In November 2025, FENZ dropped a 260-page document that affected more than 700 positions and more than hundreds of roles to be
disestablished.
The NZPFU and PSA filed an urgent action last year in a bid to stop the restructure claiming FENZ had failed to consult in accordance with
the provisions of the collective agreement.
Today the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) released its decision finding that FENZ failed to consult in accordance with the collective
agreement provisions, that it failed to consult on whether change should occur or at a time when the Unions could influence an outcome, and
failed to consult in a manner driven by a desire to reach consensus. It also found FENZ’s conduct breached the obligation of good faith.
Yesterday the ERA contacted the NZPFU requesting our availability for facilitated bargaining on the 30th and 31st
March 2026. There had obviously been previous communications between the ERA and FENZ (that we had not been copied into) and despite
requesting that correspondence we did not receive it.
The NZPFU accepted facilitation on the basis that FENZ would provide a new offer that CE Kerry Gregory had earlier told the Union it was
being worked on.
Today the NZPFU accepted two days of facilitated bargaining on the basis that FENZ brings an enhanced offer to the table.
We were contacted by the Employment Relations Authority today offering the 30th and 31st March for facilitated
bargaining. The NZPFU has consistently been calling for bargaining to recommence as we cannot resolve this dispute unless we are around the
table genuinely negotiating.
NZPFU members walk off the job for one hour from 12 noon today with no bargaining in sight.
In February the NZPFU wrote FENZ with the outcome of strike ballots taken during the national round of membership meetings in
February. We were asking for bargaining to recommence and proposed a process for tackling the big issues in particular.
NZPFU members will be out in force for one hour from 12 noon tomorrow as they continue their strike action in a bid for a fair and reasonable collective agreement.
Yesterday, the NZPFU notified our members and supporters that FENZ was spending between $70,000 and $99,000 a week on a media campaign against the NZPFU one-hour strikes.
Our members serve their communities to protect and preserve life, property and the environment. NZPFU representatives are based on all career fire stations. There are also 19 Union Locals in the major metropolitan and principal centres where career firefighters are employed.
