The Public Service Commission has put public sector employers including FENZ on notice that they must review vaccination policies and to pause any processes that may lead to the termination of employees due to vaccination status.
As members will know, staffing levels throughout Tamaki Makaurau are at critically low levels with fire trucks often short staffed or unavailable for response and 111 Fire Communication Centres under-staffed. Until such time as a Vacancy Fulfilment Policy has been agreed upon with FENZ, our safe systems of work are completely reliant on the application of the Critical Worker Exemption Scheme.
Further to the ongoing series of notices on Fire and Emergency’s willingness to close down fire stations in a pandemic; fire trucks and fire stations throughout Auckland continue to close down, fire trucks continue to respond to emergencies with less than safe staffing or without trained Officers, and Fire Communication Centres are continually operating short staffed.
The NZPFU and FENZ agree that firefighters should never be used as part of Police operations or enforcement.
As notified in National Notice “Bargaining Update 21st February” a series of information meetings have been organised throughout the country to be held via Zoom.
A High Court decision released today has determined that the vaccination mandate affecting a select group of Police and Defence must be set aside.
Warnings from the Union about the state of the Fire and Emergency fleet around the lack of funding, strategic planning, inadequate servicing and repair, have unfortunately come to fruition.
Bay of Plenty Local reps and District management met yesterday to discuss the impact of Omicron on both staff safety, and Operational Capability concerns.
Members will be aware that Fire and Emergency continues to treat the safety of the New Zealand public with contempt, with the decision to relocate specialist heavy aerial resourcing from Auckland to Hamilton, leaving 1.72 million people with just the protection of ONE heavy aerial rescue truck.
Late last week FENZ provided an adjusted offer. FENZ has not provided all the information we requested and therefore we still do not have full disclosure from FENZ.
Please be advised that by closing date for nominations for the position of Southern Branch Vice-President, the following nominations were received.
The NZPFU continues to take every opportunity to represent Members’ interests in national and legal forums.
With the Government announcing the country is moving to Phase Two tonight, Rapid Antigen Testing (RAT) and isolation exemptions for workers designated as critical workers will be introduced.
The dangerous saga of appliances failing at fires has occurred far too often in recent times with the most recent failure of an aerial appliance at a critical time during a structure fire in residential Kilbirnie.
On Tuesday afternoon FENZ provided a revised remuneration and financial offer.
Firefighters are refusing to work on a fire truck left stranded without power to its big ladder at a blaze that destroyed a Wellington house last week.
During a planned NZPFU NCOM and Locals meeting this afternoon we received a revised offer from FENZ for Firefighter and Officer pay scale.
FENZ has failed to provide their revised position on wage increases and matters they consider as “remuneration and financial responses”. The NZPFU deadline passed this afternoon.
There is confusion over the application of the Covid-19 vaccination mandate for firefighters. The amended Health Order has now been released.
Further to our notice of 9th January, career fire stations and fire trucks continue to face crisis levels of staffing, with several stations closed during the day due to a lack of career firefighters, with many more fire trucks responding to emergencies with below the minimum safe number of firefighters.
Members are advised it is not in your interest to register an expression of interest as an Subject Matter Expert (SME) for the Technical Competency Framework (now named Paearu Mahi) working parties. If you have already done so we urge you to withdraw.
Nominations are called for the position of Vice-President for the Southern Branch.
Members will no doubt have heard that unfortunately the International Convention Centre fire caught fire once again.
Congratulations to Mark Leonard elected as Southern Branch Secretary and Rik Walsh elected as Central Branch Vice President.
I declare RIK WALSH duly elected to the position of Central Branch Vice President.
FENZ has organised a pilot ILDC course for February 2022 that does not require participants to have any qualifications, training or experience and intend to include both qualified professional career, non-qualified Group Managers and a Red Cross participant.
NZPFU Central Branch members are reminded the election for the Central Branch Vice President position closes this Thursday 13th January at 1700 hours.
Decades of neglect towards career firefighter staffing levels are hitting crisis point throughout Auckland Fire Stations this summer as career fire stations are closed and fire trucks respond to emergencies short staffed due to a shortage of staffing.
