Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
The firefighters union is "compromising public safety" by opting to strike, despite Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) having committed to providing a revised settlement offer, FENZ says.
It comes after the New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union (NZPFU) voted for a one-hour full stoppage strike over pay, resourcing and staffing negotiations.
FENZ said it remained committed to the planned bargaining next week (9 and 10 October), but only if NZPFU's strike notice was withdrawn.
"We are also preparing an application for facilitation, which will be lodged next week if the strike notice is not withdrawn," Deputy National Commander Megan Stiffler said, confirming FENZ is looking at taking the matter to the Employment Relations Authority.
"Fire and Emergency remains committed to next week's bargaining, including the tabling of a revised settlement offer, and hopes that the NZPFU withdraws their strike notice so that the bargaining can proceed."
She said FENZ's goal was always to reach a fair, sustainable and reasonable settlement.
However, the Professional Firefighters Union said FENZ was using the upcoming strike as an excuse to walk away from bargaining.
FENZ made an offer in June of 5.1 percent over three years, which was declined.
The union said it was a delay tactic and if a new, fair and reasonable offer was presented that addressed the issues raised by the union, the strike would not be necessary.
NZPFU previously said it was "fed up with the lack of progress".
In a media conference on Friday, Minister Judith Collins said groups in the public sector needed to get back to negotiating.
She said: "Get back to the bargaining table team."
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