Invercargill career firefighters are upping the ante with strike action moving to two days a week starting on Monday March 2.

The New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union (NZPFU) originally planned to start this week but cancelled due to weather events up north.

The National Committee meets every week to discuss the pending Friday and Monday strikes and is also touring the country to hold membership meetings with every branch.

National secretary Wattie Watson said discussions are underway on the current bargaining in the current context and climate, including FENZ’s attacks on capacity and capability of the fire service.

Invercargill NZPFU representative Aaron Ramsey said on Monday they are going to take the strike around the streets of the CBD, and it will give the public a chance to interact with them.

He wants the community to know they are not striking primarily about wage increases but better staffing conditions and equipment.

“This ultimately affects our community, because we have dire fleet to work with.”

Just recently one of their fire appliances broke down, and it was understood that some of their fire engines will be relocated to busier branches, and replaced with even older models in the south.

FENZ and the NZPFU have been in bargaining talks for a collective employment agreement for paid firefighters since July 16, 2024.

The strikes began before Christmas and they are now up to their 11th one nationally.

“The strikes may continue, but they may not,” Aaron said.

The union is hoping for a modest wage increase for its members, reflective of the current cost of living, and want to stop ‘wage erosion.’

Aaron said career firefighters are well behind teachers and police and they are encouraging the public to come and have a chat about what it means to them, when they hit the streets on Monday.

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