Union Meeting Discusses Fire Brigade Dispute

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29827, 21 May 1962, Page 13

Union Meeting Discusses Fire Brigade Dispute

A meeting of the Christchurch Fire Brigadesmen’s Union, attended by representatives of the New Zealand Fire Brigades' Federation, yesterday morning left the disputes between the Christchurch union and Christchurch Metropolitan Fire Board, over overtime pay for the station duty officer and the provision j>f a bed for each fireman in the new fire station, still in the air “No resolutions were passed at the meeting. It was adjourned after three hours and a half,” said the union secretary (Mr G. G Walker) last night. The president of the federation <Mr K Haliburtoni and its secretary (Mr T. M Hill), both of Wellington attended the meeting at the invitation of the union. The firemens permanent representative on the Fire Service Council (Mr A. Mason, of

Auckland) also attended. The Christchurch union had, up to the meeting yesterday, dealt with the disputes on a local basis and had not asked the federation to deal with it at a national level. The local union has, since Saturday, refused to do routine duties, apart from fire-fighting, as a protest against the way it claims it has been treated by the Fire Board.

The Fire Board has been adamant that, as both disputes have arisen, in "its view, from the national award covering conditions of firemen and officers (except chief fire officers and their deputies) the disputes be dealt with at national level Asked whether the federation would now deal with disputes at national level, Mr Walker reiterated that no resolutions had been passed at the meeting. As the meeting had been adjourned, he could not comment further until it was resumed, he said. The representatives of the federation who attended the meeting had said they would communicate with the union tomorrow Asked whether he had

withdrawn his nomination to stand against Mr Hill for the position of secretary of the New Zealand Fire Brigades’ Federation. Mr Walker said he could not answer this, one way or the other, “as nothing has been Confirmed in writing." Mr Walker said that more than 60 members of the union, all those not on duty, had attended' yesterday’s meeting. “The only statement that I can make at present on the dispute is that the position is still the same as last week This union, at a special meeting on Saturday, had a long and fruitful discussion with Mr W H. Mathison, the firemen’s representative on the Christchurch Fire Board," Mr 'Walker said.

“Mr Mathison gave the men a full and wonderful resume of the way the union had been treated by the board, and we are sure he will be able to enlighten board members at their special meeting tomorrow.” Mr Mathison is a Government .ppointee on the board, but is elected by the firemen, including volunteer brigadesmen. He succeeded Mr A B Grant two years ago. The fire board decided on Thursday to hold a special meeting tomorrow.