Fighterfighters say Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) leadership is "sitting on their hands", accusing them of refusing to resolve their bids to improve pay and work conditions.
The New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union (NZPFU) claimed FENZ has refused to continue mediation with the union in the wake of its planned weekly strike action.
NZPFU members across the country will be striking again on Friday between 11am and 12pm in their bid to settle the negotiations for safe staffing, appropriate physical and mental health monitoring and support, and fair pay and conditions.
"FENZ is now not only rolling the dice on public safety every day with staff shortages and failing appliances and equipment, it is ensuring there is no chance of averting the notified strike action," an NZPFU spokesperson said.
The union said the risk to the community during the hour-long strike "falls squarely on the shoulders" of the FENZ boss, leadership team and board members after long-running bargaining has been unsuccessful.
"It is extraordinary that the leadership of an emergency service would prefer to sit on their hands for four weeks refusing to negotiate while weekly strike action continues," NZPFU said.
Firefighters walked off the job for the first time last week, with about 2000 firefighters striking last over what they said is a "fire crisis".
FENZ deputy national commander Brendan Nally told Newshub last week it was disappointing the strike went ahead despite having the chance to call it off.
Nally said FENZ is making its own application to the Employment Relations Authority for facilitated bargaining after mediation had "broken down" between the two organisations.
"We believe both parties will be unable to make further progress in the bargaining, without the assistance of the Authority," Nally said.
"We also believe that bringing in an independent third party to make recommendations is the right thing to do to bring an objective lens to the situation and to ensure that we have the best chance of bringing the bargaining to a conclusion."
