Fire and Emergency New Zealand - NZPFU should call off tomorrow's strike

Fire and Emergency New Zealand is calling on the New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union (NZPFU) to call off its strike scheduled for midday to 1pm tomorrow (Friday), given the Employment Relations Authority is currently considering an application to provide independent facilitation to support reaching settlement on a new collective employment agreement.

"There is zero point to this strike while the Authority considers whether to provide independent facilitation. Going ahead with it needlessly puts community safety at risk," Deputy National Commander Megan Stifler says.

The Employment Relations Authority received submissions on Fire and Emergency's application for facilitation on Tuesday and is due to release its decision in the near future. The parties have been in talks for a collective employment agreement for more than 16 months.

"The NZPFU's recent settlement proposal is three times more than our offer, which was fair, reasonable and in line with other settlements across the public service. There's a gulf between us at the moment, which is why facilitated bargaining is the next logical step to resolve the dispute and keep our communities safe," Megan Stifler says.

Fire and Emergency's most recent offer amounts to a 6.2 percent average increase over three years and compares favourably with equivalent public sector agreements.

"This proposal would have taken the average senior firefighter remuneration from a range of approximately $80,700 - $87,400 to $85,800-$92,900 at the end of the period, excluding overtime and allowances which currently adds an average of $38,823 to annual remuneration. We believe it represents a fair and sustainable increase for our people."

"We asked the Employment Relations Authority to provide facilitation to help bring the parties together because of the protracted nature of bargaining and the impact on both our people, and on public safety from prolonged and repeated strike action."

"We've approached bargaining in good faith with the goal of reaching a fair, sustainable, and reasonable settlement with the NZPFU. We value our people, which is why over the past decade average senior firefighter pay has cumulatively increased by 37 percent, which is more than 10 percent above the average increase for all New Zealand workers."

"We want a fair outcome that recognises the incredible dedication and service of our people and delivers a modern and sustainable fire service. At the same time, approximately 95 percent of Fire and Emergency's operations are funded by a levy on New Zealanders' building, contents and vehicle insurance. With increasing insurance costs, we have to be mindful of cost-of-living pressures."

"We hope the NZPFU withdraws its scheduled strike. There is little to be gained by continuing to strike and putting the community at risk while the Employment Relations Authority process plays out," Megan Stifler says.