‘Robbed’ firefighters’ pension victory

FIREFIGHTERS HAVE won a landmark victory over their pensions which could impact on other public-sector workers, union officials said.

The Fire Brigades Union said 6,000 firefighters across the country would now be entitled to their pre-2015 pension schemes following a decision by an employment tribunal.

Benefits will include being able to retire between the ages of 50 and 55, said the union, which has been campaigning against changes to firefighters’ pensions.

FBU general secretary Matt Wrack said: “Last Christmas we gave firefighters the gift of a victory in the courts.

“This year firefighters can celebrate, knowing that their union has secured their rightful retirement – a gift borne of solidarity that proves what unions can achieve.

“The law has now changed and our FBU claimants will be entitled to return to their previous pension schemes.

“Legislation will need to be amended but there can be no delay in implementing this remedy.

“Firefighters were robbed and they must now be repaid.

“To the new Tory Government, let me be clear. We fought tooth and nail against your attacks on our pensions and won.

“If you dare to try to pay for these changes by raiding the pensions of current or future firefighters, we will come for you again and we will win.”

The FBU said the tribunal’s decision could be worth £4bn if it is applied across the public sector.

The union said “detrimental” changes introduced by the coalition government in 2015 would have meant younger firemen and women would have had to work until they were 60 and been on a worse pension scheme.

The Home Office has been approached for comment.