Members who have read Management’s latest Auckland Region Update will see that Fire Region Manager Butt invited the Union to an SMT meeting where he would be talking about the Fire Service’s change to sprinklered building responses.
Further to the Returning Officer’s NTM of 4 June 2009. And further to yesterday’s (9 June 2009) Returning Officer’s NTM -
Further to the Returning Officer’s NTM of 4 June 2009.
By the closing date for nominations for positions on the Union Council, the following had been received:
Jeff McCulloch, the President of the Auckland Branch of the New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union, said today "The Fire Service has decided to reduce the response to the highest risk buildings in Auckland CBD, from the present 4 pumps and 2 aerial ladders, to just 2 fire engines. The result of this will be a greatly delayed fire attack, should this be needed, and in the event of a sprinkler system operation, a considerably greater amount of water damage, resulting in increased financial loss for the premises concerned."
Update - Collective Agreement Negotiations Some progress was made at yesterday’s meeting in getting a formal final position from the Fire Service.
It has come to the attention of the Northern Branch that staff are not being informed or are not claiming entitlements as prescribed in the Collective Agreement for Uniformed and Communication Centre Employees between the New Zealand Fire Service and the New Zealand Professional Firefighters’ Union, as laid out in 5.6.7 Entitlements, Processes & Authorisations when attending Fire Service Training Courses.
Further to previous Notices, the Union and the Fire Service will meet again on Wednesday 27th May. The full Union Committee will be present.
Further to Newsletter No.9 – 23 April 2009.
Positive Pressure Ventilation The Union is advised that training on P.P.V. has or is planned to occur at many Brigades.
The Union and Fire Service Bargaining Teams met again on Tuesday 14th April.
Members will be aware that the Government has changed the rules around KiwiSaver. From the 1st April 2009 the maximum amount of employer contributions that are eligible for the Employers Superannuation Contribution Tax (ESCT) exemption has been reduced from 4% to 2%.
SPECIAL MEETING OF MEMBERSTHURSDAY 12 MARCH 2009CHANGE OF MEETING TIME
As instructed by the National Committee of the NZPFU, the Auckland Local advises members that we will be holding two Special Meetings for members on Thursday 12 March as follows:
Most Auckland Local members will by now have had the opportunity to read the above Region Update from FRM Butt.
Jeff McCulloch, President of the Auckland Local of The New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union said today, that "the updates to the Fire Service multi million dollar computer appear to have made the situation we were complaining about worse".
To be held on Friday the 13th March 2009 at City Station 0830hrs.
The Union and the Fire Service have met on 7 days since 4 December 2008 in negotiation. The Union consequently details the following information:
Members will be aware that Basil Cuthbert, the Auckland Region Operational Planning Officer, a non operational position, has been appointed by FRM Butt as the Acting DCFO or Assistant Area Manager, for the Waitemata Fire Area or the North West Fire District, depending on which title is the most convenient.
Members may be aware of the tragic death of Professional Firefighter David Balfour, killed in the line of duty at the Victorian Bushfires.
Greetings members,
Members will be aware that FRM Butt has appointed Operational Planning Officer Cuthbert to the position of Acting Deputy Chief Fire Officer (Assistant Area Manager) in the Waitemata Fire Area (North Western Fire District).
The U.F.U. of Australia – Victorian Branch has established a Website www.thankyoufiries.com to allow morale-boosting messages to front-line Firefighters.
Members will by now have read the correspondence from Mike Hall and FRM Butt regarding the Area restructure.
The Fire Service’s reply to the Union’s letter of 14 January 2009 is reproduced herewith.
Fire Safety Officers Newsletter No. 1 outlined the state of play with the restructure of Fire Safety.
Further to: Notice 24 – 11 December 2008 Notice 25 – 23 December 2008
At an urgent meeting of the Auckland Local Committee today, to discuss the apparent confusion that surrounds the Auckland Local’s position on Section 66 appointments, the Committee unanimously passed the following resolution which clearly and unequivocally states the present position of the Auckland Local and should leave all members with no doubt as to what is required.
The Auckland Local encourages its members to apply for the recently gazetted Assistant Area Manager vacancies in the Manukau Area and the Central Auckland Area.
