Who: West Midlands firefighters and supporters
What: Public demonstration against pension attacks
Where: Victoria Square, Birmingham city centre
When: 12pm, Saturday 21 June
West Midlands firefighters will be hosting a public demonstration against the government’s proposed changes to pensions.
The event will be held this Saturday 21 June from 12pm at Victoria Square in Birmingham City Centre.
Steven Price-Hunt, secretary of the Fire Brigades Union in the West Midlands Brigade, said: “Firefighters want to send out a clear message to this government that their proposals are unworkable, unaffordable and unfair.
“If these proposals are given the go-ahead we will see our fire service compromised, putting the lives of firefighters and the public at risk.”
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.
For further details of the event please contact Steven Price – Hunt on 07515 06031
