PRESS RELEASE 02.07.04

FBU loses Court of Appeal decision for Retained Pension.

The RFU is not surprised that the FBU has lost its case at the Court of Appeal, announced today, for retained firefighters to be admitted to the fulltime Pension Scheme.

The RFU started this process off many years ago, because the FBU, who had sole negotiating rights in the fire service, had failed to pursue equal pensions and pay to end discrimination against retained firefighters.

The RFU decided to hold back on legal action, because we made progress through giving evidence to the Bain Review, which in December 2002 announced in its findings that retained firefighters should have equal pay and pension rights. The Government committed itself to providing these important rights in their White Paper “Our Fire and Rescue Service” in June 2003.

Unfortunately the continuing unsuccessful legal action by the FBU is holding up progress on introducing retained pensions through discussion and negotiation.

Retained firefighters are used to losing because of the FBU’s actions. The June 2003 pay agreement, negotiated by the FBU, gave substantial pay increases to full-time firefighters. Retained firefighters, who are not paid a salary, but are paid a “retaining” fee and response fees, lost between £2.89 and £0.40 each time they are called out. A retained firefighter is paid £14.09 for each call-out.

NOTE FOR EDITORS
There are 36,000 full-time firefighters in the UK, mainly in the cities and larger towns. There are 18,000 retained (part-time) firefighters, who crew over 60% of fire stations, covering over 90% of the UK landmass. Retained firefighters usually have other employment, and are called to respond to fires, rescues and other emergencies when required. This community spirited group of men and women are at the forefront of public protection, but have been described by the Bain Review as being undervalued and suffering second-class conditions of service.