The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has urged members to write to MPs opposing proposals for their pension’s normal retirement age. Changes in the Public Sector Pensions Bill would mean mass dismissals, the union claims.

The Bill imposes a normal pension age (NPA) of 60 for firefighters from 2015. This is above the NPA of 55 in the old Firefighters’ Pension Scheme closed to new members in 2006, but the same as the New Firefighters' Pension scheme (NFPS) introduced in the same year.

At the time, according to the FBU, it was expected older firefighters who could not continue at the frontline due to fitness would be redeployed within the service.

“We didn’t think that was possible at the time but there certainly aren’t those opportunities out there anymore, partly because of the recent cuts and partly because of a whole series of changes since 2006,” said an FBU spokesperson. “All sides recognise there are no sizeable redeployment opportunities.”

A model letter drafted by the union argues a review of the NPA for the Firefighters Pensions Committee shows only if firefighters were recruited at a higher level of fitness and underwent continual fitness training throughout their career could they potentially work beyond 55.

This report noted there would “be a significant number of firefighters who expected to retire at age 55 and will have difficulty maintaining fitness beyond this age”. The FBU argues it means thousands losing their jobs, although the report notes that a current absence of a defined fitness level for firefighters makes it difficult to establish an appropriate NPA.

The dispute is the latest turn in ongoing opposition to the government’s pensions reform from the union. Last month the FBU attacked increases to contribution rates for the NFPA.

“Firefighters around the country are currently meeting to discuss these latest attacks, which seem designed to undermine and destroy pensions in the fire service,” said FBU general secretary Matt Wrack.

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