Dear Brother/Sister,
You may be aware that the second stage of the Government's pension attacks is the production of a subsequent document to the earlier 'Heads of Agreement' that was issued in February 2012.
This latest document (Firefighters' Pension Scheme: Proposed Final Agreement) has been issued today following a ministerial statement and is available via the following link.
We have already spoken to officials from the Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) and reiterated that this development is unhelpful, unnecessary and inflammatory. This will be followed up by a formal response as has been the case previously. Officials should be clear that this is clearly not acceptable as the final position in relation to our pensions. That has been made clear on numerous occasions to CLG and to Ministers throughout any discussions.
A meeting had already been set up for next week and the outcome of that will be reported to the Executive Council at the meeting scheduled for 6 June in Manchester.
The Proposed Final Agreement document remains just as unacceptable as the previous Heads of Agreement for exactly the same reasons.
It still proposes:
- Unaffordable and unfair contribution rates.
- A totally unrealistic retirement age for firefighters.
- An unsustainable scheme for the fire service.
It is extremely important that we recognise that although the Firefighters Pensions Committee (FPC) has been given assurances about the two reviews (of contributions/opt outs and of Normal Pension Age) they are still only a potential mechanism for trying to influence the Government's proposals. The Executive Council has been clear throughout recent developments that this campaign is a long way from over.
The meeting with CLG officials next week will explore issues including any progress on the two reviews and whether this development alters the current situation.
Further information will be promulgated as it becomes available.
Yours fraternally,
Matt Wrack
General Secretary
2012HOC0274MW
