Hand's of our Pensions!

As a firefighter of 12 years now, I have seen the job change a lot over the years, but a worrying trend since the "ConDem" government has taken power, is how they seem "Hell bent" on destroying the public sector....and as a public sector worker, we are no different - with a pay freeze for a number of years to contend with and changes in working conditions and an uncertain future regarding our pensions enough is enough.

Myself and a number of colleagues from different brigades across Scotland, merged to the Scottish Government at Holyrood, Edinburgh today to voice our concern - with keynote speakers from the Scottish government and also the head of the Fire Brigades Union, it will be an interesting few months ahead.

Will the UK government keep to their own review of firefighters working over 55 and realise that physically they will be unable to carry out their role safely and thus keeping the retirement age at 55 or...as it does not fit their agenda, bin the report and carry on regardless, bringing in fitness tests and ultimately getting rid of ageing firefighters as they deem them to be "unfit for purpose".

In fact....here is the facts that we want answered..

Firefighters' pensions

You will be aware of the ongoing discussions between the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) and the Westminster government regarding firefighter pensions, which have now reached a crucial stage.

In January this year CLG published its review into the normal pension age (NPA) for firefighters. The Public Service Pensions Bill imposes an NPA of 60 on firefighters currently working in the UK. The FBU has consistently argued that medical evidence does not support this imposition and that there are no redeployment opportunities for older firefighters. The ability to redeploy firefighters when they were no longer able to achieve the fitness standards was the logic behind the last government's plans when it introduced an NPA of 60 for new entrants in 2006. The FBU has shown that redeployment opportunities do not exist, which is accepted by all parties.

The NPA report authored by Dr Tony Williams is clear that only firefighters recruited at a higher level of fitness than at present and who undergo special fitness training throughout their career could potentially work beyond 55. The report provides ample evidence that between a half and two-thirds of current firefighters will not be deemed fit enough to work beyond 55. The report also confirms that women firefighters will be disproportionately affected by an NPA of 60 thereby undermining several decades of progress on equality in the service.

For this reason the report recommends including further protection, so that firefighters are not financially penalised by the new scheme. If this is not forthcoming, the report also suggests that thousands of firefighters unable to meet the recommended fitness levels may face capability dismissal from the service without access to their pension. This is totally unacceptable.

The FBU is still awaiting a response from the Westminster government. I am urging you to make representations to ministers on behalf of firefighters. If you require any further information or wish to meet to discuss this in more detail, I will be happy to do so.

It is a long blog today and if you have read it all thanks for doing so - I just want to do my Job and then retire with a pension that I can support my family with!