Members will by now be aware of the postponement of the Auckland Local AGM. This decision was taken so as to not place on‐duty members in the difficult position of deciding whether to remain on Station or leave work for two hours, as per their rights under the Collective Agreement and the Employment Relations Act 2000, in order to attend the meeting.

This was necessary due to the refusal of the Auckland Regional Manager, Brian Butt, to allow appliances to leave Station and travel to the meeting. As would usually be the case, any and all attending on‐duty crews would be available on pager turnout, so as not to interfere with the normal business of the employer.

Unlike all other Locals in the country, this reasonable arrangement was unacceptable to FRM Butt, who felt he needed to demonstrate his ignorance of New Zealand Employment Law through correspondence exchanged with the Local and National Union.

The Union cannot accept this brazen denial of the rights of our members to attend a Union meeting as permitted by law. As a result, the Union is exploring legal options in order to protect the rights of our members.

It makes it extremely difficult to know the feelings of the members towards settlement of the Collective Agreement. This type of management is clearly one of the reasons why his staff have little or no respect for him and the members of his executive team who so blindly follow him.

Members should be well aware that this R.M. is fully supportive of the proposals which decimate our members’ jobs and futures as part of the new Regional Realignments.