Dunedin professional firefighters walked off the job today, demanding that senior management engage with them over long-standing grievances.
They said they were sorry for putting the public at risk with the unprecedented one-hour walkout, but felt they had no other choice after collective bargaining broke down.
The nationwide strike was held between 11am and 12pm, preceded by a radioed message of solidarity from volunteer and career firefighters.
During the strike emergency 111 calls were still answered and volunteer crews continued to respond. In areas served primarily by career firefighters, delays would occur. In urban areas crews would not respond to less serious incidents.
But the real test would be if it brought Fire and Emergency New Zealand (Fenz) back to the negotiating table.
Professional firefighters had hoped the threat of the strike would be enough, and it was difficult for the firefighters to take action. Hopefully, they would not have to go ahead with another strike scheduled for the same time next Friday, Mr Mason said.
About 60 firefighters, former firefighters and supporters gathered near the Dunedin City station and about 30 near the Willowbank station at 11am.
Firefighters from Roslyn station gathered near the Nairn St playground in Taieri Rd, those from St Kilda station were with supporters near the Andersons Bay Rd roundabout, while firefighters at Lookout Point stood outside their station.
Earlier, NZPFU Dunedin local secretary and Senior Station Officer Mark Leonard said crews would walk far enough away that they would not be tempted to come back to their station.
"We are really apologetic that we have to do this, but there is no other way," SSO Leonard said.
It was about "way more than just money".
Firefighters wanted issues about carcinogens, equipment, consultation, staffing levels, recruitment, medical insurance and workloads to be addressed by Fenz, SSO Leonard said.
Fenz deputy national commander Brendan Nally said in a statement it was "very disappointing" strike action was going ahead.
"Mediation has effectively broken down and we’ve reached an impasse," he said.
Fenz had asked the union to make a joint application to the Employment Relations Authority for facilitated bargaining but it had not received a response.
Fenz had not told the union they thought the mediation process was exhausted before they wrote to the union on Wednesday requesting facilitation and had filed with the ERA regardless, she said.
"Fenz’s behaviour ... is the antithesis of good faith," Ms Watson said.
Another hour long strike action was scheduled for next Friday.
Yesterday the union gave notice that two more would take place on September 2 and 9, Ms Watson said.
