The Union formally advised the Fire Service of the ratification of the Collective Agreement on 23 December 2009, and the Collective Agreement, with the necessary changes was signed by both parties on 19 January 2010.

The Fire Service, as agreed, will forward to all members an individual letter providing full details of the Lump Sum and Backpay calculations. Members should expect to receive this shortly.

In Newsletter No. 1 – 15 January 2010, the Union advised its position that the date given for the payment of Backpay and New Rates of 10 March 2010 is quite unacceptable.

Please find herewith a self-explanatory letter sent to the Fire Service on 22 January 2010.

Members will be advised of the response when received.

Operational Audit - Timaru

The Union was asked to provide a representative on an Operational Audit into the recent fire at a McCains premises in Timaru.

The Union was deeply concerned and outraged that one of the two Fire Service Representatives appointed by Rob Saunders the Transalpine Region Manager, was to be Mark Boere, Area Manager West Coast.

Mr. Boere was one of the two Transalpine Assistant Region Managers whose appointments the Union and the Chiefs’ Society strongly objected to.

Mr. Boere, before that appointment, had nil Fire Service experience. He is to all intents and purposes, a civilian employee, and as such, is quite unqualified and lacks any experience to be part of an Operational Audit.