Source: Radio New Zealand
PSA national secretary Fleur Fitzsimons says the cuts are “short sighted” and will “impact FENZ’s ability to deal with emergencies and prevent future emergencies.” RNZ
The Public Service Association (PSA) says the government must step in to stop Fire and Emergency’s (FENZ) new proposal to cut almost 170 jobs.
FENZ is circulating its restructure proposal to its staff this afternoon but told RNZ it would not release it publicly.
It previously promised not to cut frontline firefighter or comms centre jobs
But thePSA said the proposal amounted to decimating the agency’s front line support staff and would undermine firefighting in a bid to save $70m a year.
“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 national secretary Fleur Fitzsimons in a statement on Wednesday afternoon.
The proposal included cutting 46 roles in the Operational Response branch central, as well as four wildfire specialists at a time when Tongariro had been hit by such a fire, the PSA said.
It was also proposing to cut 45 roles in the prevention branch that worked to reduce risk and harm before emergencies occur, Fitzsimons said.
RNZ has not seen a copy of the change proposal.
It has previously reported an internal document quoting FENZ as trying to save $50m a year for three years.
FENZ has been approached for comment.
RNZ today previewed the cuts proposal, with FENZ chief executive Kerry Gregory telling staff, “This change is looking at the whole organisation and how we operate, but frontline firefighters and ComCen call takers will not be losing their jobs as part of these proposals.”
The PSA said the government was deliberately allowing the underfunding of FENZ.
RNZ has approached the government for comment.
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand