Firemen disagree

Press, 1 November 1985, Page 3

Firemen disagree

The Fire Service Commission is thrashing out a package to get agreement between two separate firemen’s unions after their failure to settle on a common wage deal. The two unions have agreed on two separate packages on wages and allowances during talks in Wellington, but this is not acceptable to the commission.

Representatives of the Fire Brigade Federation which covers firemen in the central and southern regions (south of Taupo) sought and received an offer of linking pay to movements in State trades.

However, the Northern Fire Brigade Union wants to retain traditional links to the Metal Trades Award. The commission’s director of personnel, Mr Clyde Stewart, said the two unions would not agree on one determination covering all firemen. “We are not about to make separate agreements,” he said. The Fire Service was a

national organisation and having different agreements would lead to problems. The commission was studying options to resolve the impasse and would take new offers to the unions within the next two days, said Mr Stewart.

The national secretary of the federation, Mr Barry Dent, said the failure to reach a common settlement was the commission’s problem.

, “We are very happy with the deal the commission has offered us,” he said. Under the offer, men south of Taupo would have their wages fixed to those of State sector tradesmen, would receive increases in service bonuses and driving allowances, and would be entitled to uncertified sick leave.

“The problem will come if the agreement is not implemented,” said Mr Dent. The federation’s position was final and no attempts were being made to reach a compromise with its northern counterpart, he said. “We are not about to negotiate with the northern

union but we will negotiate with employers.” The secretary of the Northern Fire Brigade Union, Mr Arthur Monk, said that he was disappointed with the central and southern union’s attitude and their decision to move away from the traditional metal trades relativity during crucial talks. There would be a review of wage-fixing within the Fire Service next year and this would have been a more suitable time to seek to have pay fixed to other awards, he said.

No evidence had been produced by the central and southern union to show that men would be better off if their wages were fixed to State sector tradesmen, said Mr Monk.

The dispute could be taken to the Public Sector Tribunal which could decide which determination the unions must accept, he said.

Strike action was also a possibility if the problem was not resolved. “We will wait for a few days before making up our mind on what we should do,” said Mr Monk. Earlier report, page 18