Members should be aware that the Auckland Local has lodged notice of a dispute under Part 1 Clause 9 of the Collective Agreement for Uniformed and Communication Centre Employees (expired), with FRM Butt, because of his illegal directing of our members to perform duties outside the terms of the CEA to which they are parties.
Most members will by now have read the Region Notice issued by FRM Butt which was rather scathing about the Auckland Local’s stance on Section 66 appointments.
Further to Newsletter No. 24 11th December 2008.
The Union refers to the letter from the Fire Service of 15 December, which can only be described as a further attempt to intimidate members into repaying an alleged amount that the Fire Service has still not established as having been overpaid.
The Executive and Committee of the Auckland Local wish all members and their families a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.
The Auckland Local has obtained possession of a document written by Dr Paula Beever outlining the Fire Service’s view of the future of our organisation.
Further to: Union Newsletter No. 23 – 1 December 2008 Northern Branch Newsletter No.22 – 2 December 2008.
The Union is aware that FRM Butt has issued a Region Notice in which he calls for registration of interest in two secondment positions to Acting Deputy Chief Fire Officer.
Members may well be aware of the recent Gazette Notice 24/2008 regarding Fire Risk Management Officer, Auckland Region (Vacancy # 139/2008 – Multiple Vacancies).
The fire service recently placed a Vacancy notice on the Intranet for “Fire Risk Management Officer, Auckland Region”. This notice indicated that there were multiple vacancies.
The Union is advised that the Employment Relations Authority has now forwarded the Fire Service’s statement to those persons the alleged overpayment was made to.
The Auckland Local met on Friday with FRM Butt and AFRM Binning to attempt to resolve the dispute over the unilateral alteration of workload and the comparisons of work of officers and stations being carried out in some Districts.
It is timely to remind members of the underlying principles of SMS, as there appears to be differing interpretations between the NZPFU and Region Management of the meaning of Part 6 Schedule 5 of the Collective Agreement
Members are hereby advised that a dispute now exists between the Auckland Local and the New Zealand Fire Service, Auckland Region, over the unilateral imposition of additional targets for the 405 programme and additional work with the 408 training, without consultation, as required by Part 6 Schedule 5 Clause 6.5.3 of the Collective Agreement for Uniformed and Communication Centre Employees.
Members will be aware that because of the present global recession, our Super Fund has been subject to the same losses as everyone else.
The Union is aware of the understandable concerns and questions being discussed by members relating to Superannuation generally, and your Union Trustees are working hard to have these addressed.
The Auckland Local wishes to remind members that this Saturday is an important day in terms of your future employment.
Members are advised that there will be a special general meeting to discuss any appropriate action over the proposed sacking of Chief Jon Graham, Wellington Fire District.
The Auckland Local Committee was delighted to read that the contract for these ill conceived vehicles had been cancelled, but was then mortified to see that the Fire Service’s intention was to recall for tenders for these vehicles.
Please see below:
The Auckland Local was recently advised by Regional Management that there had been between 70 and 80 Halfway/Boarding houses identified in the Auckland Area that had only a 2 pump response. These are only the ones that have been identified so far. All members know that there are many more which have not yet been identified.
Hamilton Firefighters Trust Fund Donations to the Union Trust Fund eventually totalled just over $70,000 – a tremendous achievement and overwhelming from Firefighters (including Volunteers), and also Firefighter colleagues from Australia.
Alleged Officership Overpayment The Union is informed that the Fire Service Commission has filed proceedings with the Employment Relations Authority against 392 Officers (the Union is not named as a party) regarding this alleged over-payment.
The Local finds it disturbing that Fire Service Senior Management should introduce equipment on to front line appliances after the same equipment was overwhelmingly rejected by members after trials in the Auckland Fire Brigade. It was found that the LMR units were very difficult to use because the ½ second pressure requirement and the movement of the vehicle caused numerous false status signals to be sent. It was explained to Management that the units were not user friendly and should be removed from the vehicles they were fitted to for the trial. This request was granted, and the units were removed. It is unfortunate to see that after about a year, they have reappeared.