Wattie Watson: NZ Firefighters union secretary on Fire and Emergency New Zealand and New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union agreeing on settlement - Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) and the New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union (NZPFU) agreed on a $145 million dollar settlement today.

This gives firefighters a 24 percent wage increase and brings 18 months of negations to a close.

NZ Firefighters union secretary Wattie Watson says that they appreciate this wage increase, considering the conditions firefighters across the country have to work under. 

Wattie also says that these firefighters have been working long hours and dealing with staffing issues, so these strikes were difficult but necessary to send a message.

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