FENZ has notified the NZPFU that it will not bargain with the NZPFU and will file for facilitation in the Employment Relations Authority unless we withdraw the notice for the one-hour stoppage on the 17th October. FENZ says it will not provide any new offer while the strike notice remains.
The NZPFU gave notice this week of a one-hour stoppage from 12 noon to 1pm on Friday the 17th October. We notified FENZ that we hoped the notice of a strike would motivate FENZ to come to the scheduled bargaining next week with a revised offer that deals with all outstanding issues including wages. As always, and as demonstrated a number of times in 2022, the NZPFU National Committee carefully considers any movement in bargaining and has withdrawn strike action when we thought good progress was being made.
FENZ knows the only way to stop the strike was to provide a fair and reasonable offer at the bargaining scheduled for the 9th and 10th October 2025.
FENZ knew if they presented a new, fair and reasonable offer that appropriately addressed the issues raised by the Union that the strike would not be necessary.
The NZPFU believes FENZ is using the strike notice as an excuse and is stalling.
We do not believe FENZ was intending to come to the table with a fair and reasonable offer that appropriately addresses our claims. Whether or not FENZ will honour the 2023 agreement in principle for the increase in the firefighter ratio affects the bargaining. On Tuesday, the National Deputy Commander Megan Stiffler asked for another two weeks before she declared FENZ’s position on the increase in the firefighter ratio to ensure minimum staffing could be maintained.
FENZ’s 13th June offer, which did not reflect their own claims and ignored the NZPFU claims, was rejected by 99% of NZPFU members. FENZ has had months to provide a new offer.
Because our members work in an essential service we have to give at least 14 days’ notice of particular strike action. Issuing notice of strike action to occur after next week’s bargaining was putting FENZ firmly on notice that they had to come to the table on the 9th and 10th willing to make good progress towards a reasonable settlement. The notice also ensured the NZPFU were able to take action if FENZ did not come back with a reasonable and fair new offer.
FENZ is using the notified strike as an excuse not to bargain, and we believe to delay the prospect of any settlement.
If FENZ really wanted to settle, and have the strike notice withdrawn, it would be quicker and more effective to come to bargaining next week with a reasonable offer.
The NZPFU will again organise a bargaining venue, and we will be there as previously agreed on 9th and 10th October, ready and waiting for FENZ to present their new offer.
What is FENZ’s threat of facilitation?
FENZ will have to apply to refer the bargaining to the Employment Relations Authority for facilitation. There are specified grounds on which facilitation can be referred. If Facilitation is ordered then the Employment Relations Authority determines the process. Any proposals or positions reached by either party in facilitation is not binding.
At most, the Authority can make recommendations including what should be included in the collective agreement, or what process the parties should undertake. But those recommendations are not binding on either party.
Unless both parties agree, those recommendations, and any positions those parties have put forward in the facilitation, do not form any part of a settlement or collective.
Hence, our belief this is just a delay tactic.
If FENZ have a decent offer to present in facilitation they should instead present it next week in bargaining.
In unity,
Wattie Watson
National Secretary
