Silverdale
The Auckland Local negotiators met with FRM Butt and AFRM Binning on Friday 7 December regarding progress on the change of Silverdale Station from Yellow Watch to Rotating Shift.
The Auckland Local negotiators met with FRM Butt and AFRM Binning on Friday 7 December regarding progress on the change of Silverdale Station from Yellow Watch to Rotating Shift.
Nominations are hereby called for the following positions:
Members will be aware of the Vice President’s health problems whilst representing the Auckland Local at the Annual Union Conference.
Most members will by now have read the latest spin from Regional Commander Butt on several issues which are of interest to the Auckland Local and its members.
Members are reminded that it is Union policy, which has been enforced for a considerable time, that members, when performing Training Instructor duties for "1 Day Courses" such as First Aid and CFBT, must not be on duty and part of MSM.
Members will be aware of the issues surrounding Silverdale Station and its manning. The present situation is that the conversion from Yellow Watch to 24/7 manning is progressing to the satisfaction of the Auckland Local Executive. The National Secretary has written to the NZFS National Commander/Chief Executive outlining the Union’s position, and we have received positive verbal feedback through the Director of Operations and Training.
Members should be aware that the next round of PCA practices and runs are due by next year. These are starting tomorrow in Wellington and it is timely to remind everyone of the approved and agreed process when undertaking the PCA.
The Auckland Local Committee wishes to meet with members to provide them with an update on issues surrounding Silverdale.
The New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union has serious concerns for the public safety of residents and ratepayers of Auckland’s North Shore.
Members will be aware of the Union’s current position on Silverdale.
The Union advises members that in relation to the Silverdale action being taken, no member accepts overtimes at Silverdale.
The Auckland Local held a Special Meeting on Monday 8 October to discuss the issues surrounding Silverdale Manning. The Committee invited along our members who were until recently, working at Silverdale, to give an overview of the problems that arise there.
It has been brought to the Union’s attention that the CFO Wgtn Fire District has withdrawn the SO vacancy at Karori Stn and re advertised it as an SSO vacancy and that this position will be a Station OIC role.
The Union is becoming increasingly concerned regarding the ability to maintain MSM, especially in the weekends.
Members will probably be aware of recent difficulties being experienced by Rosters Department staff in maintaining MSM, particularly at weekends. This has been caused by a number of factors, not the least of which has been the reluctance of some members to commit to working additional shifts over the weekend.
a) Stand-insIf a stand-in is undertaken on a Public Holiday, the person actually working the Public Holiday will be entitled to the Alternative Holiday.
SMS – Annual Service Leave Service Leave is expected to be taken within the year it is earned. SMS therefore resets ASL balances at Anniversary Date to the 3 or 4 days as appropriate.
Members are advised of a significant change in the way ASL’s are managed due to the SMS Rostering system. The new SMS system will not carry over any unused ASL’s. The old system used to allow this due to it’s non automation and the non existence of business rules presently written into the payroll program.
In an effort to update and inform as many members as possible, the Auckland Local Committee recommends all members sign up to the ‘E’ Text Messaging System on the Union website.
At a meeting of the Auckland Local Committee on 10th August the following resolution was passed.
Collective Agreement a) Wages:
Members are advised that the Auckland Local Annual General Meeting will be held on Friday 31 August 2007.
Attached for members’ information is a memo from the Fire Service regarding Leave Balances in SMS Roster.
As per the attached Ballot Declaration Form, I hereby declare:
The Auckland Local advises members that we will be holding ratification meetings on Wednesday 25 July and Thursday 26 July to enable as many members (on/off duty) to attend and have their vote.
Members are advised that two ratification meetings will be held to ratify the collective agreement.
Final Wording of the proposed renewed Collective Agreement has now been finalized between the Union and the Fire Service. This is undoubtedly the most complex and wide-ranging proposed settlement negotiated by the Union for many years. Particularly with a proposal to settle the Days in Lieu litigation and the Union achieving overall more than could be expected if the Union was successful in the Supreme Court, this proposed settlement delivers significant gains for members.
The New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union wishes to bring to members’ attention the matter of Kiwi Saver Superannuation, which is being rolled out by the Government from the 1st July 2007.
Request from National Office for districts to participate in the above programme was forwarded to Chief Fire Officers in mid May. A key feature of the programme was that to enroll an agreement by consultation between career stations, officers, local union delegates and the Chief Fire Officer was required.
The Union has become aware that the Auckland Regional Manager has directed the Auckland Region CFO’s and DCFO’s to order their staff to desist from faxing the ‘Daily Summary of Pay Claims’ to the Pay Office in Wellington.
The Union is aware that the Injury Management Unit from Wellington is visiting members in terms of their ACC claims, which under the ACC Partnership Programme, the Fire Service manages.
In response to the various rumours currently circulating about Union Finances, including rumours of misappropriation of Union funds, the Union Committee called a Special Conference on 11 June 2007 to fully brief Conference Delegates on the true situation. The Union’s lawyer was also present.
