The Government has intervened in the six-year-old firefighters' contract row, effectively telling the Fire Service Commission to settle the dispute in the union's favour.
The commission and the Professional Firefighters Union have been discussing a package understood to include a 30 per cent pay rise.
As well, fire engine crew numbers are to remain at four under the package, in spite of efforts to cut them.
A 42-hour week is to be retained. There will be no reduction in paid firefighter numbers - and they will not be replaced by volunteers.
Such a settlement will have a severe impact on the commission's finances and will require a rise in the Fire Service levy on property insurance, which funds the commission. This will mean insurance premium increases for householders and businesses.
Union secretary Derek Best said yesterday that firefighters had not had a pay rise for 10 years so a figure "outside the norm for these days" was justified.
Internal Affairs Minister Mark Burton, who is responsible for the Fire Service, had given the union and the commission until July 31 to reach agreement. That did not happen.
He has now summoned the union and the commission to his office tomorrow to discuss progress and the fiscal impact of the talks.
Letters from Mr Burton to the parties, obtained under the Official Information Act, show that he has been taking a close interest in the negotiations and has effectively directed the commission to settle on the union's terms. This follows Labour Party and Alliance pledges before the last election to reverse the planned Fire Service changes.
The commission had been seeking a deal requiring a 56-hour roster, fewer firefighters and, at one stage, three crew to a fire engine.
There are about 1600 paid firefighters, mostly in main centres, and about 8000 volunteers.
A pay increase on the scale being discussed could add $25 million to the commission's $84 million direct wage bill at a time when its finances are looking bleak.
National Party spokesman Lindsay Tisch has predicted that households face a 15 per cent increase in their Fire Service levy if the deal under discussion is sealed.
- NZPA
Fire chiefs told to give in to union
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