Sparks fly over pay offer
BY MELANIE VERRAN
UNDERVALUED: Remuera firefighters from left: Ross Pounds, Richie Johnson, John Waldow, Adrian Wade and Paul Gerritsen are among the thousands of firefighters nationwide taking low-level industrial action as part of a pay dispute.
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Frustrated firefighters are continuing their industrial action after rejecting a pay offer they say is an "insult".
The Fire Service's 1.3 percent offer with another 1.5 percent from July, with no back pay and adjusted sick leave entitlements, was rejected by 94.6 percent of Professional Firefighters Union members.
Firefighter contracts expired on December 31 last year and the union has been in negotiations since
April.
While still responding to emergencies, firefighters are not undertaking training, administrative tasks or providing fire education to the community.
Remuera firefighter and union representative John Waldow says the objective is to get the starting wage in line with the national minimum of $12.50 an hour.
"For a recruit firefighter the base starting rate is $10.74 an hour. When they qualify it's $11.88 an hour."
The base rate is used to calculate allowances for working nights, weekends, public holidays and overtime.
"When you look at what the bus drivers just rejected you can see why we're grumpy."
Mr Waldow says firefighters are "in a bit of a bind" because walking off the job is not an option.
"The bus drivers can withhold their labour, but we go on strike and emergencies still happen."
Mr Waldow says firefighters are becoming worse off.
"We just want to be able to support our families," he says.
"There are guys who are on a family benefit because their wage isn't enough."
Rookie firefighter Paul Gerritsen describes the pay offer as "a joke".
"It doesn't even cover inflation.
"And then not to get it backdated. It's pathetic."
Colleagues Richie Johnson and Ross Pounds, also rookies, have had to take on second jobs.
Mr Pounds says if his wife was not working fulltime, he would struggle to support his family.
"We're on duty 48 hours a week and still need a second income," he says.
Mr Johnson says for a profession that topped our most trusted list for the last five years, the offer is "insulting".
While he supports the industrial action "none of us want to be on strike".
"There's lots of other things we do, like educating the community and children.
"We're not able to perform our whole job and that's frustrating.
"It's a corner we've been backed into."
Fire Service human resources director Janine Hearn says the offer is "reasonable", particularly when some of the terms and conditions are taken into account.
She says the government doesn't encourage back pay.
Members were offered lump sums of between $280 and $370, conditional on the offer being recommended by the union.
Ms Hearn says an entry level firefighter earns $41,000 a year, including allowances for nights and weekends, but not overtime.
But the union says that figure is closer to $36,000.
The parties go back to the table on December 3.
- © Fairfax NZ News
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some volunteers are only in it for the uniform....I knw of one thats covered every emergency service, whats with that?
Compared to Australia firefighters in New Zealand are clearly underpaid. I've been trying to get into the NZ fire service for over two years and after finally making it I sadly realised that I actually can't afford to be a firefighter
Anyone that thinks a "volunteer" firefighter falls under the title of "most trusted profession" is a nobbin. Profession = Professional/paid/career job. Involves lots of training to hold that job. This title was given to "Professional Firefighters"... Its sad that some people are so ignorant that they don't know the difference- which is sad considering these are the people that will rescue them from a burning building, put out their house fire or cut them out of a car.
Sure volunteers in small communities are valued for the few calls they go to, as there are not enough calls in those small places to justify fulltime, paid fireman. However, cities & towns with lots of people NEED professionals to look after the safety of the people.
The government is taking advantage of the good nature of these firefighters by paying them peanuts.
I am shocked that professional fire fighters get paid so low!
Adolphus, you (and the government) clearly show ignorance towards the thousands of professional firefighters in NZ who risk their lives.
If the entire country was cared for by volunteers only we would be screwed! Volunteers aren't required to uphold the same high standards, as well as ongoing intensive training that professional firefighters do. Pro firemen actually have to make ENTRY REQUIREMENTS! And that is for a reason- There workload is more demanding, compared to the work of a volunteer firefighter in a small community.
I'd rather my taxes went to a PROFESSION that is here to save lives & care for us, than pay for ministers perks.
As a professional career firefighter, all I and my colleagues are asking for is a small payrise to keep in line with inflation and gain parity with the minimum wage for rookies. Surely is this too much to ask? I see the police gained 2%, and bus drivers have been offered 11%. Is the firefighters pay claim unreasonable?? And as for you Adolphus, you are clearly as bonkers as your namesake Adolph, please enjoy your HOBBY, and leave the Professional Career Firefighters to do the job that they do well and are intensly proud of. Rich
FYI. I dont know who this Adolphus person is but its not me. I have just been shown it and this is not my view.
A Doofas your a dick mate, get a life....
"Adolphus", is that pronounced "a doofus?" The most trusted PROFESSION poll has nothing to do with volunteer firefighters as the key word is "profession"... Professional Firefighters deserve a pay rise and i'm surprised they're only asking for 2% which will bring them up to the minimum wage, they deserve 20%!
I suggest adolphus that given the saga with the volunteers at Rangiora shortly they may not be the most trusted profession? And why should they have to leave the paid staff and get a job as you say,they already have one which should be paid more than a minimum wage.
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Button, I agree that career firefighters undergo more intensive training, but also disagree with your statement that we would be screwed. Volunteers can only train in what the fire service will train them in. I believe that the training should be much more involved for volunteers. They are expected to do the same job, and yet they are provided with minimal training. This is something that I have always said. The lack of training and expectation of being able to do the same job is crazy, and one reason why volunteers are looked down on by some paid firefighters. I do however fully support you choice to take action and understand the position that you are in.