NZPFU members will be out in force for one hour from 12 noon tomorrow as they continue their strike action in a bid for a fair and reasonable collective agreement.

Go to www.direemergency.nz to find the strike event nearest to you.

Despite the NZPFU requests to FENZ, there have not been any proposed bargaining dates and therefore no progress.

The NZPFU has given notice of the one-hour strikes from 12 noon for tomorrow Friday the 13th, Monday the 16th, Friday the 20th, Monday the 23rd and Friday the 27th of March 2026. All strike events and locations will be available on www.direemergency.nz/events/ – check each week as some changes may be made.

FENZ has said they will deduct one hour of wages for all striking members for each strike from and including 23 March 2026.

The NZPFU has had to withdraw industrial action which consisted of bans on administrative and behind-the-scenes tasks that would not affect emergency response. That industrial action was to commence on 23 March, but FENZ notified they would be deducting 10% of wages each pay period for the duration of that industrial action, which many of our low-paid members could not sustain.

As FENZ chose to attack industrial action that would not affect emergency response, our members have no other option but to continue the strike action, which is the full withdrawal of labour for one hour twice a week.

There have been many messages of support from the public, MPs and volunteers since FENZ made the decision to deduct the wages of our members.

FENZ’s actions have only served to galvanise the union membership. They are angry that FENZ is treating them with disrespect.

Our members are furious FENZ is spending between $60,000 and $100,000 a week on advertising about the strikes. That outrageous use of funding would be better spent on settling the collective agreement.

FENZ has previously informed the NZPFU that they would only bargain if the NZPFU withdrew all industrial action and did not give notice of further action. FENZ is also insisting on a return to facilitated bargaining, which has been adjourned with no outcome.

FENZ has rejected the NZPFU’s proposal to have a third party in the room who was instrumental in the settlement in 2022, ironically because that person has the history and knowledge of the previous bargaining.

In unity,
Wattie Watson
National Secretary