Key Takeaways
- The New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union (NZPFU) is on strike, resulting in a delayed response to a large fire at an industrial building in Pakūranga, Auckland.
- Fire and Emergency criticized the striking firefighters, stating that the delayed response put the public’s safety at risk.
- The NZPFU vice-president, Martin Campbell, responded by saying that Fire and Emergency is blaming firefighters for their own failures to present a fair and reasonable offer for a collective employment agreement.
- The situation highlights the importance of having a properly funded and resourced fire and emergency service, especially in Auckland, the largest city in New Zealand.
- The NZPFU has been in bargaining talks with Fire and Emergency since July 2024, and the strike action is ongoing.
Introduction to the Incident
A large fire broke out at an industrial building in Pakūranga, Auckland, resulting in one person being hospitalized. Fire and Emergency criticized the striking firefighters, stating that it took 30 minutes for volunteers to turn up to the incident, which could have been attended in seven minutes if the Mt Wellington station was staffed. This criticism was made in a post on social media, where Fire and Emergency said that the NZPFU’s strike action was putting the public’s safety at risk.
Response from Fire and Emergency
Fire and Emergency said that the delayed response to the fire was a result of the NZPFU’s strike action, which has been ongoing since July 2024. The organization stated that it received calls for 22 incidents between noon and 1pm, with 12 incidents being in areas impacted by the strike. Deputy National Commander Megan Stiffler said that she was appalled to see the NZPFU use someone’s tragedy as a punch line and urged the union to call off planned one-hour strikes at noon on January 16 and 23.
NZPFU’s Response
The NZPFU vice-president, Martin Campbell, responded to Fire and Emergency’s criticism by saying that the organization was blaming firefighters for their own failures. Campbell said that Fire and Emergency had failed to present a fair and reasonable offer for a collective employment agreement, which had led to the strike action. He also stated that the situation was a wake-up call for Fire and Emergency and the Government to start thinking about the importance of having a properly funded and resourced fire and emergency service.
Ongoing Dispute
The dispute between Fire and Emergency and the NZPFU has been ongoing since July 2024, with the union seeking better pay and conditions for firefighters. The strike action has resulted in a delayed response to incidents, putting the public’s safety at risk. Campbell confirmed that firefighters were deployed to the blaze as soon as the industrial action ended at 1pm, and said that it was important for the organization to take on board their past failures, including not properly resourcing the organization and not supplying enough firefighters or working equipment.
Conclusion and Call to Action
The incident highlights the importance of having a properly funded and resourced fire and emergency service, especially in Auckland, the largest city in New Zealand. The NZPFU is calling for the Government to get involved in the dispute and to start thinking about the importance of having a well-resourced fire and emergency service. The situation is a wake-up call for Fire and Emergency and the Government to take action and resolve the dispute, ensuring that the public’s safety is not put at risk. The NZPFU is urging Fire and Emergency to present a fair and reasonable offer for a collective employment agreement, and for the Government to start thinking about the importance of having a well-resourced fire and emergency service.
