Firefighters walk off the job over pay, staffing levels
Fire and Emergency NZ was unable to attend five incidents during an hour-long strike yesterday, as about 2000 firefighters stepped away from their stations.
Between 11am and noon, members of the Professional Firefighters Union stood at major traffic intersections, picketing to demand better working conditions from Fire and Emergency NZ.
Later yesterday, Fire and Emergency deputy national commander Brendan Nally said there were 22 fire calls across the country during the strike, including 12 in the main urban areas covered primarily by career firefighters.
‘‘I am pleased to say all 111 for fire calls were answered and we responded to serious emergencies as we said we would. Volunteer crews responded to these incidents as is usual when career crews are unavailable.’’
He added it was ‘‘fortunate’’ there were no serious fires or other emergencies during the strike.
However, Auckland union president Terry Bird understood five incidents firefighters were typically called to were not attended. That included two medical events and a fire alarm at a power substation in the Wellington region.
It was likely the medical incidents would have been dealt with by St John Ambulance or Wellington Free Ambulance, Bird said.
Better pay, increased staffing levels, better firefighting equipment and increased mental health support are among the union’s demands. The strike came as emergency services in parts of New Zealand were being kept busy with stormy weather.
Auckland-based secretary for the union Martin Campbell said adverse weather conditions would not impact plans. ‘‘The strike is still going full steam ahead.’’
The union’s Wellington president, Clark Townsley, said members would remain at jobs they were attending at 11am. ‘‘No-one would leave a person half cut out of a car.’’
Many rural areas, especially in the South Island, are staffed entirely by volunteer firefighters so were largely unaffected.
Nally previously said contingency plans were in place to enable the organisation to attend call-outs, but would not elaborate on those.
He said it was disappointing the union went ahead with the strike, as Fire and Emergency had asked to take the matter to the Employment Relations Authority for facilitated bargaining and to call off the strike in the meantime. However, mediation had ‘‘broken down’’ and the two organisations were at a stalemate.
Bird said Fire and Emergency had not listened and the strike was a last resort. He thought there would have been some ‘‘genuine dialogue’’ to forge an agreement and prevent the strike, but the strike was the ‘‘only tool we’ve been left with’’.
‘‘[Fire and Emergency] have been rolling the dice with firefighters’ safety every day and today they’re rolling the dice of the public’s safety. We really didn’t think we’d have to [strike].’’