For over 300 days the Firefighters have been engaged in 50 one hour strikes, and counting. New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union (NZPFU) have been striking over conditions, broken equipment, and a Collective Employment agreement that expired over 755 days ago. In the midst of government slashing public funds while favouring giving money to their rich buddies, we must pay close attention to the meaning of these strikes. These strikes are important as it not only entails defunding essential community services but also demonstrates one of the most visible ways in which the working class has been continuously attacked for over decades. What we see are the consequences of decreasing workers’ rights and their involvement in managing their workplaces.
As Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) ought to be focused on getting back to the bargaining table, they continue to be mischievous instead, undermining NZPFU’s concerns. Under the guise of appearing to be a helpful employer, FENZ are pushing for Eke Taumata which states that “Fire and Emergency’s goal is to be a place where people feel they belong, and supported and empowered to thrive, so we can better serve our communities and each other. We believe people thrive and feel they belong in an environment that is safe, positive, and inclusive.”
As pointed out by NZPFU, this is another tool of the employer to avoid being accountable by refusing to engage with the union and its demands directly. The correct response is to increase staff as that would address many of the highlighted issues that Eke Taumata supposedly tackles. This is a deflection strategy used by FENZ to appear as if they are taking due action but do not be fooled!
All members of NZPFU who are participating in this have been asked by the union to cease participation as doing otherwise would be to fall for their trap and could be seen as NZPFU welcoming this response. The answer for FENZ, like all employers putting profit above anything else, is to cut jobs or, as they love to call it, “restructuring”. In reality, this means those on top getting more money while the already appalling state of emergency response units gets even worse.
It is imperative we continue to stand together with our firefighters. As their recruit courses are axed, their equipment keeps failing and FENZ goes on without listening to the important demands they bring in general, they will continue to be exposed to unnecessary risks that no one should be putting up with. FENZ is even losing support from their right wing coalition government mates.
Now, more than ever, we need an escalation of tactics to win our demands. The NZPFU’s bravery in taking prolonged strike action is a great step in the right direction. If we leave it to the bosses, they will continue to put profit over everything the same way our government keeps doing the same with their own policies. An injury to one is an injury to all, we need to stand together if we want the injuries to stop!