Fire service strike

[Terranoman]

On Friday evening I will be joining my collegues in the Fire Service taking strike action.

There is currently a stand off between goverment and local councils at who is going to cover the payments in the pension scheme. The goverment have told local councils they are to pay while local councils say the goverment started the changes so they can foot the cost. Either way both agree there is an issue which needs to be addressed but neither are willing to pay.

Just over a year ago I was paying £260 per month. I now pay £320 raising to approximatly £380 by 2015. Reason! To pay off national debit. I will receive no extra money in my pension pot. Infact I loose money. When i retire i get a pension of approximatly £11500 per year. That is if I can work to 60. Where Brandon Lewis gets £29k pa god knows.

From 2012 we have to meet a 12month fitness test. If you fail you get so long to improve before you are sacked. I have worked as a ff now for over 10 years with no medicals, no fitness equipment and no fitness advise.

I have now seen 2 collegues thrown on the scrap heap after being injured at work and not being able to meet the fitness requirements.

I am now use to being called greedy, lazy, over paid and militant with a golden pension pot, so most comments likely to be made will not shock or phase me what will happen is I will still come and put my life on the line to save others.

Why post this?

I wish to educate people why firefighters are doing what they are doing.

We currently have an 8 point trade dispute with the government outlining issues with the changes they are forcing upon us. Most have been hi lighted within a report commissioned by the government which shows the changes are unworkable with 70% of firefighters not making 60 years old and sacked leaving them with no job no pension.

Anyone wishing to ask questions please feel free. As the press seems to be owned by the government.

[makeitfit]

Same for the teachers mate . more to pay into pension and less out after a longer wait to get it
My wife's a teacher and they're on a work to rule at present with localised strikes moving around the country.
Parents get a proper strop on if they're nannies , er I mean , teachers strike
Power to the people and good luck to you

[len peacock]

Originally Posted by Terranoman

On Friday evening I will be joining my collegues in the Fire Service taking strike action.

There is currently a stand off between goverment and local councils at who is going to cover the payments in the pension scheme. The goverment have told local councils they are to pay while local councils say the goverment started the changes so they can foot the cost. Either way both agree there is an issue which needs to be addressed but neither are willing to pay.

Just over a year ago I was paying £260 per month. I now pay £320 raising to approximatly £380 by 2015. Reason! To pay off national debit. I will receive no extra money in my pension pot. Infact I loose money. When i retire i get a pension of approximatly £11500 per year. That is if I can work to 60. Where Brandon Lewis gets £29k pa god knows.

From 2012 we have to meet a 12month fitness test. If you fail you get so long to improve before you are sacked. I have worked as a ff now for over 10 years with no medicals, no fitness equipment and no fitness advise.

I have now seen 2 collegues thrown on the scrap heap after being injured at work and not being able to meet the fitness requirements.

I am now use to being called greedy, lazy, over paid and militant with a golden pension pot, so most comments likely to be made will not shock or phase me what will happen is I will still come and put my life on the line to save others.

Why post this?

I wish to educate people why firefighters are doing what they are doing.

We currently have an 8 point trade dispute with the government outlining issues with the changes they are forcing upon us. Most have been hi lighted within a report commissioned by the government which shows the changes are unworkable with 70% of firefighters not making 60 years old and sacked leaving them with no job no pension.

Anyone wishing to ask questions please feel free. As the press seems to be owned by the government.

you lads are NOT LAZY OR GREEDY we all need you at some time plus when the bell goes you never know if you will come back with your mates i have some mates that have been firefighters one had to retire at 58 that would be 15yers ago . injured at work put his life on the line for someone he did not know.

[cncfabs]

Whats a pension

[makeitfit]

Originally Posted by cncfabs

Whats a pension

I had to look it up
Something to do with retiring had to look that up too

[AD Ent]

wont here any complaints from me. couldn't pay me enough to do that job. £100k a year salary would still be a bargain in my book. I've never seen a late 50's firefighter on an engine. usually behind a desk at that age if they have stayed on.

[jims-terrano]

Said it before and I'll say it again. How on earth can anyone doing your job still be fit enough to work as long as that????? not many I'll bet.

Best of luck to you guy's.

[Terranoman]

Thank you all for your support.

We are not looking for more. We are just looking to be treated fair!

I have just read an intresting artical in The independant

http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/...y-8907430.html

The british worker really does look £?&ked unless we support each other and do something about it.

[trophymick]

You have my support.

My wife works for the NHS, it's the same there, moral is non existent.

We'll be working into our graves if the greedy feckers at the top have their way.

[macabethiel]

The last strike cost the fire service a lot of jobs. Sadly the golden pension schemes are going. If you are not happy with higher pension input with no return you can opt out and pay into a private scheme.

[AD Ent]

What's golden about the pension schemes?

[macabethiel]

Originally Posted by AD Ent

What's golden about the pension schemes?

Look at the Private sector and compare!
No danger of the Pension Fund going bust as happened with the workers at Dexion or being stolen as per Robert Maxwell.

OK I retired over 10 years ago after 27 years in the Police Service but I get index linking each year now.
When I was working there was a good injury on duty scheme that would give you free years without contribution should you be invalided out.

One of the reasons I went back into the Police after 5 years out of the service was as a direct result of the 1979 Edmund-Davis pay deal introduced by Labour and honoured by the Conservatives.
It was by no means money for nothing working anti-social hours, weekends and dealing with some difficult 'customers' plus I took a pay cut when I went back into the service.

I saw my pension contributions rise to 11.25% of my pay. That said I could see the situation was not sustainable there is no invested pension fund and pensions are paid out of Police Budgets.
With people living longer the proportion of the budget being paid on pensions as against current employees was getting out of proportion. The only fix is work longer and pay more in.
The private sector for many people does not even pay a living wage yet alone a decent pension.

[Terranoman]

We are having our version of robert maxwell robbing us they are called the goverment.

Why are we all bickering in the race to the bottom? Private/ public who cares we are all tax paying workers being run by people screwing money left right and centre while the worker struggle to fill their cars with fuel and cupboards with food.

I save lives not banks.

[TONUP]

Originally Posted by Terranoman

We are having our version of robert maxwell robbing us they are called the goverment.

Why are we all bickering in the race to the bottom? Private/ public who cares we are all tax paying workers being run by people screwing money left right and centre while the worker struggle to fill their cars with fuel and cupboards with food.

I save lives not banks.

Well now you know what to do if the town hall, or local bank is on fire...

[solarman216]

I am with you Terranoman, wholesale corruption throughout the entire government, they line their pockets at our expense, coupled with lies and more lies, Rick