Firefighters across New Zealand are striking on Monday - claiming to be overworked, not paid enough and lacking mental health support.
The New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union (NZPFU) has been unsuccessful so far in bargaining with Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) after voting against a new collective agreement last month and opting for strike action. According to FENZ chief executive, Kerry Gregory, talks were continuing with the union despite Monday's strike actions.
Jeffrey Shrimpton, a firefighter in Counties Manukau, said the sector was at the lowest point he's seen in 35 years.
He was one of many firefighters calling on FENZ to take action.
"I believe this is the start of the education of how much of a struggle we're going through in the fire service, especially with… going to all these emergency medical responses, working these exceptional hours," he told AM.
Shrimpton told host Melissa Chan-Green that of the about 550 firefighters in Counties Manukau, up to 200 had seen psychologists.
"They are struggling psychologically and are really, really struggling," Shrimpton said of his colleagues. "The worst worry for our people and their welfare is the fatigue factor; when you're working those hours, it's just hitting our people."
In a statement on Sunday, the NZPFU said that the collective agreement offered by FENZ "devalues and disrespects the work" of firefighters.
"There is currently a fire crisis with FENZ failing to employ sufficient career firefighters and 111 emergency call centre dispatchers to meet minimum staffing," the statement said.
"As a result, some career stations have closed, fire trucks have been taken offline or firefighters are riding in unsafe short-crews to keep the fire trucks responding.
"The union has called on FENZ the need to change their approach to the negotiations for a collective agreement and be prepared to negotiate fair wages and safer working conditions."
Gregory said he wanted to reassure people the strike action wouldn't impact crews responding to emergencies.
"My focus is on keeping our communities and firefighters safe and working constructively through this current situation.
"I will not be responding to union claims outside the bargaining process."
