information via Home Base.
The NZPFU was notified by members that as Regional Trainers they were being required to attend a Professional Development Live Fire Burn course (PTDP01812) that would include Rural participants, including some that may not be qualified BA wearers.
Today FENZ notified the NZPFU that the first holiday remediation payments to rostered employees that were scheduled to commence on 13 February 2019 have been delayed a month.
NZPFU members have reported that for some firefighters the newly issued wildfire jackets are ill-fitting with short sleeves that do not fully cover the arm.
The Auckland Working Group has advised the Local Committee that there will soon be a survey going out to all of those in the Auckland area covered by the CEA.
The Report of the Independent Review of Workplaces Practices commissioned by FENZ was publicly released today. The Review lead by Judge Coral Shaw has made 33 recommendations to “reshape” the organisation to adopt a zero tolerance approach to the issue of bullying and harassment.
FENZ have advised the NZPFU that the Independent Review of Workplace Practices lead by Judge Coral Shaw is to be released tomorrow following a media conference.
2018 was a fast paced and busy year with large amounts of change within both FENZ and the Union.It has become apparent that change is now the new norm, it is certainly the climate we will be working in for the next 2-3 years and as such we must adapt accordingly.Our role as a Union in this change is to mitigate risk and maximise opportunities that benefit Career Fire fighters, the organisation and the public as a whole.
By the closing date for nominations for the position of Northern Branch Vice President, the following nominations have been received.
Tis’ the season, or so the saying goes. However, whilst most workers are enjoying some well earnt time off over the Christmas break, Career firefighters, our members are leaving their families and loved ones at home and turning up to work to protect the community and enjoy the company of their second family.
The NZPFU is continuing to work with Regional and Property management to look at options to improve the current plans without delaying the project or the timeframes for members to move into the temporary Lichfield Station in Christchurch.
On Wednesday 19 December, the Fire and Emergency and NZPFU Auckland task force held their first meeting since their establishment in November.
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.