[asia-apec 1248] NZ Firefighters defy APEC security rules

[APEC Monitoring Group]

New Zealand Herald, Auckland, August 16 1999

Firefighters defy rules for Apec

Union claims exemption from vetting

By Mathew Dearnaley

Apec organisers have been caught offguard by an apparent security exemption
the Fire Service has granted firefighters to move inside controlled areas.

Members of the Professional Firefighters Union have refused to submit to
security checks for the summit of world leaders in Auckland next month, and
say their employer has backed down on the issue in any case.

But the suggestion that they will be exempt from tight security procedures
required of everyone else involved with the summit has surprised the
Government's Apec task force.

Most of several central Auckland streets will be closed to general traffic
from September 11 for the three days of the conference and pedestrians
without accreditation will be kept away from meeting venues and hotels.

Even manhole covers will be sealed.

Apec Taskforce spokesman Peter Parussini said last night that everyone
involved with Apec had to be accredited and he had heard of no exemptions.

But he added that the issue was the responsibility of the Fire Service.

Union president Mike McEnaney said firefighters resisted security vetting
when they were required to reapply for their jobs last year, and were not
about to submit to it now after  being vindicated by the Employment Court.

Dismissal notices still hung over te entire paid workforce, and the vetting
issue was due to be re-examined by the Court of Appeal in October, in
considering a Fire Service challenge to the employment decision.

"We were quite disgusted to be required to be accredited to attend
emergencies," he said.  "If we are good enough to risk our lives to attend
calls now, why should we have to get security clearance to stand alongside
[US President} Bill Clinton?"

Mr McEnaney said the service had also decided against increasing the number
of fire engines on call to attend Apec venues such as the Auckland Museum
and Aotea Centre from the six usually detailed to cover them.

But the union had agreed that a special crew should be reinstated to a
chemical firefighting unit during Apec.

The Minister of Internal Affairs, Jack Elder, refused to comment and said
any inquiries should be directed to Fire Service management.

Asked about a possible refusal by firefighters to work during millennium
celebrations without extra pay he said the Government had "extensive powers"
under civil defence jurisdiction.

But he would not discuss these, saying it would be "very provocative under
the current situation".

Mr McEnaney rejected Fire Service suggestions that his members were
contractually bound to work, saying they had not had a collective contract
for six years but were willing to negotiate a special New Year deal.

The Fire Service national commander, Ken Harper, was reported at the weekend
as saying his management had resolved Apec arrangements, but he was
unavailable last night to comment on security.

A spokeswoman said he had nothing to add, and US Embassy officials were
unavailable to comment on Mr Clinton's security.