Please read to the end.

The committee

The Committee are doing lots of good work much of which isn’t visible and with little reward. I am extremely grateful for their support. We have a strong team that is getting stronger.

Elections for all our local positions will take place before August next year. This term we have been thinking about succession and are focussed on developing  our committee members with more responsibilities. I am very confident the we have an effective team and that the future of the Auckland Local looks strong.

Now might be the time to think about whether you want to stand for a position at next year’s election. Sometimes there is a lot to do and the work can be very rewarding but equally it comes with frustrations and disappointments. I encourage you to talk to someone on the current committee so that you know what it’s all about. It would be good if we got a spread of reps across all three districts.

Engagement

We have been working hard with Te Hiku leadership, supported by Whanaungatanga,  to figure out ways we can relate more effectively, for better processes and good outcomes where we can. We are certainly making progress but we are not there yet, like most change it will take some time to be truly effective. I genuinely appreciate the commitment from RLT to date.

For context we are not going soft and neither are they, there are still lots of things that we disagree on and continue to be unresolved. We just want to get to conclusions effectively.

Bargaining

Unless you were at the AGM or conference you won’t have had an update on our current bargaining. The Union bargaining team is the whole national committee. We have taken  feedback from the membership and are attempting to find solutions at bargaining. Bargaining is proving to be a protracted process and at the pace we are going we are unlikely to have anything to bring to the membership for several months. Right now the bargaining team need the membership to be patient. When we have something to bring to you we will.

Career and Volunteer Firefighter Dual Membership

We know that there are some Union members that also volunteer as firefighters in their local communities.

The Auckland Local supports members who volunteer, however Union Rule A.5.9.1 explicitly states that a dispensation, in writing, must be requested by a member to join a volunteer brigade. This dispensation shall be made to the Union Secretary, through the Local, setting out the reasons why such a dispensation should be granted.

In order to ensure compliance of the Union Rules and continued membership, can all members that are also volunteers please write to the Auckland Office via email (Auckland@nzpfu.org.nz), outlining their request for a dispensation and the reasons why.

Members should also ensure that their Group Manager knows about their dual membership. This may pre-empt disciplinary action, if the firefighter does not turn up to their career workplace  because they are  attending a volunteer incident.

Season’s Greetings

On behalf of the committee, thank you for your support this year. We wish you all the best for the festive season. Make sure you spend time with the people you care about and remember to look after yourselves as well. You are a great bunch of people.

And finally a big thank you to our committee for everything they do I really appreciate their hard work and what they as individuals bring to the table.

Next time you bump into one, think about thanking them for what they do.

Terry Bird
Auckland Local President