BALLOT ON FENZ OFFER

The NZPFU will be holding a national round of meetings with members as detailed below.  The meetings have been arranged so that the relevant National Committee members can attend each meeting.

FENZ has been notified in accordance with the Employment Relations Act 2000 that these are section 26 meetings which can be up to 2 hours duration and the employer must allow union members to attend on pay if they would otherwise be working during this time.  The Locals are asked to work with relevant FENZ management to make the appropriate arrangements for availability for the meetings.

NZPFU Members are urged to attend and to come prepared to vote on the FENZ offer (which will be distributed to all members when the formal documentation is received from FENZ) and other ballots the National Committee thinks necessary which may include further strike action.   Please bring a pen to vote.

Yesterday FENZ tabled an insulting offer of 2.2% that is less than the 2.4% increase FENZ paid all non-NZPFU members from 1 July 2026.   At the time FENZ claimed it was a “market rate” and yesterday did not have an explanation as to why NZPFU members were being offered inferior terms and conditions.  

The offer is an insult to firefighters, dispatchers, trainers, volunteer support officers, and those working in risk reduction, and safety health and wellbeing, as if they did not deserve a fair and reasonable pay increase.

The offer (which will be sent out to all members when FENZ sends the formalised documentation and attachments) does not address the need for increased staffing of firefighters and dispatchers, safe systems of work, the impact of the restructure, does not mention the dire state of the fleet or have any reference to the recommendations of the Parliamentary select committee, and claws back some conditions.

Disgustingly,  FENZ wants a sunset clause on the NZPFU’s critical health monitoring programme (including reimbursements) which has already saved lives through the early detection of firefighters’ occupational cancers.

Yesterday, the Authority confirmed facilitation was now adjourned for the NZPFU members to consider the offer.

For more information on the events of yesterday’s bargaining go here.

NZPFU MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS

In unity,
Wattie Watson
National Secretary