Conciliation For Firemen

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32099, 22 September 1969, Page 14

Conciliation For Firemen

Agreement between the firemen’s unions'and their employers, the urban fire authorities, to resume conciliation proceedings this morning is to be welcomed as a victory for common sense. Their dispute over how to establish a new shift system has lasted more than a year. In the last few weeks it took on a bitterness that portended serious consequences for the public. To their credit, the firemen in Christchurch have shown the sense of responsibility that the community tends to take for granted in its public servants; in spite of their union’s decision to work a shorter week, which meant that the stations were undermanned, the firemen did not hesitate to come on duty when fires had to be fought.

In August, 1968, the Arbitration Court instructed the fire boards and the unions to negotiate a shift system within six months. Seven months later they reached general agreement on two kinds of shift work to replace the 84-hour week: a 72-hour week in 24-hour periods of duty and the prospect of negotiations on wage increases; or a 56-hour week and 12-hour shifts, other conditions to be negotiated. When firemen preferred the shorter week, negotiations on other aspects of their award broke down. Today’s meeting will attempt to work out details of the award to satisfy both parties. The decision by the unions in several cities to work a 56-hour week emphasised the dilemma of the boards: they have barely sufficient men to staff the 84-hour week and duty periods of 24 hours. Either of the new proposals requires more firemen: and higher pay will not produce the necessary men overnight. Every delay in reaching a settlement postpones recruiting efforts. Higher pay, of course, means higher charges on the insurance companies, ratepayers, and taxpayers. It is to be hoped that the resumed conciliation proceedings will resolve, swiftly and fairly, a dispute that has lasted far too long.