MEDIA RELEASE 22 JULY 2011 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Firefighters File Notice of Industrial Action

'The New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union filed notice of strike action to the New Zealand Fire Service today,' said Steve Warner, National President of the Union.

Negotiations between the union and the fire service have been on-going since November 2010 to settle their Collective Employment Agreement. The CEA covers nearly every professional firefighter in New Zealand, that is, all personnel that ride on fire appliances and respond to fires and other emergency incidents. Also covered under this agreement are Control Room Operators, Training Officers, Fire Risk Management Officers and Specialist Fire Investigators.

Negotiations broke down today in mediation. The union had previously withdrawn notices of strike action because the Employment Court ruled that the bargaining process between the parties had not been complied with.

The union is claiming a pay increase of 3.75% for the first six months of the renewed CEA and a further 5% for the next 12 months. A 3.75% would bring the basic pay of a firefighter up to the minimum hourly rate for adult workers.

'The basic hourly rate for a firefighter, directly out of training is less than the Governments minimum hourly rate,' said Steve Warner. 'This is the basic rate for members who are required to enter buildings that are on fire and search for and rescue any persons trapped inside,' he said.

The employer is offering a 2.5% increase and is demanding changes to the make-up of the total weekly wage.

Firefighters will still answer and respond to emergency calls of all types during the strike.

'The industrial action is designed to hurt the employer not to hurt members of the communities that we serve,' said Steve Warner.

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