By the closing date for nominations for positions in the Auckland Local, the following nominations had been received.
As has been advised to members, whilst the general principles of the proposed settlement are clear, the detailed precise wording is critically important.
The National Union is still working with the Fire Service on the final wording in the proposed collective. Members will be advised as soon as possible when the ratification meetings will take place for the Wellington Local.
Members will be aware of Notice to Members ALC/07-50 dated 2 May 2007. Interestingly, this NOTICE TO MEMBERS drew comment from NON Union members.
The Union is advised that both these payments will be made on Payday 23 May 2007.
Members will have seen the Fire Service pay offer contains a section where members will agree (upon ratification of the contract offer) to “participate and support the introduction of a National Resource Allocation Methodology” (NRAM).
As has been reported in previous Newsletters, the Union received a new proposal from the Fire Service, which includes a proposal to settle the Days in Lieu Litigation as a part of the Collective Agreement negotiations.
Members may be aware of a recent e mail from P Glennie (region) regarding electric blanket testing. In that e mail he states that firefighters can use the 4 blanket testing rigs held at region office. These can be used at brigade open days like City station has done previously. He correctly states that there is no requirement for the testing to be carried out by a registered electrician and that a “competent person” can conduct these tests.
Local Executive Meeting: Date: 18 April 2007 Union Office Time: 0930 Present: Morgan Wills,MW; Rob Hutchison, RH; Gary Johnstone, GJ; Steve Field,SF; Ian Wright, IW; Kevin Dorgan, KD; Joe Murphy, JM; Paul Smith, PS; Malcolm Hodgson, MH; Mike Tofts, MT; Johnsonville 281 crew. Apologies: Steve Hudson, SH; Hamish Rankine,HR Matters Arising: Matters for action from last meeting were discussed. Agenda: SF, Hutt Fire Why didn't go to 2nd alarm? And why did 23 do the standby IW Check on standby process should have come from hutt district. KD will check on status in comcen. IW to Talk to SSO re alarm calls. MH, Masterton excessive hours; CFO is writing asking questions re members working over their hours when Masterton aren't. Hours of work and fatigue policy discussed. MSM is the key principle here. IW to talk to Masterton members re hours of work and OT issues. MH, SFF acting up under sect66 Masterton; Masterton Local issue, IW to check whether there is an issue over there as Central branch pres. MT, High Angle Committee, Update; Wanted an update on progress IW to kick it into action, hasn't had much time lately. MT, Porirua toilet block; Questioned what is happening, rumours from Dunphy have emerged, might be stopped etc. PS to get minimum standards from DOL re showers and toilets and changing facilities. BIA. GO from there re Porirua. KD Comms issues; Senior comms trg issues, job share arrangements. (creates a vacancy, have to watch the MSM as it takes so long to train) New member on board now. Only two non members in Central comms. GJ, Various; Members are working below the adult minimum wage. Members are not actually knowing what the Union asked for in the contract. Meeting with Wgtn free hasn't happened yet, why not? Did we get the information from HAZMAT unit calls and work? Members were told what our offer was at the Union meeting to vote on industrial action. Ambo meeting hasn't been held, IW too busy with National stuff. GJ to look at arranging the meeting. Information was given to DB. IW, OSH 4WD Stn 48, Electric blanket testing. IW to write to Kennedy station, Trentham volly's only when 487 and 491 are not available, training issue for stn 49 drivers. OSH discussion re Butzbach and Hutch. IW to write NTM regarding elections and electric blanket testing. D Best Contracts etc Talked about the proposed contract and court case DIL Stuff etc. Meeting closed: 1145
The Union was advised late yesterday that the Supreme Court has granted the Union leave to appeal the Court of Appeal decision.
As a consequence of the Special Conference on 13 April 2007, the Union has gone back to the Fire Service to both seek clarification on some details and to propose improvements.
Given the completion of the Ballot on Industrial Action, the Fire Service has communicated a revised position regarding the negotiations.
Ballot - Industrial Action
The Auckland Local advises members that we will be holding a Special Meeting for members on Friday 23 March as follows:
Members will be aware that Fire Region Manager Butt recently removed or reduced aerial appliances from CBD turnouts. The Union opposed this and continued to fight for the response to remain unchanged.
The 7th day of negotiations was completed on 5 March.
The Local executive would like to extend it’s thanks to SO Kevin Morrison for making himself available to jump for SO S Hudson so that he could attend last weeks committee meeting. Also, thanks to Craig Dally, Operations Manager Central Comcen who facilitated and enabled the Comcen rep Kevin Dorgan to attend.
Members will be aware of the problems (historic) that have occurred at Waitemata Station.
Collective Agreement Negotiations 6 days of negotiations were completed on 9 February with the Union putting a final position to Fire Service negotiators to take back to the Commission.