Christchurch Port Hills Fire
The Fire Service has provided the Terms of Reference for this Review - See attached.
The Fire Service has provided the Terms of Reference for this Review - See attached.
The Fire Service is seeking expressions of interest for at least three seconded Assistant Area Manager positions within Region 1 (Areas 3, 4 and 5). These secondments would appear to be for up to a period of two years.
Late last week the Union was approached and asked if we were prepared to release up to 5 MAN Appliances to attend the sudden catastrophe in Edgecumbe.
Selected members – selected by FENZ – have been communicated with regarding becoming a FENZ Change Support Person.
One of the reductions in conditions of employment introduced in the Fire and Emergency N.Z. legislation was the removal of the provision to provide Gratuities to Firefighters.
The Northern Branch would like to recognise the huge amount of work done by the Comm Centres, especially Northern Comms, during the recent weather events in the Region (see the figures).
The Union requested copies of Commission minutes when they (presumably discussed) and made the stupid decision to appoint a Civilian Chief Executive.
Members will be aware that a text alert detailing the Union’s concerns regarding this matter with respect to Area Notice RI-WAI-032/2017 Waitemata Area was distributed on 2 March 2017.
The Union remains supportive of the underlying rationale behind the formation of Fire and Emergency New Zealand.
There was more discussion at Conference 2016 regarding the application and interpretation of the Law in regards to Driving hours and the Fire Service approved variation and how it should be applied.
The New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union, representing all career front line firefighters can reveal that Christchurch Fire Service Crews (career firefighters) were stood down and told to return to Stations while the catastrophic Christchurch fires continued to burn – said Derek Best, Secretary of the Union.
As a result of concerns expressed regards the safety of the MAN Appliance Cab and that the Cab did not meet the appropriate European Standard (ECE R29) the Union commissioned advice from a qualified Engineer. This advice is reproduced below. You will see that the conclusion that the Cab does comply with ECE R29 and in fact provides a greater level of protection than a Cab built from steel.
This project continues, with fixes having been put in place to correct the safety issues rightly raised by Locals.
Just before Christmas, the Fire and Emergency New Zealand Bill was reported back from the Select Committee.
The Local has been made aware that there may be an effort by Fire Service Management to direct members into manning blacked Fraser-MAN appliances.
The following was received from Christchurch and the Southern Branch.
The Union is disappointed, but not surprised to learn of Paul Baxter’s resignation. It seems obvious to the Union that the Commission’s announcement of the new Management structure, where Operations is relegated to the background, was the last straw and Paul had no alternative but to accept the considerably lesser position of running a State Fire Service in Australia.
The Local writes to inform members of the decision to “black” the Fraser-MAN Appliances in the Auckland Fleet.
Over some considerable time, the Fire Service has developed a new Absence Management Policy.
The Executive and Committee of the Auckland Local wish all members and their families a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous New year.
On behalf of the Executive of the Northern Branch, we wish all members and their families a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous New year.
To say that the recently announced FENZ Leadership Structure is bad news for both Operational Firefighters and the Community is an understatement – it is an absolute tragedy. Make no mistake – this is not a merger; it is a takeover - with Rural taking over the Urban Service and the Urban Service being even more weakened by the total domination by Civilians.
President of the Auckland Local, Mike McEnaney delivers messages of support on behalf of NZPFU Members.
It has come to the attention of the Northern Branch Executive that some regions do not intend to have any Volunteer Support Officers on call over the Christmas/New Year period.
The Union is advised that the Fire Service intends bringing the pay forward by 4 days due to Bank closures.
Clause 2.7.1(c) of the current Collective Employment Agreement between the NZFS and the NZPFU describes how public holidays falling within periods of leave will be dealt with for rostered shift staff.
Members – not only in directly affected localities – have been faced with and have undertaken a very challenging work environment over the last few days in the response to the Earthquake and subsequent flooding etc.
Please refer to previous newsletters.
