Firemen seek retention of insurance

Press, 16 August 1976, Page 2

Firemen seek retention of insurance

Firemen in Christchurch and other centres have voted to refuse to enter burning industrial or commercial buildings, when there is no danger to life, unless the Fire Senices Commission reintroduces insurance against injury or death. The commission withdrew an automatic $lO,OOO insurance for firemen about a year ago after the introduction of the Government’s accident compensation scheme. The general secretary o.' the Fire Brigade F.jnployees’ Union (Mr G. G Walker) said yesterday that firemen faced greater dangers than some other workers who had been able to retain insurance in addition to accident compensation. Airport are crews, N.A.C., and Air New Zealand pilots.> Railways footplate men. and power hoards’ linemen al! had the benefit of additional cover. Mr Walker said that 1

firemen throughout New Zealand had held special; meetings in the iast fortnight to discuss the issue. Most of them had been in favour of refusing to enter, burning industrial or commercial buildings unless' there was a threat to life. ; This meant that firemen I would fight fires in these buildings only from the out-; side The threatened restriction would not apply to private houses. Mr Walker said that rep-; resentatives of the union would meet the commission; next Friday to discuss the matter. Lower Hutt firemen will; cease ail routine duties in 14 days time unless the com-: mission reintroduces insurance covet for men on the job. according to a decision i at a meeting in Lower Hutt at the week-end. A union representative (Mr T. S. Cummins) said the , Hutt firemen would continue, . to fight fires, and had not i followed Wellington s example by refusing to enter I high-rise buildings unless 'life was in danger