Recently there has been some confusion around entitlements for members when attending emergency incidents before or after your normal shifts.

The following will hope to clarify this for members:

CEA 2.6.10 Extended Shift - All time worked by shift workers outside of their usual rostered shifts and Yellow and Black watch workers outside of their usual daily hours shall be paid for at the rates specified in the relevant tables in part 5 of this agreement. In computing overtime, payment shall be made for each one-quarter hour or part thereof.

This clause provides that if a member is already at work, and is unable to finish work before the end of their shift, then they will be paid at the appropriate overtime rates at the time. This will be either R1, R2 or R3 (which are now all the same effective 1st July), Note - adequate time for recommissioning and a shower must also be provided to the member on return to their usual station.

CEA 2.6.10.1 Callout - If at any time a worker is called out by Fire and Emergency NZ after having ceased work for the day and left his/her place of employment, or before the normal time of starting work, such worker shall be paid a minimum of three hours at the appropriate overtime rate, provided that, for the purpose of this minimum, more than one call completed within three consecutive hours shall be deemed to be one call.

This clause provides that if you were asked to start work and leave the fire station before the beginning of your shift, and you had not yet “jumped” for another firefighter, then the above clause takes effect, and you are entitled to 3 hours pay at R1, R2 or R3 (which is all the same effective 1st July).

Note - No member can be forced to start their shift before the usual start time (0800 or 1800).

In addition to the above. Members are also entitled to a meal allowance if they have started one hour before their normal start of shift, or have worked one hour beyond their normal end of shift. CEA 2.6.9.4 Overtime Meal Allowance

A hot meal of substance must be provided and the worker returned to their fire station. Failing that a meal allowance may also be claimed for every 4 hours of continuous duty at fires or emergency incident after 1800. CEA 2.6.9.1

Additionally if a member is on an emergency standby at a station, and they have made prior lunch / dinner arrangements, then they shall be returned to their own station, or they will be entitled to claim a meal allowance for every 4 continuous hours away from their usual station. CEA 2.6.9.3.1/2/3

In light of the recent International Convention Centre fire, and the extended hours that firefighters have conducted throughout, members are encouraged to check with their OIC that they have received all their entitlements above.

If any member has any queries on the above entitlements then please make contact with one of your cluster representatives.