Firemen’s Strike Could Spread

Press, Volume C, Issue 29609, 4 September 1961, Page 14

Firemen’s Strike Could Spread

(New Zealand Press Association) NEW PLYMOUTH, September 3. The modified New Plymouth firemen’s strike due to start on Monday will spread throughout New Zealand unless the New Plymouth Fire Board meets the men’s claims within a month.

The warning came from the secretary of the Northern, Wellington, Taranaki, Nelson and Canterbury Fire Brigades’ Employees’ Union (Mr B. Twigg) in a telephone interview from Upper Hutt. Mr Twigg said arrangements had been made for members of his union, which covers all fire brigades in New Zealand outside the main centres, to go out in a sympathy strike with New Plymouth firemen, “if they are not given their rights” within a month. In the meantime, with the first stage of the planned action by New Plymouth firemen only a day away, the chairman of the Fire Board (Mr F. S. Grayling) has heard nothing from the men or their union about the dispute.

A letter inviting representatives of the men to meet board members was sent to the fire station immediately after a special board meeting on Friday morning, Mr Grayling said. But by late this morning the board had not received “a single word" from them.

The action by the men will begin on Monday when they will refuse to attend fires on their days off.

Asked if the ban would apply to a major fire, Mr Twigg replied: ’’lt applies to all fires.”

The second stage of the action, scheduled to beg n two weeks later if no settlement has been reached, entails a “routine hour strike.” Then the firemen will refuse all duties except attending fires on the days when they would normally be off duty. A fortnight later the national sympathy strike would start.

He said the union would not get in touch with the New Plymouth Fire Board until It had heard from the board.

Mr Twigg said the men were not stellkig the type of uniform the award provided for, and drivers of fire engines were not getting the extra 10s a week allowed by the award.