FENZ Firefighters Optimistic But Warn it’s Not Over Yet

Invercargill career fire fighters are breathing a sigh of relief now that the Internal Affairs Minister Jan Tinetti has brought FENZ and the NZ Professional Firefighters Union together to enter facilitated mediation.

Invercargill station manager and union representative Aaron Ramsey said having the Minister now involved is a clear indication of where they had got to with the collective bargaining.

Following two strikes over the last two Fridays and huge public support, the pressure had now come on both the Government and FENZ to move forward and find a solution.

“Our members are really happy to finally see progress, and the Minister involved means the two sides can move forward.   I’m looking forward to some sense of normal on Monday morning,” he said.

The agreement between both parties means all strike notices will be suspended and no further industrial action will occur.   Talks will begin on Monday and the agreement stays in place until September 30, unless a solution has been found before then.

Aaron said if things haven’t improved, career firefighters can reinstigate the wider industrial action.

The last time firefighters took action against workplace conditions and fair pay was back in the 1990s, and it went on for 11 years – Aaron said he came in right at the end.

After starting out as a volunteer firefighter, he moved into career firefighting in 2001 before moving into the station manager role in 2008.

Firefighters received a 9.7% pay rise back then but there were supposed to be subsequent pay rises and that never eventuated.

He said that industrial action had broken some people down in the process, and 20+ years later here they were doing it all over again.

“We’re patient I tell you,” he said.   “It’s not over yet.”