Firemens’ row may take toll on gear

Press, 13 July 1976, Page 6

Firemens’ row may take toll on gear

Christchurch firemen are still waiting for a solution to their dispute about shift work payment. The executive of the Canterbury branch of the Fire Brigades Union will hold another meeting this evening to discuss the dispute — that has left firemen in Christchurch and Wellington refusing to do all but essential work. Firemen will not make repairs to hoses or other equipment as it deteriorates, but will continue working until the equipment is absolutely unusable. The branch president (Mr B. T. Joyce) said that the union was waiting to hear form either the Fire Service

Commission of the State Services Commission on the dispute. It wants a return to the situation that existed before the Fire Service Commission I rescinded special service pay agreements in those centres. If the change was reversed I the parties could take the lease to the State Services ■ Tribunal for settlement, said I Mr Joyce. | The union has already; [written to the tribunal. ask-| 'ing it to otder all parties to ■ submit to arbitration. Firemen in Christchurch i had a basic payment of 6 per cent built into their award 'after a national stoppage in 1975, said Mr Joyce. The pay-! ment was for a guaranteed) ;overtime rate. In Wellington! ■ firemen received an incentive' payment that was negotiated I when the then fire board had

had trouble keeping staff. The payment was a cost of living incentive.

Since the old independent fire boards had been replaced by the Fire Service Commission, there had been three attempts to stop these payments, said Mr Joyce. They were stopped at 8 a.m. last Friday, and the firemen began their partial strike from [that time. ! Both the Wellington and’ (Canterbury 7 firemen were’ ■happy with the national removal of anomalies from the award, said Mr Joyce, but I the payments should be' “equalised upwards.” Wellington firemen have [been o partial strike since [9 a.m. on Saturday, where [the issue is a refusal by the Fire Service Commission to continue payment of the 6 per cent undermanning allowance after July 9.

Firemen in both cities are standing by to answer emergency calls, but are refusing all, other duties, including cleaning, maintenance and training.

The union’s Wellington secretary (Mr A. Harris) said if wages were frozen “we cannot get an increase, but by the same token we cannot be given a decrease. The 6 per cent has been taken out of our wages, and it must be restored.”