Representatives from the Fire Brigades Union and the government in Westminster have this week continued to discuss all aspects of firefighters’ current dispute over pensions.
These discussions were reported to a meeting of the union’s executive council, which agreed that discussions should continue with a view to urgently obtaining revised proposals from the government.
One key aspect discussed has been around the demand that firefighters are protected from the threat of dismissal if their fitness declines in their late 50s.
The Westminster fire minister in Westminster, Brandon Lewis, has previously suggested that such a guarantee could be provided through the National Framework, which sets out the government’s expectations and requirements for fire and rescue authorities, and related guidance from the Department for Communities and Local Government.
But in a recent meeting with the minister, the FBU reiterated the importance of establishing a “robust protection” and a clear mechanism setting out how members would be protected.
At the meeting, the FBU also raised concerns about the amount firefighters were being expected to contribute to their pension, pointing out that high rates would encourage firefighters to ‘opt out’ of the schemes and ensure a substantial shortfall in money raised.
The meeting also covered the ‘protection’ of firefighters in existing pension schemes, with the government arguing that a larger proportion of firefighters are covered by protection than other public sector workers, including the police.
Although the union said it welcomed the government’s willingness to explore alternatives for firefighter pension schemes for 2015, it also said members’ were “frustrated” by the fact no alternatives had yet been proposed.
Discussions between the union and the employers (which represent individual fire and rescue services) are also continuing, with both parties now considering 11 ‘points of principle’ — similar to those discussed in Scotland — on the ‘No job, no pensions issue’, although the union has emphasised that a solution is reliant on central government.
The FBU’s executive council met on Wednesday 12 February and will meet again on Thursday 27 February.
You can read more about recent developments in the pensions campaign in circular 2014HOC0108MW from FBU general secretary, Matt Wrack.
