Firefighters’ pensions

The firefighters’ FBU union has told the government it is prepared to take industrial action over proposed changes to firefighters’ pensions, which would see them paying higher contributions and working longer.

General secretary Matt Wrack told last month’s FBU conference that the proposal to raise the retirement age from 55 to 60 “is completely unworkable”.

Wrack said: “The government’s own report demonstrates that a very high proportion of firefighters would not be able to reach the proposed pension age. Instead they would face the prospect of being dismissed on grounds of capability.”