As members will recall, the existing Collective Agreement expires 30 June 2015.
However, during the course of the Agreement, a number of Working Parties are to be established to look at:

• Part 3 and Part 4 Review of Remuneration. This will include appropriate benchmarking and will consider whether any changes to remuneration structures are necessary to support attraction, retention and progression;
• Review of P.C.A.;
• Review of Collective Agreement – simplification and clarification (will not consider changes to entitlements).

The intention of these Working Parties is to be in a position to provide detailed information to assist the Bargaining for a renewal of the Collective Agreement in 2015.

Planning and discussion commenced IN 2013 and the Union and the Fire Service Management met on 21 March to formally commence the Working Party process.

For the Part 3 and Part 4 exercise, the Working Parties will commence shortly establishing and determining Job/Position Descriptions. This will include involvement with persons currently working in the various categories - Communication Centres, Volunteer Support Officers, Fire Risk Management Officers and Training roles that are covered by the CEA.

Hay Group will be involved in the benchmarking exercise – doing much the same job as they did for the Operational Benchmarking exercise. Hay Group attended the 21 March meeting for around an hour and refreshed the Union and Management on what they can contribute.

The P.C.A. Review will particularly look at:

• Administrative arrangements around the actual assessment;
• Qualifying criteria;
• The place of on-site station gyms, including management, payment and maintenance of equipment;
• Basis of the payment.

The 2014 round of P.C.A. will continue under all existing arrangements – any changes that might arise out of the Working Party would not be implemented until 2016 – if appropriate.

As occurred with the Job Sizing exercise for Operational Workers, as matters progress regular updates will be provided.

Fire Risk Management Strategy Review

NZPFU Part 4 members may be aware of the commencement of this Review. The Review will be formally announced in the near future. The Union has been consulted as is appropriate and Peter Hallett has been asked to be specifically involved as the NZPFU representative.

Peter Hallett’s role is providing a link between Fire Risk Management Officers (NZPFU members) and the NZPFU and NZFS regarding any concerns/issues at the process, that the Review targets the right things, and that members have a means of forwarding complaints if or when the Review goes off target.

All FRMOs will be given the opportunity to have their say and provide input through a proposed consultation process, either face to face and/or electronically, perhaps as individuals and/or groups.

This Review is not a review of Part 4 of the C.A., but it is possible the work could have some impact on the work of the Part 4 Working Party, which work is also about to commence.

Members are encouraged to participate in the Review of this strategy which will help form the business Fire Risk Management will undertake in the future, but as with so many things, “Be careful what you wish for, cause one day they may come true”.

Peter Hallett will provide the necessary link between the two projects.