A firefighter from Hitchin in Hertfordshire has written to local MPs expressing her concerns about the government’s attacks on pensions.
Lorraine Sadler, who works at Stevenage Fire Station, wrote to MPs Peter Lilley and Stephen McPartland, to tell them how worried proposed changes have made her for her future.
In the letter, Sadler talks through the changes and how they will affect her, and asks for their response.
You can read the full text below.
Dear Mr Lilley and MrMcPartland,
I am a female firefighter who lives in Hitchin and works at Stevenage Fire Station now serving in my 20th year and I am 42 years old.
In 1994 I applied for the fire service and passed the necessary mental and physical tests expected of me to be able to carry out my job for the next 30 years. I signed up to the Fire Service Pension Scheme as I was heavily encouraged to do so and was told the amount of pension I would expect to receive in 2024 when I had completed my 30 years service. I have paid a whopping 11% of my salary each month into my pension. You have now moved my goalposts. You have now told me I have to work till I am 60 to receive my full pension. You have told me my contributions will rise to 13.2% and maybe more, even though I already pay the highest amount in the public sector. You have told me if I cannot achieve the required fitness standard I will be sacked on capability! I will then not be able to claim my pension until I am 68!
Your own commissioned report by Dr Tony Williams, Consultant Occupational Physician, not only reported that the majority of firefighters will not be able to achieve the necessary fitness standard but stated that it is virtually IMPOSSIBLE for a woman of that age to achieve the necessary standard. This is the standard required to wear a breathing apparatus set in excessive heat and stressful conditions. This is the necessary standard required so I may do my job with safety to myself, my colleagues and the public we serve. 20 years of the job I love has already taken its toll on my ageing body, my back, my knees. I keep myself fit but I cannot stop the ageing process nor alter the injuries sustained over the years as a result of this job, but I only had 10 years to go. That was achievable. You have now moved that to 18 years! YOU have set me up to fail. I feel completely let down by the government. I am worried for the future for me, my family and my colleagues. How can I feel confident about serving the public as a firefighter in my mid to late fifties as a woman who, it has been documented, WILL NOT achieve the necessary fitness. Do you really want me as a 57/58 year old woman turning up to rescue you or your kids? Granted the number of fires has reduced, but the stresses on the body when firefighting have not!
This is not a joke. This is not an exaggeration of the truth. This is exactly what you are asking me to do!
All I have done is passed the required tests and given you almost 20 years of loyal service. I AM SCARED FOR MY FUTURE. You have done that to me! You have driven me to have to go on strike….. not to improve my conditions, but just to keep those I signed up for!
I already pay 11% of my salary towards my pension! That’s £320 per month but still you want more! For what??? To make me work longer and give me less.
Please don’t say there is not enough money to pay us! Surely this is not a complicated pension scheme to manage. It is not invested. Therefore the forecasts are very predictable. If the money was running out it should have been realised years ago. I believe we also pay the highest contributions in the public sector. How much do you pay each month towards your pension? If there is not enough money to pay my pension, how come you get a pay rise, boosting your pension significantly, when I have not had one for a few years now?
Your comments to each of my points please.
Lorraine Sadler.
