Next step forward for pensions negotiations is `simple and achievable’ say firefighters after two-hour strike

Firefighters were on strike for a third time this morning during a two-hour walkout across England and Wales.

Fire Brigades Union general secretary, Matt Wrack, said: “The next step forward for pension negotiations is simple and achievable.

“If the government is serious about firefighters being protected from being sacked without access to their pensions as it claims to be, why won’t it draft the pension regulations accordingly?

"We have even made it easy for them by providing the necessary wording following legal advice.

“The threat of firefighters facing the sack without access to a full pension as they get older is only one aspect of our campaign, but discussions could move forward quite easily with this simple step.”

Both the FBU and the national fire service employers have received independent legal advice showing that regulations governing firefighter retirement must be drafted to ensure that promises over job and pension protection can be kept.

The FBU has provided a draft of the necessary regulations during negotiations, although the government has refused to consider it.

Fire Minister Brandon Lewis wrote to firefighters late on Friday worsening his proposals on pensions and retirement age.

No industrial action has taken place in Scotland, where the Government has committed to keeping to the terms of Lewis’ last offer while negotiations continue.