Business Plan Targets
Officers are reminded that when submitting the Watch Business Plan, they are to work closely with their crews. Your crew members are expected to be part of achieving these targets, so their input is essential.
Officers are reminded that when submitting the Watch Business Plan, they are to work closely with their crews. Your crew members are expected to be part of achieving these targets, so their input is essential.
Please note that effective Monday 11 April 2005, the Northern Branch Office of the N.Z.P.F.U. has moved to new premises at Unit 7, 44 William Pickering Drive, Albany.
It is with regret, that I inform all members of Allen Barr’s resignation from the Auckland Local Committee.
Members should be aware of what is transpiring in the Auckland Local and in fact across the country with consistent attacks on MSM (minimum Shift Manning). Members are encouraged to go to www.nzpfu.org.nz and read for themselves the debacle that Auckland regional management are creating. Wellington local members are advised that we are under attack also.We too have CFO’s and Regional Managers that do not value MSM and as a result are willing to put fire-fighters and public in danger due to short crewing.
Regional Manager McGill and his fellow Chief Fire Officers Edwards, Wood and Ellis are now consistently placing your safety and the public’s safety at risk.
A lack of clear leadership from Regional Manager McGill, and creative interpretation by Vince Arbuckle, Director of Human Resources, was not going to prevent Senior Firefighters from being able to attend Station Officer exams today.
Recently members have queried the Union’s position regarding Senior Firefighters acting up as Station Officers.
Members will be aware that Regional Manager McGill has been preventing staff from fully crewing fire engines in the Auckland Brigade.
All Officers should seek answers to the following questions from your CFO/DCFO at your next Officers Meeting.
In discussion with Regional Manager McGill on the morning of Thursday 27 January, Regional Manager McGill informed me that he was unwilling to act on the provisions within the Hours of Work Policy (exceeding the prescribed hours of work in emergency situations).
Members are no doubt aware of the death of Bill Andersen.
After putting out Auckland Local Notice ALC-05-12 dated 24 January, the Auckland Local has received correspondence from Regional Manager McGill.
On Saturday 22 January, Brigade Management were prepared to compromise your personal safety when they prevented Roster Officers from enacting the process laid down in the Hours of Work Policy in order to assess if the only remaining staff who were able to work but would have exceeded their hours in doing so, could work and thereby maintain MSM.
Recently there have been instances of members departing from accepted operational practices for various reasons
This Notice is to inform members in the Auckland Local that on Monday 17 January the formal Physical Competency Assessments were commenced.
Members are advised that this Local strongly recommends that when they seek stand in’s i.e. jumps, that they only ask people employed under the Uniformed Operational Collective Agreement.
Further to yesterday’s Newsletter that reported in detail on the Fire Service’s actions in this dispute, the Union has now been advised that the Court of Appeal has set 14 March 2005 to hear the Fire Service’s appeal.
The Union was surprised and disappointed to learn of the decision by the Fire Service to appeal the Employment Court decision that dismissed the Fire Service’s application to strike out our case.
Members will be aware that the Local Executive committee interviewed 10 Applicants who wished to re join the Union. From those interviews, 8 people were recommended by your Local Executive for membership. Subsequent to this, it was agreed to have a secret ballot so that members could endorse the committee’s recommendations. The Fire-fighters recommended for acceptance are as follows.
A very successful 16th Annual Conference was held in Christchurch 23 – 25 November.
Members will be aware of the recently distributed whole country e-mail regarding hours of work.
Members are advised that the Auckland Local Annual General Meeting will be held on Friday 19 November 2004.
Members will be aware of the Chief Executive’s recent whole country e-mail regarding Hours of Work.
On 21 October 2004 the Union presented a written submission on the above Bill to the Transport and Industrial Relations Committee (copy attached).
The Union’s position on members’ involvement on Interview Panels for appointment to positions covered by the Collective Agreement was outlined in Newsletter 3/2002.
Members are advised that Arapawa Regional Management have recommended the amalgamation of the Wellington North and South Districts to occur, subject to Commission approval, on 1 December 2004.
Members should be aware that during the last month or so, P.C.A. training runs through the course, either at Mt Wellington or Takapuna, have not been carried out as regularly as they were previously in the summer months.
The Working Party is making good progress on finalizing the details of a changed training and progression system.
Some members are being approached by District management seeking their involvement with a 360 Review of that management.
Members are asked to consider and submit remits for the National conference to the Local Secretary (address details on header) by 14 September 2004. Remits will be tabled at the Wellington AGM (date and location TBA) for ratification and submission to the National Conference in November.
