Firefighters' pay talks break down

Wage negotiations with the Professional Firefighters Union were called off by the Fire Service today because it said the union would not withdraw notice of industrial action.

The two parties, negotiating a new collective employment agreement since December 2008, made progress on some issues.

However, they were still some way apart on wage rates when the union began industrial action in July.

The Fire Service said this recently escalated to the point where it had the potential to compromise public safety.

More bargaining was planned for today but when the union chose to suspend its industrial action rather than withdraw it, the Fire Service cancelled the talks.

"We don't understand why the union has chosen this path as we can only see it as a threat to immediately resume action if talks don't go their way," Fire Service director of human resources Janine Hearn said.

But union secretary Derek Best said he was surprised the Fire Service had cancelled the meeting if it had something it thought the union would be interested in hearing.

Mr Best said that, as an essential service, firefighters had to give 14 days' formal notice of industrial action.

"So if we withdraw the notice then obviously we've got a threat from the employer over our head, and that is that we can't take any action for 14 days."

Ms Hearn said the Fire Service offer had been carefully crafted to allow for a modest increase with some minor changes to conditions.

These offers had not been accepted by the union but Ms Hearn felt the new round of negotiation, with a new offer, would have met with more success.

"So we are very surprised and disappointed with the union's decision not to end its industrial action to allow talks to take place," said Ms Hearn.

"We simply cannot go to the bargaining table with a threat of immediate action hanging over our heads."

Mr Best said the union was looking at various options and there was certainly an expectation the parties would meet and bargain.

"I think it's a pity there isn't a little more understanding of what the Fire Service is all about in terms of these negotiations, rather than seemingly entrusting it all to a human resources department that obviously is a fair way out of touch from what firefighters think and do," he said.

Ms Hearn said the Fire Service thought the majority of firefighters would find the new offer acceptable, particularly given the current financial climate and the very protracted negotiations.

"I would ask firefighters to send the strongest possible message to their union to come back to the bargaining table so we can resolve this situation," she said.

"This type of industrial action is not in anyone's best interests, and could affect public safety."

- NZPA