COVID-19 Update #6
Please see attached new operational instructions issued by FENZ National Commander Kerry Gregory.
Please see attached new operational instructions issued by FENZ National Commander Kerry Gregory.
This afternoon we held a meeting of the National Committee and all Local representatives by teleconference to keep them up to date with developments and to discuss any issues arising for those Locals. Key points discussed are as follows.
The Auckland Local understands we are in unprecedented times, with many members having questions and concerns.
For several months the Auckland Local have been pushing FENZ management to reinstate the response of aerial appliances to first alarm incidents in New Zealand’s largest metropolitan CDB.
FENZ has agreed to have union representatives at the National and Regional levels on working groups/committees determining necessary operations planning and response protocols. It is imperative that professional career firefighters are throughout the chain of discussions and decision-making including at SSO and SO level so that all practical implications are considered to ensure the most effective and pragmatic response protocols are implemented.
If you have family members at home that are frail, sick, immune system compromised or elderly, be very conscious of not taking anything home that would adversely affect them. Be that as it may we all have to ensure that our personal hygiene practices are on point. Contact with infected surfaces or coughs/ sneezing is the main point of spread. Virus may live for up to three days on hard surfaces. Frequent washing of your hands with soap and water is the most effective way of preventing transmission.
Today NZPFU Local, Branch and National representatives met by telephone conference to update re the COVID-19 pandemic.
The NZPFU has confirmed with FENZ that all staff who are required to self-isolate as a result of travel and/or Government instructions will be granted special leave. If the person self-isolating becomes ill during that period the leave changes to sick leave.
The NZPFU has raised a series of issues with FENZ on the management of staff during this international public health emergency.
The Auckland Taskforce and Governance Group met last Friday to move forward on the recommendations developed by the Taskforce Group and accepted by the Governance Group.
By the closing date for nominations for the position of Auckland Local Committee Member, the following nominations have been received.
We have had reports that in some areas managers are attempting to act up firefighters into Officer positions which they are not qualified or assessed as competent to hold, and are doing regardless of the availability of suitably qualified personnel.
There is currently a public electronic petition circulating calling for the overhaul of ACC legislation to recognise mental health issues resulting from repeated and cumulative exposures to trauma.
Nominations close on 6 March 2020 and must be delivered to the Branch Office by midday on that date. No late nominations will be accepted.
Members who have not yet received their NZPFU t-shirt or was waiting for a different size please contact the union office as we have now more t-shirts in stock.
The New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union is calling ACC’s new assessment criteria for whether firefighters with work-related cancer claims are approved a “lucky dip.”
Today ACC and FENZ have announced a new tool to assess Firefighter cancer claims to determine if they are occupational cancer claims.
FENZ has recently announced its final decisions for the People Branch which includes the establishment of key national positions in safety, health and wellbeing, training and workforce capability.
Dry Hawkes Bay has suffered a season of plantation and vegetation fires while trying to maintain usual response and calls including regular structure fires and greater alarm events.
These can be difficult, confusing and for some scary times – where is the line drawn on acceptable and not acceptable language, gender descriptions, jokes, and humour?
Today Auckland Local Secretary Martin Campbell, Auckland Local President Sulu Devoe and National Secretary Wattie Watson today met with the Reviewers undertaking the operational review into the NZ International Convention Centre Fire at Sky City.
The NZPFU encourages members to participate and support the annual Wellington Pride Parade which will take place on Saturday 7 March 2020 6pm to 10pm.
Firefighters in Auckland Areas 3, 4 and 5 have been asked to collect names and addresses of all present at every fire and to report the details back to FireCom to be forwarded to rural personnel.
The NZPFU has received reports that Senior/Station Officers are getting pushback from management when insisting on decontamination processes.
Further to the safety alert withdrawing all Flashflood 500 hose from service, there have been other instances of other internal ferruled 70mm hose separating from the male coupling.
In accordance with the Rules of the New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union, nominations are hereby called for the following position:
Every two years operational firefighters are required to undertake the Physical Competency Assessment (PCA) and 2020 is a PCA year.
