After decades of running down and chronic underfunding, the fire service in New Zealand experienced its first unqualified strike across the country on the 19th August for an hour at 11AM. While there have been go-slows, work-to-rules, and partial strikes with an emergency skeleton shift; there’s never been an outright strike by firefighters let alone a national strike sanctioned by the NZ Professional Firefighters Union (NZPFU). That such a drastic measure was taken is a sign of how critical the situation in the industry is. Staff shortages, overtime running up to 100 hours in a week, frequent equipment breakdown, and a lack of recognition for occupational health hazards such as potential for cancer and poor mental health have all plagued the service and desperately need rectification. The “FireCrisis” campaign by the NZPFU holds no bars, the service is at risk of collapse and a major disaster could shatter the branch of an entire region. With the penchant for disaster this country has started to accrue over the last decade or so, before even considering the potential for climate related events such as wildfires and flooding, the service needs to be rapidly refreshed with an influx of staff, modernised equipment, and improved conditions just to break even let alone face what the future holds.

At any rate, I attended the Mosgiel picket and march with my mum (my grandfather being a 50 year veteran of the service, an affinity for firefighters runs in the family) and played once more the role of court photographer. Of the action itself there’s not much to say. A short march of about 20 fire staff and supporters to the corner of Factory and Gordon roads, roadside picket, and then a march back to the station for the shift to get back to work at midday on the dot. Not every demonstration is going to be exciting, sorry folks. Support was high, with a near constant stream of supportive shouts and toots from passers by and a generally friendly demeanor among the pedestrians who stopped for a chat.

I think it’s important to keep in mind that these are emergency service workers in an essentially rural town that’s only part of Dunedin due to odd city boundary limits. This is a profession that is not prone to industrial unrest, even by New Zealand’s low standards, and which will find just about any other recourse than to directly walk off the job. And all that in Mosgiel, an exurban to fully rural town largely comprised of retirees, farmers, small businesses, and independent contractors. This is not protest country, even by the standards of the South. Most people who have participated in really any kind of demonstration have generally travelled to the city to do so, usually irrespective of what the issue may be. This is something that is only happening because of the severity of the situation, the mood had a solemn edge to it despite the relaxed nature of the interactions the strikers had with the public.

I won’t be around for the next two strikes which are scheduled over the coming weeks, however I encourage all my New Zealand readers (that is, most of you) to contact their nearest local station to get the details for the coming strikes. As I understand it, supporters are welcome and encouraged to join the actions at their nearest station, and it is in my opinion imperative the NZPFU experience a groundswell of public support from their fellow workers as the campaign drags on. I am absolutely serious that anything less than victory for the firefighters will see people killed. I’ll see you on the picket line.