Fire Minister responds to FBU further strike action
Brandon Lewis responds to the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) further strikes.
Fire Minister Brandon Lewis said:
Once again the FBU바카라 사이트™s actions cast doubt over their claims that they are serious about reaching a negotiated settlement. I hosted discussions on fitness issues with the FBU and other organisations on 4 December. The discussions were constructive but while the consultation was still running, the FBU announced further strikes.
Firefighters will still get one of the most generous public pension schemes. Less than a quarter of firefighters will see any change in their retirement age in 2015 and more firefighters pensions are protected than in any other large public service workforce.
A firefighter who earns £29,000, and retires after a full career aged 60, will get a £19,000 a year pension, rising to £26,000 with the state pension. An equivalent private pension pot would be worth over half a million pounds and require firefighters to contribute twice as much.
Only around a third of firefighters voted for industrial action in the FBU바카라 사이트™s most recent ballot and further strikes serve only to damage the reputation of firefighters with the public they serve.
Further information
Only 15,748 firefighters voted for industrial action out of a total of 41,000 firefighters.
More details can be found on the Firefighters바카라 사이트™ pension schemes reforms page.