The Fire Brigades Union has criticised Northern Ireland ministers for failing to implement pension rights for retained firefighters, which were won following a court ruling five years ago.
The FBU says that governments are pressing ahead with attacks on firefighters’ existing rights, but have endlessly delayed introducing improvements required by law.
Matt Wrack, FBU general secretary said: “It is appalling that retained firefighters are still waiting for their pension rights five years after winning the legal battle. It’s incredible that the Northern Ireland government can find time and resources to attack firefighters’ pension benefits and increase our contributions, but when it comes to introducing a scheme for our members and complying with the ruling they have completely failed. It is an insulting betrayal of retained firefighters.
“The Department for Communities and Local Government in England is dragging its feet and administrations in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales are doing nothing about it either.
“We are demanding ministers get off their backsides and make sure retained firefighters are treated with the professionalism and respect they deserve.”
On 5 March 2008 the FBU won a huge victory for firefighters who work the retained duty system. This legal victory took eight years to achieve and meant that part-time (retained) firefighters could retrospectively access a firefighter pension scheme with benefits on a par with those of full-timers.
After five years of delay the scheme still has not been implemented anywhere in the UK.
