Mediation was held in the ERA on Monday 24 August regarding the payment of overtime for members. As a result of this, roster officers will be able to log onto the Fire Service SMS rostering to complete the roster for the purpose of catching up past overtime claims and continuing claims during the strike action.
A hard copy of the Union’s Settlement Proposal and the consequent response from the Fire Service has been forwarded to Local Secretaries and will be distributed on Stations shortly.
Following the decision of the Employment Court to issue and continue an injunction against our current strike notice, the NZPFU and the Fire Service have worked constructively to try and obtain clarity in terms of the strike action. The following clarity is the result of those efforts.
The Union has filed two Notices of Strike Action to commence at 0800 hours on 27 August 2009 and to conclude at 0800 hours on 3 September 2009.
The Union has just become aware that Martin-Jenkins has been given a $58,000 contract to undertake a strategic review of Emergency Incident Reporting.
As advised in Newsletter No.22, the hearing on the Fire Service’s Interim Injunction application was heard yesterday.
The Union, its Officers and Members have been restrained by an Interim Order of the Employment Court from continuing to participate in the Strike Action, which commenced at 0800 hours on 6 August 2009, including the Union’s Directive of 5 August 2009 – a copy of the Employment Court Order attached.
The Union refers to the Whole of Country e-mail from the Acting Chief Executive Brett Warwick of 3 August 2009, where he expresses his opinion over the effect of the Union’s Strike Notices for the period 0800 hours on Thursday 6 August 2009 and again from 0800 hours on Thursday 13 August 2009.
The Fire Service’s determination not to pay additional/special pay claims for most members arising during the period of Strike Action is not correct and unless rectified will be challenged legally by the Union.
National Union Vice President As per the attached Ballot Declaration Form, I hereby declare:
As per the attached Ballot Declaration Form, I hereby declare:
Members should have read information put out by the Union regarding the upcoming industrial action.
Members may be somewhat confused by the edicts issued by both National Commander Mike Hall and Fire Region Commander Brian Butt regarding their requirements for the keeping of records during the periods of industrial action scheduled to take place from 23 July 2009.
Members are well aware that the Auckland Local is holding its Annual General Meeting at College Rifles Clubrooms tomorrow, Thursday 23 July, commencing at 1030 hours.
Members are advised that the Auckland Local Annual General Meeting will be held on Thursday 23 July 2009.
The Northern Branch Office has fielded enquiries in regard to the process to ensure pay claims or additional pay is processed for members.
Members will by now be aware that as part of your Local’s efforts to further our contract negotiations, a partial stoppage is planned from 23 July to 30 July.
Members are advised that the Auckland Local Annual General Meeting will be held on Thursday 23 July 2009.
It has come to our attention that some members are being pressured into proceeding with assessments of sprinklered buildings. This includes watches that have been tasked with co-ordinating assessments on a station basis.
Industrial Action The Union filed Notice of Strike Action today, for North Island members – that is:
The Fire Service is currently advertising for a Fire Risk Manager for the Counties Manukau area.
The Union has filed Notice of Strike Action today.
The Union is strongly opposed to the intention to significantly reduce the PDA to Sprinklered Buildings to, in almost all cases, two pumps.
The offer, as approved by the Fire Service Commission, has been fully considered by the Union Committee. Full details of the offer, including the specific proposed wording are attached.
Members will be aware that because of the secondment of AM Larry Cocker to NHQ for approximately 6 months and the temporary absence of AAM Andy Clarkson from his position, the Auckland Regional Manager recently approached one of our members to carry out a Section 66 appointment.
Collective Agreement Negotiations Members are advised that the Fire Service’s Bargaining Team has developed a further position to put to the Union, however Commission sign-off is needed.
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