Fire and Emergency New Zealand calls for end to firefighter strikes

Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) has urged the New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union (NZPFU) to cancel its twice-weekly strikes while union members vote on a proposed settlement offer. National Commander Megan Stiffler described the continued industrial action as "reckless," stating there is little justification for strikes while a settlement is under consideration.

The next strike is scheduled for Friday, October 23, between midday and 1:00 PM, with additional strikes planned. FENZ has warned the public to expect service delays in affected areas, as volunteer crews will be required to respond from the next closest locations. While all 111 emergency calls will still be received and addressed, response times may be impacted.

The proposed settlement includes two annual 2.2 percent salary increases and new or increased allowances. FENZ claims that when combined with overtime and other increases, the offer results in an average take-home pay increase of approximately 2.5 percent in the first year. The agency noted that previous delays in tabling offers had resulted in missed earnings for senior firefighters.