Firefighters strike vote expected

The firefighters' scheme is too expensive, the government says

Thousands of firefighters across the UK are expected to be asked to strike in a dispute over pension reforms.

The Fire Brigade Union's executive have decided to hold an emergency recall conference in February with a recommendation to strike.

The FBU will co-ordinate any action with local government unions who are also in dispute over similar concerns.

Firefighters can currently retire at 50 but the government wants to raise the pension age to 60 for new starters.

We want to avoid a strike and have sensible discussions with the government but we are not making much progress Matt Wrack FBU general secretary

After the union met in London on Friday, general secretary Matt Wrack said members were "outraged" and he was confident any vote would be for strike action.

"We want to avoid a strike and have sensible discussions with the government but we are not making much progress," he said.

"Fire crews feel they have been kicked in the teeth because politicians are quick to praise our skills and dedication while at the same time trying to pickpocket our pensions."

From 2006 new recruits to the fire service will have to work for 40 years to get a full pension, rather than 30 as at present.

'Fundamentally opposed'

They will also have a standard pension age of 60, instead of 50.

The government is keen to cut the cost of the fire brigade scheme.

It also plans to change the local authority pension scheme so members will have to work until 65 before receiving a full pension.

Most public service pension schemes are funded out of taxation rather than being paid for by a return on investments.

In October, the government agreed with public sector trade unions that, from next April, new recruits to the civil service, teachers and NHS pension schemes would have a standard pension age raised to 65.

In the face of threatened strike action by the unions it was agreed that current members of the schemes would keep their present pension age of 60.

Key changes

The key features of the proposed changes to the firefighters scheme are:

• Existing firefighters can stay in their current scheme, though even they will have to work until at least 55 from the year 2013, in line with a change in the law affecting all pension schemes.
• Current firefighters can choose to switch to the new scheme in 2006, along with new recruits to the service.
• Members of the new scheme will pay lower contributions - between 6.5% and 8% of salaries rather than 11% under the current scheme. This will save them between £750 and £1,150 a year each.
• To get a full pension worth two thirds of final salary, members of the new scheme will have to work for 40 years - rather than 30. They will also have a normal retirement age of 60. At present firefighters can retire at 50 on a full pension if they have worked for just 30 years.

The FBU fought and lost a bitter strike with the government over pay and conditions in 2003.