Dear Brother/Sister
Our pension campaign has been underway for more than two years. At every stage we have presented detailed, professional evidence supporting our case for occupational pensions which meet the needs of our profession. We have won that debate at every stage and no Government Minister anywhere has been able to answer our case. We have been patient and given them numerous opportunities to change their course.
Despite that, they are pressing ahead with proposals which will be unworkable, unaffordable, unsustainable and unfair. As recently as last month, Governments in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland imposed large increases in pension contributions with further increases planned - despite the detailed evidence we had presented to each of them.
They are obviously not listening to firefighters. They are ploughing on with their plans regardless of the professional advice of the FBU and others within the Fire and Rescue Service.
One thing is absolutely clear. The new scheme proposed for 2015 is currently unworkable; it is designed to fail. Current 'protection' arrangements are inadequate. In addition, the current proposals will mean thousands of members facing capability dismissal as they age and as fitness levels decline. Members who have paid into a pension scheme for many years will face the prospect of no job and no pension. That is unacceptable, unjust and insulting.
Situation in different parts of the UK
We met with the CLG Fire Minister (for England) and his team again today. Once again they were unable to answer our questions on a number of issues. They were unable to address the case we have presented. This is unacceptable at this stage. They were also unable to make any proposals which would address our needs and concerns.
In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland there have also been discussions with Ministers throughout the past few months. However, as in England there are no proposals whatsoever which would resolve our concerns on pensions
FBU Conference
The Executive Council will be reporting these matters in full to our Conference next week. Your delegates will need to consider these issues very carefully. It is clear that FBU Conference will now need to discuss the need for strike action to defend pension rights and to achieve pension arrangements which are affordable, sustainable and fair ' pensions which address the specific needs of the Fire Service.
Please make sure that you follow these developments closely.
- A great deal of information is available on the FBU website.
- This includes a short film which is also available on YouTube (Hands Off Our Pensions).
- Following Conference there will be meetings locally to provide the latest information.
We remain very committed to real discussion anywhere and at any time. However, we are also committed to defending decent pensions within our Service.
Best wishes.
Yours fraternally
Matt Wrack
General Secretary
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