The FBU is seeking permission to appeal to the Supreme Court in relation to the costs control mechanism imposed on public sector pension schemes by the treasury.
The FBU was successful in challenging the government’s public sector pension reforms introduced in 2015 as age discriminatory, leading to the government having to reinstate previous pension arrangements and pay compensation to affected public sector workers.
The public sector pension attacks included a costs control mechanism which means that certain specific member-related costs could be paid for out of lowering benefits or increasing contributions for workers.
Working people shouldn’t have to pay the price for the government’s mistakes
The Treasury used that costs control mechanism to pass on the costs of remedying its own unlawful age discrimination to members of the new public sector pension schemes.
The FBU argues that the costs control mechanism cannot be used for a purpose for which it was never intended, and that its use in this way discriminates against younger members of the scheme.
The FBU’s challenge has been rejected by the Court of Appeal but with the support of the unions PCS, POA, RCN and Unite, the FBU is now seeking permission to appeal to the Supreme Court.
Matt Wrack, FBU general secretary, said: “It is shameful that the government is trying to force firefighters and other public sector workers to shoulder the costs of this botched attack on their hard-earned pensions.
“Working people shouldn’t have to pay the price for the government’s mistakes. The FBU will pursue all avenues to win justice for our members.”
