News

Members at 63 Station Blacktown have informed the Union of a recent incident whereby a Station Officer acted down in order to fill a firefighter’s operational role.

It would appear that many members remain uncertain as to exactly what new roles and responsibilities arising from the 1997 Award have been agreed to by our Union, and therefore, exactly what work should and should not be performed by […]

Members would be aware of the Minister’s previous direction that “the two services should compliment each other, not compete”. However, many RFS Brigades continue to operate CABA, urban pumping appliances and other structural offensive firefighting equipment either within or very […]

I write further to Monday’s notice advising that NZ Fire Service management had written to each of the 1700 professional firefighters last Thursday telling them they had been sacked. Not surprisingly, the NZ Professional Firefighters Union (NZPFU) was not very […]

In the most concerted attack ever on professional firefighters, New Zealand Fire Service management has announced that every professional firefighter will be sacked by July, and replaced by new “Fire Officer” positions. The ‘dis-established’ firefighters will have to compete for […]

The Union has become aware of a Memorandum from the Deputy Manager Operational Personnel, dated 8 April 1998, concerning Leading Firefighters acting up to Station Officer.  The following part of that Memorandum is WRONG: “There is no limit to the […]

The Union has today learnt that the Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) course scheduled to commence next Monday May 11 has been cancelled by the Department.

For several years now, the Department has sought to remove the Drager BG 174 O2BA sets from service. Not because they weren’t needed, not because of concerns for employee safety, not because spare parts were no longer available and not […]

To all Station Delegates and Members – Rescue Stations: You are invited to attend the inaugural meeting of the Union’s Rescue Sub-Committee to be held –

Last week Mr Mark Paterson, Executive Director of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (a large bosses’ union), had this to say when asked whether other employers should be encouraged by Patrick’s tactics in sacking a unionised workforce which […]

Dear Comrade, Over the last week or so, the Union has attempted to visit as many member stations/workplaces as possible in order to explain and discuss the waterfront dispute. We have managed to make around 50 or so such visits, […]

Members would be aware that Patrick Stevedores, backed by the Howard Government, yesterday sacked each and every one of its 1400 employees around the nation without notice. Why? Because they are members of a union who have defended their democratic […]