Stressed out, overworked firefighters have escalated their pay dispute and will strike for two one-hour stints over the coming weeks.
It’s the first time there’s been a national firefighters strike in New Zealand, where they’ll be refusing to respond when that fire alarm rings.
Career firefighters have been offered a base salary pay increase of between eight and 19 per cent over the next two years according to Fire and Emergency deputy national commander Brendan Nally, but he says that the New Zealand Professional Firefighters’ Union is seeking total increases across both pay and allowances of more than 40 per cent for most firefighters.
“After over 13 months of negotiations, involving 29 days of bargaining and three days of mediation, the union has not significantly moved from its original position,” he says.
Back in May, almost all union members rejected FENZ’s pay offer, which would have seen the average staffer get an increase of between 1.5 and two per cent, after they hadn’t had a pay rise since July 2020.
All union members will withdraw from labour for an hour between 11am and 12pm on Friday 19 August and Friday 26 August. The full strikes come as both parties are set to be back in mediation this week.
Staff at the Nelson station will be part of the strike action, being the only station in the Top of the South with paid firefighters, with the region being supported during the strikes by surrounding stations manned with volunteers. However, the strike will also include all 111 fire communications centres.
Around 35-40 local firefighters are planning to march outside the Nelson Fire Station next Friday.
Brendan says it is disappointing the NZPFU has given notice of escalated strike action, despite the substantial new pay offer.
“Fire and Emergency has demonstrated it is fully committed to trying to reach a settlement with the union.
“During the one-hour full strikes we will continue to respond to emergencies... response may be with fewer firefighters than usual, and response may be delayed.”