Members will be aware of a recent request from Trevor Brown (National Operational Efficiency Manager) to gather information from officers and firefighters who attended the International Convention Centre.
From time to time, members may be requested to meet on an individual basis with Area Management for a range of issues including well-being conversations, return to work meetings, disciplinary meetings, performance meetings or informal meetings.
There have been three instances of near new Flashflood 500 x 70mm failure at the coupling under normal working pressure. The most recent was at a structure fire at Otahuhu. Fortunately no one was injured. Hose failure is a serious safety issue for crews on an incident ground when there is an immediate loss of water.
The NZPFU is facilitating “Operation Rest and Respite” for Australian firefighters and their families needing a much deserved break from the catastrophic bush fires in Australia.
First blog for the year! It’s been a big and busy year in the Union (hence the rather long blog!) I have been trying to paint a picture over the last 12, now 13 blogs about the types of hours and hard work many of our elected reps and SME’s are doing for all of us. And yes, it does take time, but that is what is needed at this critical time when we are influencing the future of firefighting and all that goes with that.
“National will amend ACFC legislation to clarify cover for firefighters through an evidence-based presumptive list of cancers which arise from being a firefighter” according to the Party’s recently released Health Discussion document.
Fire Emergency have for some time implemented a review of rostering processes that may identify potential duplicate allowances being generated in SMS and uploaded to Pse for payment.
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.
The Executive and Committee of the Auckland Local wish all members and their families a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.
On behalf of the National President Ian Wright and the National Vice President Joseph Stanley, the National Council wishes our members a safe and cheery festive season.
NZPFU Southern Branch Secretary Jim Ryburn has been working with medical practitioners in Christchurch to develop an affordable medical assessment/screening relevant to the health risks associated with exposure to occupational hazards, including the increased risk of specific cancers.
The following information has been received from Fire and Emergency.
The NZPFU and FENZ representatives met in mediation today to discuss the NZPFU dispute contesting FENZ’s intention to preference unqualified and inexperienced personnel over professional career firefighters for proposed new positions.
There still seems to be misunderstanding around members rights when meeting with Management to discuss Return to Work Duties.
National Secretary Wattie Watson, National Vice President Joe Stanley and Northern Branch Vice President James Hall were privileged to be greeted by Australian Federal Greens MP Adam Bandt at Parliament House. Adam was a driving force behind achieving presumptive legislation for firefighters introducing the Federal Bill that was passed in 2011. A great friend of firefighters globally.
The NZPFU has fielded a series of complaints regarding the non-payment of allowances that are later found to be payable.
The 31st NZPFU Annual Conference is commencing in Invercargill today at 1pm.
Cracks in the steel support structures of the lockers have been discovered on two MAN type-3 fire trucks and FENZ is now instigating an inspection programme to check all 47 trucks.
Well a lot has happened since my last blog. Firstly, thanks to everyone who sent in their submissions on the proposals for the organisational structure and application of rank. An unprecedented level of engagement from our membership since the 90’s!
The NZPFU stands in solidarity with Unite to have the Sky City workplaces appropriately tested and decontaminated after the toxic Convention Centre fire and any workplace illnesses recognised.
An event is being hosted at Porirua Fire Station on Monday 11th November
The Tauranga Local encourages members and their partners to take up the below invite from Area Management and Fire and Emergency. We support any initiatives that help to better educate our members and their families on ways to keep themselves and the people around them happy and healthy.
A NZPFU survey of Auckland Local Members who responded to the 6th Alarm Convention Centre fire has highlighted significant staffing, resourcing and appliance issues hindered the response.
The New Zealand Professional Firefighters' Union, and members of the Auckland Local, would like to formally thank and acknowledge the hard work that was put in over the many days by Auckland Volunteer Operational Support at the recent International Convention Centre Fire.
We're going blue in the month formerly known as November to show our support for Movember. Movember stands for tackling prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health and suicide prevention.