New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union says they want progress in pay, staffing and resourcing negations. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union (NZPFU) has announced firefighters will strike in mid-October over pay, staffing and resourcing.
It comes after Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) made an offer in June (5.1 percent over three years), which was declined by 99 percent of union members, NZPFU said.
Members had not had a pay increase since July 2023, the union said.
NZPFU said they wanted progress in pay, staffing and resourcing negations.
"NZPFU members are fed up with the lack of progress and hope that the strike notice will motivate FENZ to come to the table next week with a revised position that deals with all outstanding issues including wages.
"The state of the fire appliances is dire and failing, leaving firefighters stranded on the way to calls, at station or even at the incident without water while internal firefighting," NZPFU said.
"The lack of staff, working excessive overtime, the dire state of appliances are all factors in the level and intensity of mental health issues for our members."
NZPFU said FENZ continued to fail firefighters with occupational cancer and had "been criticised in ACC reviews for not applying the law".
FENZ is yet to make any other offer, but the parties are scheduled to meet for bargaining on 9 and 10 October, NZPFU said.
The union said the one-hour full stoppage strike was planned for midday on 17 October.
FENZ has been approached for comment.
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