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Auckland Central firefighters strike over pay and working condition disagreements with Fire and Emergency NZ. (File photo)
The New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union has called off industrial action just two hours before it was expected to go ahead, saying more details are to come.
The NZPFU and Fire and Emergency New Zealand have been at odds over employment issues for months – resulting in industrial action.
NZPFU secretary Wattie Watson said the stoppage today came after a government proposal that could assist a settlement.
Watson was unable to say what that proposal was, but said the proposal alone wouldn’t be enough to settle on – they would need Fenz to come to the table and make some movement.
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“Fenz keeps telling us that they can’t move any further – they have lost their focus, they have lost their way.”
The strike scheduled for Monday is still on, but if meetings can be locked in with the right people next week, the union would call off the industrial action, so progress could be made, she said.
“The omnibus [the bans that do not affect emergency response] will still continue,” the NZPFU said.
On Friday, NZPFU members were supposed to walk off the job for an hour across the country, but the action was called off at about 9am by the national committee.
RYAN ANDERSON/Stuff
NZPFU members have gone through with industrial action before, walking off the job for an hour during the day in protest of failed bargaining. (File photo)
After communication break-downs, failed bargaining and industrial action, Fenz and the union entered into mediation with a third party to provide recommendations on how to come to a collective agreement.
FENZ Chief Executive Kerry Gregory said he is pleased discussions about a new offer for settlement are continuing.
“This is a very positive development, and we thank the NZPFU leadership for agreeing not to strike while we work through this together,” he said.
Fenz is committed to exploring all the options available to reach settlement and we are confident this latest development represents considerable progress, Gregory said.
Among the recommendations by the report, remuneration and health and safety concerns were the top points of contention.
MORE TO COME…
RYAN ANDERSON/STUFF
Auckland central’s fire station is one of the busiest in the country, and firefighters there say the challenges they face could soon have an impact on the public.
