Fire and Emergency NZ faces legal challenge from unions over restructure

The Public Service Association (PSA) and the New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union (NZPFU) have filed legal proceedings with the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) to halt a restructure by Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ).

The unions are seeking compliance orders to prevent FENZ from making decisions, dismissing members, or altering terms and conditions. This action follows a March determination by the ERA which found that FENZ had breached collective agreements and its duty of good faith by failing to consult unions on the necessity of the changes. Union representatives allege that FENZ has restarted the same process using the same consultants without addressing the previous legal failures.

FENZ Acting Chief Executive Darryl Purdy expressed disappointment regarding the legal challenge, stating that while the organization has sought consensus, there remains a fundamental disagreement over whether any structural changes should occur at all. Purdy noted that the organization believes the engagement process had identified key issues and that the prolonged uncertainty is impacting staff who desire a conclusion to the eleven-month process.