Dear Brother/Sister,

On 6th June 2007 I issued Circular 2007HOC0305MW in which I brought to members' attention the problems posed to members who have secondary contracts in the event of them sustaining an injury whilst performing duties under the terms of a second contract.

It has been brought to my attention that chief fire officers in some brigades are informing FBU members that the circular was inaccurate. This circular is to confirm that Circular 2007HOC0305MW is entirely accurate. The senior civil servant who chairs the Firefighters' Pensions Committee on behalf of CLG (the Administrator of the firefighters' pension schemes) confirmed at the most recent meeting of that committee on the 20th June 2007 that our circular was entirely correct. Stakeholders represented on the Firefighters Pensions Committee who were present included the FBU, CFOA, LGA, APFO, the Scottish Public Pensions Agency and the Government Actuaries Department.

I have today written to the representative of CFOA who was present at the meeting in the following terms:

“On 6 June 2007 I issued a circular to all FBU members informing them of serious potential problems relating to secondary contracts. In particular it alerted our members to the fact that pension and compensation entitlements under a second contract may be different to those under the primary contract. I attach a copy of that circular for your information and use. I have been informed by a number of our officials that senior managers within some fire and rescue services are informing our members that the information we have circulated is incorrect.

You will recall the discussion regarding the issue of pensions and secondary contracts at the Firefighters Pensions Committee held on 20 June.  During that discussion, Martin Hill was clear that the information contained within FBU Circular 2007HOC0305MW was entirely accurate.

In order to ensure that all operational members employed within the UK fire and rescue service are not misinformed by their managers, can you assure me that the facts as confirmed by CLG have been circulated by CFOA to all chief officers and senior managers in the UK, through CFOA and the three associations in Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland.”

Further, I have put measures in place for Brigade Secretaries in those fire and rescue services where secondary contracts are offered to operational personnel to write to the Chief Fire Officer on this matter.

Yours fraternally,

MATT WRACK
General Secretary