The Auckland Local has received information that FRM Butt has sponsored an “Operations debrief” on the fire at 1 O’Rorke Rd. Penrose on 26 November 2009.

This “debrief” has terms of reference which supposedly focus on firefighter safety, but in fact, are designed to lay blame for any mistakes that may have been made, squarely at the feet of the first responding officers and crews. The Auckland Local thinks that this is a bit rich after the blatant cover-up of the Rangiora incident.

The “debrief” is to be led by AAM Lakin, supported by AAM Twomey. There is no Union representation whatsoever, as has become the practice of this Regional Manager and his management team.

Because the Auckland Region has, in the past, absolutely refused to act on the many recommendations that our members have put to various investigations, reviews, debriefs and operational audits that have been held and has also refused, on a number of occasions, to include trained Union investigators on these, the Auckland Local is recommending to its members that they refuse to participate in any debrief on the above fire and, while the strike action is continuing, they refuse to participate in any other investigation which the Auckland Region may convene.

Members should be aware that their refusal to participate is legal, and that the strike notices served on the Fire Service by the Union are very explicit on the actions which Union members may take while this action is taking place. In simple terms, we are only responding to emergency calls and complying with operational readiness. Answering questions is not part of those duties and to refuse to answer is absolutely within the terms of the strike notices.