NZPA News September - New Zealand Police Association

New Zealand Police Association NewsletterSeptember 2003Senior Contract negotiations to commenceBy Association Chief Executive, Chris PentecostHaving concluded the sworn and non-sworn agreements,the Association is now turning its attention tonegotiating on behalf of our 140 senior Police managers(sworn and non-sworn), whose current remuneration isdue for review, effective 1 December.It is anticipated that negotiations will commence in thesecond half of September.In previous years the Police Association and the Guild(who also have about 140 members), held discussionswith the General Manager, Human Resources of Police toattempt to reach an outcome, which we thenrecommend to members, all of whom are engaged onindividual agreements.Mel Ridley elected as Region Three DirectorThe new Director for Region Three (Waikato and Bay of PlentyDistricts) is Detective Sergeant Mel Ridley from Mt Maunganui.Mel joined the Police as a cadet in 1972, and served initially inWellington working on section, team policing, CCU,Prosecutions and in the CIB.In 1989 he transferred to Tauranga, working on section for ayear before rejoining the CIB. In 1996 he transferred to MtMaunganui.Mel sees his election to the Board as a natural progressionfrom being involved initially as a Committee member,Committee Chair and Conference delegate.“I’ve always enjoyed my involvement with the Association,” MelProject Control Group to overseerenovation of Harlech HouseThe Police Association was recently invited to sit on the PCG(Project Control Group) for Project Spring, the renovation project forHarlech House, the scene of a mass evacuation by Police afterlegionella had been detected in the building.Vice-President, Richard Middleton, represents the Association on thePCG.A lot of work is currently under way with a view to the possible reoccupationof Harlech House in November. Last month the coolingtower was removed and, as this issue went to press, progress wasbeing made on replacing it with a dry air-conditioning system.Other workOther work includes the redesign and rebuilding of the third flooramenities area, including a new toilet and shower block,replacement of flexible ducting and cleaning of ceiling space andfixed ducting. Further renovations will take place while the buildingis unoccupied.The Association asked for an independent review of the renovationsby an independent barrister, to ensure all that could be done hasbeen done before any re-occupation takes place.The Police Department agreed to this request and has asked theAssociation to nominate an independent barrister and to provideterms of reference for the review.The Association undertook to do this and Auckland barrister RichardEarwaker was recently appointed.Clayton’s collectiveIt is our view that the individual agreements, all beingvirtually identical, are in effect a “Clayton’s”collective. We are canvassing senior managers for theirviews on pursuing a formal collective agreement, for atleast Band One and Two Inspector and non-swornequivalent positions. Other issues of concern with theemployment terms for these members are also beingidentified.Given the recent successful negotiations on behalf ofgeneral staff, we are optimistic we will achieve awelcome and timely outcome for this group of seniorPolice managers.said recently. “I believe it is a way more experiencedmembers can assist new members early in their careers.”Mel succeeds Tony Jeurissen, who recently resigned after fouryears as a Director. Tony has taken up a new appointment withPolice.Steve Hawkins has been re-elected as Director for Region One(Northland and North Shore-Waitakere), Stuart Mills remainsin Region Five (Wellington and OOC-College), as does DaveSteel in Region Seven (Southern).The role of Region Six (Canterbury and Tasman) Director iscurrently vacant, due to the resignation of Peter Burt fromPolice. This election was due to take place on September 5.The water cooling tower is removed fromHarlech House119