The Auckland Local has been made aware that the employer has made erroneous appointments under Section 66 of the Fire Service Act 1975.

The usual practice in Auckland with regards to Section 66 has been to advertise for suitable personnel and then make an appointment to cover a temporary vacancy for a Deputy Chief Fire Officer/ Assisstant Area Manager position. Section 66 has never applied to a normal vacany for a
Station Officer or Senior Station Officer position.

Nor can the Union support the covering of a rank which exists within the Collective Agreement where that temporary absence has been created from a member being appointed to an Acting AAM position.

The employer has, to date, a sound and robust promotion procedure with which any vacancy arising can be filled. If a member is appointed to be an Acting AAM, the resulting temporary
absence can be covered under the existing call-back policies within the CEA.

The Union advises that no member shall accept a Section 66 appointment arising out of a normal vacancy for a rank which is covered under the current Collective Agreement.

The Union advises that any member on a Section 66 appointment and currently filling an absence arising out of Section 66 notify their Area Manager that they can no longer undertake this role and return to their normal position within their Brigade.