– Net loss of 169 roles including 46 directly supporting
firefighters
– 13% of FENZ of non-firefighting staff
proposed to go
– FENZ cutting spending by $70m/year –
10% of annual budget
Fire and Emergency NZ’s
proposal to cut 13% of non-firefighting staff across the
country and shave 10% off its annual budget, is reckless at
a time of escalating climate-driven emergencies.
Staff
at Fire and Emergency NZ (FENZ) were today given a 260-page
consultation document and told to provide feedback within
two weeks before the new structure is confirmed just days
before Christmas.
“The Government must step in and
stop these short-sighted cuts – FENZ is telling its workers
to do more with less, which will impact FENZ’s ability to
deal with emergencies and prevent future emergencies,” said
Fleur Fitzsimons, National Secretary for the Public Service
Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
“It’s
alarming that the proposed cuts include the net loss of 46
roles in the Operational Response branch that sits at the
heart of FENZ’s ‘frontline delivery’, supporting fire
stations and firefighters and communication
centres.
“These workers do critical work like ensuring
the urgent coordination of resources for fires and other
emergencies.”
FENZ is also proposing to cut 45 roles
in the Prevention branch which according to FENZ aims to
‘reduce risk and harm before emergencies occur and
currently has the accountability for ensuring our people are
well trained should they occur’.
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“This includes
cutting the roles of four wildfire specialists – how does
that make sense when the Tongariro National Park fire shows
how important it is to be prepared for such
emergencies?
“The wildfire, which required
mobilisation of resources from across the country, coupled
with concerns about the state of the ageing fire engine
fleet should have been a wake-up call that FENZ needs more
investment, not deep cuts.
“At a time of rising
climate risks from more frequent extreme storm events and
wildfires, and the increasing population in major urban
centres, these proposed cuts are completely the wrong
approach.”
The restructure follows the Government
in December refusing to agree to the insurance levy
increases FENZ wanted – 95% of its revenue funded through
the levy, forcing FENZ to shave spending by $50m a year over
the next three years. On top of that the Government has
ordered FENZ to cut $60m from its budget by 2029, all up
about 10% of its current expenditure is to be
cut.
“The Government is deliberately allowing the
underfunding of FENZ, and ignoring the risks to New
Zealanders’ lives and property.
“Yet again, we are
seeing the Government pushing through shortsighted decisions
regardless of the consequences for public
safety.
“Workers who are impacted are in a state of
shock. And this comes at a time of great uncertainty with
bargaining for a new collective agreement currently
ongoing.
“Imposing such a fundamental restructure on
staff with an extremely short consultation period, just
before Christmas is insulting and unfair.
“Many
workers and their families now face a bleak Christmas period
knowing their jobs are on the line. This tells you how much
the Government cares about workers who do such a courageous
job keeping New Zealanders safe.
“The PSA will be
strongly opposing these changes and will be setting out the
risks in a comprehensive submission. It should never have
come to
this.”