The Local has become aware of some District management people asking Union members to fill out a 360 degree feedback review on them. Members are reminded that there was a recommendation from the National Union to Union members not to partake in any such feedback process.
Recently the Wellington Local has become aware that a member agreed to act in the capacity of a Station Officer pursuant to Section 66 despite not holding the Station Officers qualification.
Members are advised of a request by the district CFO ofWellington South. He requires indication of when members intend to take their ASL’s, in particular those members who have more than 6 ASL’s accumulated. This is apparently a budgetary issue and members are advised that they can be instructed to take their leave as per the collective. Strictly speaking, ASL’s should be treated as annual leave and have historically been allowed to be accumulated by agreement with CFO’s.
3% Pay Increase Members are reminded of the 3% increase on and from 1 July 2004, as delivered through the NZPFU Collective Agreement.
Members are advised of the results of the election and nomination process recently held. There will be a ballot for the Presidents position with the nominees being Morgan Wills and Rob Hutchison. Rob has also stood for the Vice Presidents position so we are unable to confirm the two top positions at this stage. Positions confirmed are: Secretary: Ian Wright Wgtn North reps: Gary Johnston, Steve Hudson and Mike Tofts Hutt Reps: Brendon Grylls, Danny Beban, Malcom Hodgson Wgtn South: Steve Field, Shane Hegan The Wgtn south district is still short one rep, so anyone who wishes to take up position, please contact Secretary. Same applies for Central Comcen, we have no nominations for this position. Positions are current from 1 August 2004. Many thanks to those who contributed for the last term and who are standing down this year. Especially to parting President Jeff Keeys who spent many years on the Local committee. Ballot papers are being drawn up this week and will be distributed through Local reps so that members can vote.
Members should be aware that it is not mandatory to enter all details of an accident into the OSH Kiosk themselves to receive benefits under A.C.C.
On Thursday 10 June the Union and the Fire Service were in mediation with the Employment Authority regarding the ongoing employment relationship dispute with respect to Days in Lieu.
The Union has a date – Thursday 10 June – for mediation with the Fire Service concerning the Union’s contention that as a result of the new legislation, Days in Lieu for working Public Holidays are not correctly provided for.
The Union is continuing to receive questions regarding participation in the Colmar Brunton Survey. Copied below is the part of NTM No.10, which detailed the Union Committee’s recommendation not to participate, and the reasons for this recommendation.
Members are advised that all Local executive rep positions and office holders (Pres, V Pres and Sec) are due for election this August.
Colmar Brunton Survey Members were advised in Newsletter No. 8 that, on an interim basis, members were recommended not to participate in any way with this survey.
ANZAC Day – 25 April – is now subject to the same arrangements regarding Days in Lieu and payment rate as all other Statutory Holidays.
Recently the Fire Service has advised members of their intention to undertake a survey of all personnel in May/June regarding what they think of the Fire Service, and conducted by Colmar Brunton.
The Fire Service’s response to Union Newsletter 6/2003 – e-mail Friday 9 April – simply restates the Fire Service’s position as it was before the enactment of the new legislation.
Members will be aware from the Union’s previous Notice to Members No.5/2004 regarding Statutory Holidays payment and Days in Lieu entitlement that the Union is of the view that members are not being provided their proper entitlements that arise out of the Holidays Act 2003 commencing on 1 April.
For the most part, the provisions of this Act come into force on 1 April 2004 (the minimum 4 weeks leave entitlement comes into force on 1 April 2007).
The Union wishes to again inform members of the Fire Service’s intention to pay the PCA annual allowance.
This Working Party has had its initial meeting and the Joint Statement copied below outlines the future work and direction of the Working Party.
Members are advised that further to NTM 03-04 20 February 2004 and ARFC e-mail last week;
Members will be well aware of the recent floods throughout the region last week. As a result of this, members’ PPE should be considered as contaminated with faecal matter. This includes level 2 bunker coats, overtrousers, gloves and gumboots.
Diary The Union has decided to produce a Diary for 2004 itself. Consequently, the Diary will be smaller because it will not include advertising.
Members should be aware that due to the continual run down and Band-Aid servicing of the two TTL’s reg. no. OM3919 and NT7872 this local (and senior instructors on these appliances) have little faith in their safe operation.
The Union considers that it is an opportune time now that the summer season is upon us, to remind members of the precautions to take while wearing Structural Firefighting Apparel during hot weather or in high temperature firefighting conditions.
It has been brought to this Local’s attention that there is an inconsistency in the Arapawa Best Practice manual regarding appointed relievers and what is actually happening in the districts.