In typical FENZ style, Australian consultants Tiger Spider have been engaged to take “an end-to-end view of fleet management” without first engaging with the NZPFU’s fleet representatives to ensure any review is meaningful and to be used for a proper purpose.
The NZPFU advises members that they should not engage with the consultants without the appropriate Local/station fleet representative present. The representative will be able to provide any information needed. If this is a genuine review, then FENZ should genuinely want to talk to those who have the information. Officers should inform management that appropriate arrangements need to be made to have the relevant fleet representatives on site to talk to the consultants. Any issues please contact your national NZPFU representatives.
On Friday, FENZ sent an email to managers informing them that consultancy Tiger Spider had been engaged as advisors to test FENZ’s management of fleet, the root causes and to make practical recommendations. It was claimed they intended to engage with managers, unions, and operational personnel, but the NZPFU who represents career firefighters, was not even informed of the intention to engage consultants, their purpose, or their methodology. We have not heard from the consultants. We also do not have any information on how the information they collate will be checked for accuracy or how it will be used.
Given the pace at which this has occurred, along with the complete lack of engagement or organisation to ensure the relevant representatives are available, we are very concerned this will be an attempt to undermine the significance and seriousness of the failures of fleet management. It is likely FENZ has done this to try and take the heat out of the serious, systemic, and costly failings that are expected to be detailed in the upcoming Parliamentary Select Committee report, due out this week.
The NZPFU was informed that the consultants arrived on a fire station last night. Had they, or management, engaged with the Union, we could have ensured that the appropriate fleet representatives were available to meet at an appropriate time. In fact, the fleet representative had been on shift that very day.
The way in which these consultants have been contracted and sent out to stations without prior warning or information - and without ensuring those directly involved in fleet for their Local/station are present - raises the perception that this is about minimising issues rather than genuinely exposing them. It fails to address the current dire state of the fleet, including the massive failings with the “new” appliances yet to be commissioned, to ensure they are not repeated.
The NZPFU is very concerned that significant costs are being allocated to put together a report, rather than using those funds for reliable and fit-for-purpose appliances.
It is another example of FENZ having no understanding or respect for the firefighters who are at the sharp end of the failing fleet, who deal with the trucks day in and day out and know first-hand not only the issues with specific appliances, but the systemic issues. They have the information for a fleet strategy and sound processes to procure appliances that are reliable and fit for purpose.
It also begs the question of the competency of the array of management involved in the fleet are doing if they do not know the problems or
who to approach to get the answers.
In unity,
Wattie Watson
National Secretary
