The Union and Fire Service representatives met again on 20 January 2011 (for a fifth day of negotiations).
Subsequent to the Union advising the Fire Service that the money element of the Fire Service’s position was quite inadequate, the Fire Service representatives indicated they would not return to the negotiating table.
Consequently negotiations have broken down.
A detailed notice of the state of play of negotiations is being developed and will be promulgated next week.
Members will no doubt be aware of the major 5th Alarm fire that broke out last night on the North Shore. This fire had widespread impacts to people across Tamaki Makaurau with several Emergency Alerts having to be made. Additionally, our thoughts go out the local community, including the owner, tenants, and staff of the businesses impacted.
Members will no doubt be aware of Wednesday's major fire in a scrapyard in Papakura. Whilst the cause of this fire is still under investigation what is known is that the impacts of it were widespread right across Auckland.
We have been told that staff wanting to do Return to Work Duties will have to do them at District HQ and they do not intend to reimburse your travel costs, “you are getting an enhanced pay and you can fund your own travel”. We have since got an agreement that the travel distance reimbursement will be paid for travel to District HQ.