Resolution for strike action 'ill health pensions' 16.11.07

Blaze Bear · Resolution for strike action 'ill health pensions' 16.11.07

'The Fire Brigades Union condemns the decision to cease the payment of pension to three retired members of the FBU following a medical appeal. This act has placed these individuals in the position of being without a job and without a pension.

This decision results from guidance issued by the Department for Communities and Local Government in relation to the Firefighters Pensions Schemes which differs from that provided in 2004. This newer guidance means that members will not be retired if they are deemed able to fulfill any part of the duties within the role map – even if such a job does not exist. This will ultimately lead to large numbers of firefighters being placed in the position of being unable to work because of ill-health or injury but unable to receive a pension. This is completely unacceptable.

These pension schemes are designed to take account of the physical demands of work in the Fire and Rescue Service and as a result members of the scheme pay a contribution higher than is paid in most other similar schemes. Yet the new advice from the government will mean that it will become impossible to actually receive a medical retirement in virtually any circumstances.

We call upon the Executive Council to prevail upon the Ministers within CLG to ensure that the current advice is amended in line with that originally provided in 2004. This should be a relatively simple step to take. If this is not done, we call upon the Executive Council to initiate a political and industrial campaign highlighting this disgrace, which would include a ballot of the entire FBU membership for national strike action.'

BlazingPalace

Firstly I am not taking sides; I like a lot of people am confused about all of this.
Firstly we have all received a detailed e-mail from management explaining every thing they have done which has included offering jobs to those people affected. They are also prepared to continue paying the pension providing the union underwrites this in the event of the union losing the pending court case.

Brigade wants this to go to court so the matter can be settled one way or the other. They too are seeking clarification, and the unions response to what appears to be a reasonable case put forward, “We are not accepting this” and the threat of legal action.

Surely at the very least the union should be offering to underwrite the pension payment of the 3 firefighters until its settled in court or is that me being unreasonable, it will only cost the union if they lose the case.

Like I said I am neither sticking up for nor supporting management, just confused about the true facts and hidden agendas from both sides