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.
Fire Ops 101 is again underway at NTC with Members of Parliament at NTC getting first hand experience the life of a Firefighter. In a lecture room for a safety briefing is the “before” photo.
The NZPFU has sought the assistance of the Employment Relations Authority in its dispute claiming the proposed organisational structure appointment process is in breach of the NZPFU collective agreement.
Recently there has been some confusion around entitlements for members when attending emergency incidents before or after your normal shifts.
The Local wishes to remind members that if you are certified unfit for full duties by your doctor, but are able to complete restricted duties (“Light Duties”), then you will be asked to come in and meet with the Personnel AAM and a Representative from FENZ’s Injury Management Unit. This will often be Rochelle Bull, and it is to discuss and complete a “Return to Work Plan”.
The Local wishes to advise members that a survey will shortly go out to all Auckland Firefighters and Comcen Staff asking questions centred around the recent International Convention Centre Fire.
On 17 October 2019 FENZ was issued with a Health and Safety Provisional Improvement Notice (PIN) requiring professional career Firefighters to be only responded to purple calls. The NZPFU had been informed that FENZ had agreed, endorsed and signed a new Memorandum of Understanding which enabled St John to deploy Firefighters to other calls where St John perceived the Firefighters could “add value”.
The Local wishes to thank all members for the collective effort displayed at the recent Sky City Convention Centre Fire.
"Firefighters will have to deal with this in years to come as the compounding affects of all the smoke and toxins that they're becoming exposed to in fires like this are giving them higher rates of cancer. This is no surprise to Firefighters that we get cancer more than anybody else."
About 1,000 submissions from NZPFU members were delivered to FENZ National Commander Kerry Gregory this afternoon.
The NZPFU would like to personally thank Howick Green Watch, Senior Firefighter/Vice-President Jeff Shrimpton and SFF Josh Darby for the courage to show the public of New Zealand the personal battles that career professional firefighters are currently facing.
At a recent Committee meeting the following portfolio positions were delegated: