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Who: Buckinghamshire firefighters and supporters
What: Demonstration against Westminster government’s pension plans
Where: Aylesbury fire station, Stocklake, Aylesbury, HP20 1BD
When: 10am, Tuesday 24 June 2014
Firefighters in Buckinghamshire will be holding a rally on Tuesday 24 June to protest against Westminster government’s pension plans.
The rally will begin at 10am at Aylesbury fire station ahead of a metting with Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Fire Authority being held at 11am. By 12.30pm firefighters and supporters will begin heading toward the town centre to hold a rally with supporters of the campaign.
Keith Williams, chair of the FBU in Buckinghamshire, said: “Firefighters have been patient with the Westminster government but will simply not stand by as they impose an unworkable, unaffordable and unfair pension scheme.
“Politicians in N Ireland have been able to put forward affordable proposals that would keep the normal pension age at 55, disproving fire minister Brandon Lewis’ allegations that any such resolution unaffordable.
“The Westminster government’s plans are clear: they want firefighters to work longer, pay more and receive less.”
Firefighters pay one of the highest pension contribution rates which cost £4,000 per annum from a salary of £29,000.
Under the government’s proposals, firefighters who are forced to retire before the age of 60 as a result of ageing will have half of their pension taken away. The alternative they face is to be sacked.
The government’s own report, published in December 2013 by Dr Tony Williams, found that 66% of people between the ages of 55 and 60 would be unlikely to meet the fitness standard used by most fire services and would therefore be unlikely to be able to achieve the new normal pension age of 60.
