56-Hour Week For Firemen Predicted

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32120, 16 October 1969, Page 14

56-Hour Week For Firemen Predicted

In his opinion members of the Christchurch Fire Brigade would elect to work a 56-hour week, said Mr D. T. Stickings at a meeting of the Christchurch Metropolitan Fire Board last evening.

"A secret ballot will be held and the men will be asked to vote for a 56-hour or 72-hour week,” Mr Stickings said. The ballot must be held within a month of notification by the Arbitration Court of the industrial agreement reached in conciliation, he said. The Court’s notification was expected within days. Mr Stickings said that the new system chosen must be implemented within three months of notification and the men “expect it to be three months and not three months and one day.” A report by the brigade’s Chief Fire Officer (Mr F. A. Hardy) on the number of men required for duties in the shorter hours, 56 or 72 instead of 84, was received. The chairman (Mr N. G. Pickering) said that the re-

port would not be tabled until members had studied it. The board resolved to hold a special meeting on the question on November 4. Mr Stickings said he thought it likely that the result of the ballot would be known by then. The board would be helped by having the report on the general efficiency of the brigade and its equipment before the special meeting, said Mr D. M. Ross. Members had asked the Chief Fire Service Officer (Mr G. Drummond) in May to inspect the brigade. Mr W. R. Campbell, a member of the Fire Service Council, said the council would meet on Wednesday and would receive Mr Drummond’s report. The council would pass on the report, or excerpts from it, to the board. The board resolved to advise the council that it was awaiting "Mr Drummond’s report. Mr Pickering said that the future of the brigade’s firefighting and the board’s responsibilities over the next few years would be under discussion, in the light of shorter hours, at the special meeting.