Bay of Plenty firefighter strikes: Fire and Emergency warns four 10-hour strikes pose ‘extreme risk’

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Paid firefighters across the Bay of Plenty will strike for 10 hours this month for better pay and resourcing – which Fire and Emergency New Zealand says could have “fatal…

Members of the NZ Professional Firefighters Union in Rotorua taking part in nationwide strike action. Photo / Ben Fraser

Paid firefighters across the Bay of Plenty will strike for 10 hours this month for better pay and resourcing – which Fire and Emergency New Zealand says could have “fatal consequences”.

But the New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union says Fire and Emergency puts public safety at risk with understaffing and inadequate resourcing of its fire crews.

The union will escalate its twice-weekly, one-hour strikes to four 10-hour strikes beginning on November 27. Bay firefighters marked their 50th strike on July 31.

Nationwide strikes began on August 19, 2022, over pay, working conditions and resourcing.

The Bay of Plenty has paid firefighters in Greerton, Mount Maunganui, Tauranga, Taupō, Rotorua and Kawerau fire stations.

Rotorua union secretary Geni Walters said Rotorua had 53 union members. Of Tauranga’s 70 union members, 24 had confirmed they would be striking.

Tauranga union secretary Mike Swanson said strike plans were still in progress, but would likely be based at Tauranga Fire Station and involve a march through the city centre.

“It’s frustrating when we hear in the media that we, as union members, are putting the public at risk by going on strike for 10 hours.

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