I hereby declare Mark Thomas Leonard elected NZPFU Southern Branch Secretary.
Members have been requesting information about the Covid-19 vaccination booster shots.
FENZ has distributed a Covid-19 risk assessment for “consultation” which is a sham.
The Auckland Local wishes all members a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. A reminder that the Auckland Office will be closed from the afternoon of 23 December 2021, re-opening on 10 January 2022.
On behalf of the Executive of the Northern Branch, we wish all members and their families a very Happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year.
T'is the season to be jolly – and t'is the time to appreciate NZPFU members and their elected union representatives!
By closing date for nomination for the position of Central Branch Vice-President, the following eligible nominations were received.
FENZ “instructions” that “all personnel who wish to attend a training event as a trainee, trainer, setter or facilitator must be double vaccinated and have their vaccine pass available for scanning” are unlawful and are being challenged by the NZPFU.
A Team Management Profile Questionnaire (TMP) is being distributed for some NZPFU members to complete.
Recently FireSuper Board Chair Denis Fitzmaurice engaged in a video discussion with NZPFU National Vice President Joseph Stanley and National Secretary Wattie Watson on options for FireSuper members when leaving FENZ.
Nominations are called for the position of Secretary for the Southern Branch.
The Covid-19 Response (Vaccinations) Legislation Bill was passed under urgency within 24 hours of the Bill being introduced into Parliament. Amid controversy and opposition the Bill easily passed with the support of Labour and Greens.
The Hawkes Bay Local hosted the 33rd NZPFU Annual Conference in Napier this week.
The continued lack of planning, procurement and management of aerial appliances continues to put our communities at risk. For most of this week, Hamilton and the greater Waikato area will be without the heavy aerial Snorkel and its relief as the snorkel will be undergoing its scheduled service and repair work which takes the appliance off the road for at least 3 days.
Continuing on with our series of video presentations, NZPFU National Secretary Wattie Watson and Vice President Joe Stanley are joined by FireSuper Board Chairman Denis Fitzmaurice.
NZPFU unvaccinated members affected by the mandatory vaccination order now have the choice of Pfizer or AstraZeneca vaccinations. This week the Government announced those covered by a mandatory vaccination order and those that were advised not to have the Pfizer vaccine on medical grounds will be given priority.
All FENZ personnel covered by the mandatory health order must have at least the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccination before 29 November 2021 and second dose by 14 January 2022 to continue working in their roles.
FENZ has been granted a two-week extension to the implementation of the COVID-19 Public Health Response (Vaccinations) Amendment Order (No 3) 2021.
FENZ has determined it will pay up to two weeks’ paid special leave from the 16th November 2021 for declared unvaccinated workers covered by the mandatory health order. That paid special leave is on the condition the employee actively engages in consultation about any alternative duties and options during that period.
The Local is well aware of the psychological and financial implications that this 11-week lock down has had on our members.
FENZ’s failure to employ the professional career firefighters necessary to maintain minimum staffing across New Zealand in peace time is a primary reason it cannot sustain even a small drop in firefighters during this Covid-19 crisis.
The Covid-19 vaccination debate has been toxic and harmful at work and in our personal lives. NZPFU National Secretary Wattie Watson talks to Clinical Pyschologist Catherine Gallagher about why we have developed and harboured such strong views in this crisis and what we need to think about if we want to keep our mates and partners.
Members will be well aware that Aerial appliances continue to be a problem right around the country. Local Areas are often being left without the vital specialist fire protection and rescue capabilities that these vehicles provide.
Members who have previously confidentially notified me as not vaccinated or unlikely to be vaccinated should have received an email last night. If you are not vaccinated and not intending to be vaccinated on or by the 15th November 2021, and want the NZPFU to advocate on your behalf then please follow these instructions.
Members have been seeking clarification on the process for declaration of vaccination status.
These are extraordinary and unprecedented times, challenging us in every way. While I know that people will be feeling the growing pressure and tension of Covid 19 and the recent vaccination mandate, I am completely confident that we will move through this.