By Vivienne Russell | 23 September 2013
The Fire Brigades Union has disputed government claims that firefighters can expect to receive an income of £26,000 when they retire.
Firefighters will be striking this week over planned changed to their pensions arrangements. There is particular concern over proposals to raise the retirement age from 55 to 60.
Ahead of Wednesday’s strike, the union went on the offensive, attacking assertions made by fire minister Brandon Lewis that firefighters could look forward to a pension of £26,000.
A report, commissioned by the FBU from fact-checking organisation FullFact, found that £26,000 would be an ‘unrealistic sum’ for most firefighters. It noted that the amount includes £7,000 in state pension, which can only be claimed at age 65 and rising, whereas the government is proposing an occupational retirement age of 60 for firefighters.
‘So in reality, the government's example firefighter would only be getting £19,000 a year when they actually retire,’ the report said.
FBU general secretary Matt Wrack said: ‘Lewis’s claims have now been comprehensively discredited. He must now face the reality of the proposals he has made and come back the negotiating table ready to listen to common sense.’
The FBU also cited a recent government review, which found that over half of current firefighters between the ages of 50 and 54 are no longer to meet required fitness standards. Beyond the age of 55, two-thirds fail to meet the standards.
‘Expecting large numbers of firefighters in their late 50s to fight fires and rescue families is not just ludicrous: it’s dangerous to the public and to firefighters.’
