CIRCULAR 2011HOC0578SS
17th November 2011
TO: BRIGADE SECRETARIES
Dear Brother/Sister,
You will be aware that the union has submitted several documents which aim to support our arguments against the Government’s proposals to increase employee contributions and to impose changes to fire service pension schemes.
These documents, which have been described as robust and an expert analysis, are currently being considered by Government before any cost ceiling is set. This delay followed a request for a postponement from the union to allow specific factors to be discussed further. As part of these ongoing discussions the FBU is continuing to meet with Government representatives at all levels and has been gathering more evidence which it feels may influence any decision on pension scheme proposals.
On 8 November 2011 the FBU wrote to the English Fire Minister and his equivalent in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales and brought their attention to a document that the Home Office commissioned in 1996. This document ‘Age limit for serving firefighters’ (attached for your information) was a report by Dr Michael Haisman for the Home Office Fire Research and Development Group and looks at the fitness demands of firefighting and the various effects of aging on operational firefighters.
The report concludes that;
‘Raising the current retirement age limit of 55 years would result in diminishing numbers being able to meet the requirements: there is, therefore, no case for raising the limit’.
It also recommends that;
‘the existing limit of 55 years is retained’.
The FBU has already presented robust evidence that stands in opposition to the Government’s proposal to increase the normal pensionable age. Recommendation 14 of the final ‘Hutton Report’ said the Government should therefore consider setting a new Normal Pension Age of 60 across the uniformed services. The FBU has presented substantial evidence to demonstrate that after consideration the NPA should not be raised. By submitting the Haisman report the FBU highlight that this evidence also includes a similar recommendation from a Government commissioned study.
Yours in Unity,
SEAN STARBUCK
National Officer