The Northern Branch has been made aware of concerns raised by the Christchurch Local in regard to a planned USAR exercise to be held from 1-4 November 2016.
Due to conditions agreed to in the USAR Schedule of Conditions R7 SCa and the NZPFU Collective Agreement Not being applied to this exercise the Christchurch Local instructs:
The Union writes to members with regards to a planned USAR Exercise being held Nov 1st- 4th.
The Local has been approached by members that have been contacted by Area management with regards to attending a meeting on the 18th of October with AM Pat Fitzell of New Plymouth. Fitzell is a member of the Appliance Project Recovery team that is attempting to address the multitude of failings with the disastrous Fraser-MAN appliances that the Fire Service has now willingly saddled itself.
The Firefighters’ Scholarship is established for career Firefighters and Officers up to SSO rank, and Comcen staff.
Members have continued to express their on-going frustrations with the Fraser-MAN pumping and pump-rescue appliances. At the recent Auckland Local Annual General Meeting, members directed the Secretary to publish a rebuttal to the propaganda originating from Fleet Management at NHQ. What follows below is correct to the best of the Local’s knowledge.
At the recent Auckland Local Annual General Meeting members expressed their frustration and anger at the poor level of service they have received when a request has been made for support following Critical Incident exposure.
The Local has been made aware of a number of instances where members have attempted to address faults and failures with the terminally flawed Fraser-MAN appliances. This is not a recommended solution by either Management or the Union. The instruction to members contained in Northern Branch Notice NB 16-44 is still valid. SSO Chris Lind is still logging faults and failures and needs to be informed of any further incidents with Fraser-MAN appliances.
Aaron Waterreus is about to commence a survey of those who attended NTC to undertake the 5 day Incident Command Training.
Attached is an Area vacancy for the position of Fire Risk Manager for the Auckland City Fire Area for a period of two months.
Attached is a copy of the Union Submission on the Bill.
Because the FENZ Director and workstream leads have absolutely no knowledge of the Fire Service, its operational functions, the culture – basically how the Fire Service operates.
Members are advised that the Auckland Local Annual General Meeting will be held on Monday 26 September 2016.
The following information, put out by the Fire service, is provided for you information. Greg Lee (National Committee member) has been involved with the CIPSS team to further develop this support service.
To recognise and address the serious concerns with the MAN appliances, the Union has appointed the President to work in conjunction with Locals, Members, and the National Fleet Manager, to resolve issues raised.
The Union (Peter Nicolle and Derek Best) have meet with the Minister (Peter Dunne) and D.I.A Officials; the Director of the Transition office (David Strong) and various Transition Office staff, the Chief Executive/National Commander and representatives of the U.F.B.A to discuss and obtain further information on both the Bill and Transition to FENZ.
The Fire Service are working on ensuring the continued sustainability with regards to the provision of specialist fire investigation skills and capabilities into the future.
Following a meeting with Paul Turner where the Union was presented with outstanding leave totals and sick leave figures from Comcentres, Paul undertook to instruct Comcentre Managers not to obstruct or deny members' leave.
On Tuesday 2 August the Union blacked the above appliance. Given the long list of faults and failures of this appliance, the Union was forced to take this action.
The following message from Denis Fitzmaurice is repeated for your information.
As previously advised the Union (Derek Best and the Union Lawyer Peter Cranney) met with the Fire Service in mediation on the matter of IFE Payments. The application lodged in the Employment Relations Authority has been referred to mediation.
A major work for the Union over the next few weeks will be a detailed consideration of this Bill and leading to the development of a submission from the Union to the Select Committee.
Clause 2.6.2.2 of the Collective agreement requires the Union and the Fire Service to review Market Data (provided by Hay Group) and discuss and agree the remuneration rates to apply from 1 July 2016. The following is the outcome.
By the closing date for nominations for positions in the Taupo Local, no nominations had been received.
Triennial Elections See attached notices for nominations and declarations.
