Following the decision of the Employment Court to issue and continue an injunction against our
current strike notice, the NZPFU and the Fire Service have worked constructively to try and obtain clarity in terms of the strike action. The following clarity is the result of those efforts.
COMPUTER LOG ON TO THE INTRANET
The union’s intent for this strike notice is to ban logging on to the Fire Service network, and therefore ban the use of all applications that reside on that network which includes but is not limited to SMS, Smart Applications, OSM, and TMS. It also includes Microsoft applications on networked computers. It does not include a ban on logging on to the network through any operations‐based technology such as computers in Command units, laptops used by USAR teams on operations etc. This means that any and all applications and computer programmes accessed through these computers can be used during the industrial action. It does not include a ban on using non‐networked computer equipment such as stand‐alone PC's and laptops. Where these non‐networked computers have Microsoft and other applications loaded on them that do not require connection to the network to use, these applications can be used.
The wording allows those members who use ordinary computers (stand alone) not logged on to the network to still be able to use those computers. There may be some overlap here as some of the Microsoft and other applications are available on some stand alone computers. We are happy for these applications to be used on the stand‐alone computers.
MANUAL RECORDS
The unions’ intent is this regard is that manual rosters or daily parade states including changes during shifts will be maintained to enable NZFS management to be assured that MSM is being maintained. These records will include records of staff absence and additional pay claims. These will supply the fire service with staffing numbers and with hours of work details. We also undertake to do accident reports manually which includes investigations and remedial action for hazards.
In addition to this it was never envisioned that the strike would include banning any written notations or other forms of recording during operational incidents. It was always a given by the union that operations would not be impaired in any way. This therefore means that manual incident records will be maintained during the industrial action. This includes, but is not limited to:
- breathing apparatus tallies
- breathing apparatus entry control boards
- nominal roll tallies
- incident action plans
- command and control organisational structure charts
- recording of incident risks and hazards
- use of hazard guide forms
- record of persons decontaminated
- labeling defective equipment
- labeling clothes and equipment for decontamination
Manual records related to equipment/BA/Hose servicing, cylinder filling and testing, and Level 3 and 4 PPE repairs and testing are maintained as these are considered necessary to ensure that operations are not impaired in any way.
