A very successful and productive Annual Conference was held 28-30 November 2017.
33 delegates attended from all Locals and Branches and four Delegates from the UFU of Australia also attended.
Guest Speakers included:
a) Rhys Jones and Paul McGill (Chief Executive and National Commander).
Topics addressed included:
- Psychological Health
- Diversity/Equality
- Competencies
- Training
- Establishment Review
a) Denis Fitzmaurice and Steve Warner (Union appointed Directors of the Super Scheme).
Topics addressed included:
- Changes made in the Financial Markets Legislation
- Corporate Returns
- The need for members to have an up to date will/beneficiary form.
b) Jackie Breen/Ange Munroe –Women in FENZ.
Topics addressed included:
- The almost completed Regional Forums
- The high turnover of Female Firefighters
- Unacceptable/acceptable behaviour
It was agreed the Union needs to establish a set of underpinning values and this was referred to the Committee – members welcome to forward ideas.
c) Peter Marshall/Neil Mangledorf – UFU of Australia
Topics addressed included:
- Carcinogen Exposures
- Update generally on political/industrial situation in Australia.
Remits considered and adopted included:
- There be a voluntary annual independent psychological assessment for all Operational staff.
- No MOU with an external agency without consulting with the Union and looking at job sizing and training requirements.
- Members be given fair and equal opportunities to be included in Rural Fire Deployments both here and overseas.
- Sickness at Home – modified to comply with Holidays Act.
- Wellington Local to conduct a trial of electronic voting for upcoming elections.
- A Rule change to change the National Secretaries position of being an elected position – for a 3 year term – to being an appointed positon.
So the Secretary clearly becomes an Employee of the Union and is employed by the Union Committee.
This Rule Change has been debated at Conference and other forums for some years.
Essentially the change was made to ensure:
- Stability
- Continuity
- Forward/Succession Planning.
Conference 2018
It was agreed that Auckland investigate holding the 2018 Conference in Auckland.
Mike McEnaney
Many members have been asking for information on the status of Mike McEnaney.
The Union asked the Chief Executive, Rhys Jones for any information FENZ could supply.
Attached below is the correspondence from Brendan Nally.
You will see that it confirms that all issues with Mike McEnaney are now resolved – he in fact resigned from 26 July 2017 and will not be returning to employment with FENZ or on a Volunteer basis.
All this simply confirms the need to call for nominations for the vacant Auckland Local Presidents position. On Mike McEnaney’s resignation from the job he ceased to be a member and consequently ceased to hold any elected position within the Union.
