Attacks On Fire Service Pensions

On 10th March 2011 the final report of the Independent Public Service Pensions (Hutton) Commission was released. This report contained 27 recommendations that were accepted as a basis for consultation by Government in the Budget speech delivered on 23rd March 2011. The key recommendations included introducing a new structure for pensions schemes by 2015 with a move to career average schemes from final salary schemes, an increase in the normal retirement age in line with the state pension age with an exception in the case of the uniformed services where it will be set at age 60, tiered contributions for higher earners and a fixed cost ceiling to minimise the cost risk to taxpayers. These proposals follow on from an earlier decision by the Westminster government to increase employee contribution rates in public service pensions by around 3% across the range. Conference recognises that these proposals constitute a sustained attack on public service pensions and reiterates its opposition to any detrimental changes to pension schemes within the Fire and Rescue Service. The FBU has raised concerns about the proposals with Ministers, at the Firefighters Pension Committee and with officials of the Department for Communities and Local Government. The union will be fully involved in these talks and will continue to protect the pension provision of FBU members and will continue to challenge the claim that public sector pensions are unaffordable and unsustainable. Conference agrees to continue to campaign against any detrimental changes to the fire service pension schemes (FPS; NFPS; LGPS) by any means required. This will involve: ● Encouraging members to participate in the members’ survey launched this week; ● Ensuring that every branch meets to discuss and vote on the model resolution circulated by the Executive Council; ● Continuing to lobby politicians at national and local level. Conference is committed to seeking genuine dialogue and negotiations with government. FBU members will always be extremely reluctant to take any form of industrial action. However, we cannot allow our pension schemes to be dismantled and therefore if such negotiations and campaigning are not successful, Conference recommends that members prepare for national strike action. As agreed at conference 2010 this will include coordinating action with other unions where possible and appropriate. Conference instructs the Executive Council to begin to make preparations for this following annual conference.