Fire-fighters protest over proposed cuts

Press, 26 September 1988, Page 6

Fire-fighters protest over proposed cuts

By

RICHARD CRESSWELL

industrial reporter Christchurch firefighters are on a “partial strike” until Thursday in protest at proposed crew cutbacks. The president of the South Island Fire Brigades Union, Mr lan Michel, said the action would not affect the service to the public. It involved routine cleaning and servicing. The Fire Service Commission was proposing to reduce the number of staff on appliances attending fires from October 3.

At present, one officer and five fire-fighters are on each appliance. That will be reduced to three fire-fighters. The decision was made at the South Island Fire Brigade conference, held last week in Christchurch. The move concerns the union because staffing with five fighters means the fire can be fought and two rescues performed at the same time. With reduced staffing, the risk to people’s lives would increase, said Mr Michel. The commission is also allowing a longer

response rate to calls, up to six minutes instead of five. “That may not sound like much but it can be the difference between life or death,” said Mr Michel. Negotiations on amalgamating fire-fighting unions are almost complete, after 18 months of talks. The three fire fighters’ unions and the national Executive Officers Society are expected to amalgamate early in October. The new union will have about 2300 members.