No-one is immune from the hardships caused by the current economic climate and it's about time the Union representing paid firefighters understood that and advised their members accordingly said Mike Hall, Chief Executive of the New Zealand Fire Service.

"Every week we hear of ordinary New Zealanders facing redundancy, wage cuts, wage freezes, or reduced hours, yet paid firefighters enjoy job security, generous leave entitlements and a very good remuneration level," Mr Hall said. "I'm sure these are employment conditions and earning potential that many New Zealanders would envy in the current climate."

Last year, 87% of paid firefighters received remuneration of over $70,000 with the average being $82,000. Only 76 of the 1623 firefighters employed for the full year received less than $63,000 while 159 of them earned over $100,000. In addition, they also received the equivalent of 5.2 weeks annual leave and 28 days sick leave a year (more than five times the statutory entitlement).

"This makes a mockery of claims by the Union that firefighters are being hard done by particularly given the fact that firefighters wages increased by 4% in 2007, and 4% in 2008," Mike Hall went on to say.

Firefighters have been taking low level industrial action since mid July in support of their pay claim. While they still respond to emergency incidents they are refusing to use computers to complete fire incident reports, undertake training to maintain their skills and to provide proactive community fire safety advice - which has been directly responsible for the significant reduction in household fire deaths over the past 10 years. In addition, they are compromising the Fire Service's ability to support and train the almost 8,000 New Zealander's who protect their communities as volunteer firefighters.

"I would ask firefighters to send the strongest possible message to their Union to come back to the bargaining table so we can resolve this situation. This type of industrial action is in no-ones best interests, particularly the public of New Zealand who benefit enormously from the fire safety education normally carried out by firefighters."

For further information, contact:

Janine Hearn

Director Human Resources

4-496 3718