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01/03/2006
Retained firefighters win equal pay and pensions
Retained firefighters have won the right to equal pensions and sick pay.
The House of Lords ruling will allow over 15,000 retained firefighters across the UK to have access to the firefighters pension scheme.
The case, which was brought by firefighters in Kent and Berkshire, claimed that they were treated unlawfully because they were part-time workers.
The ruling could also pave the way to changes in employment rights for other part-time workers.
The UK has around 15,000 retained firefighters who are employed outside main urban centres "on call" for between 120 and 168 hours a week. They are employed on the basis that they have other jobs, but have to work or live close to the fire stations where they are "retained" so they can respond quickly to emergencies.
The Fire Brigades Union, which supported the case throughout, said that the case would "secure fairness and justice" for every retained firefighter in the country.
FBU General Secretary Matt Wrack said: "This momentous decision paves the way to ending 60 years of discrimination against firefighters working retained duty. Retained firefighters are first-class firefighters and will no longer have to accept second-class employment rights.
"No longer will we have firefighters working retained duty serving their communities for 30 years being left without a pension. Having secured holiday rights, sick pay rights and proper time off, we have now taken a major step to securing pensions."
Union solicitor Richard Arthur said: "This case will impact on hundreds of thousands of part-time workers who will be able to use the regulations to get equal treatment. It is a truly momentous decision."
(KMcA/GB)
The House of Lords ruling will allow over 15,000 retained firefighters across the UK to have access to the firefighters pension scheme.
The case, which was brought by firefighters in Kent and Berkshire, claimed that they were treated unlawfully because they were part-time workers.
The ruling could also pave the way to changes in employment rights for other part-time workers.
The UK has around 15,000 retained firefighters who are employed outside main urban centres "on call" for between 120 and 168 hours a week. They are employed on the basis that they have other jobs, but have to work or live close to the fire stations where they are "retained" so they can respond quickly to emergencies.
The Fire Brigades Union, which supported the case throughout, said that the case would "secure fairness and justice" for every retained firefighter in the country.
FBU General Secretary Matt Wrack said: "This momentous decision paves the way to ending 60 years of discrimination against firefighters working retained duty. Retained firefighters are first-class firefighters and will no longer have to accept second-class employment rights.
"No longer will we have firefighters working retained duty serving their communities for 30 years being left without a pension. Having secured holiday rights, sick pay rights and proper time off, we have now taken a major step to securing pensions."
Union solicitor Richard Arthur said: "This case will impact on hundreds of thousands of part-time workers who will be able to use the regulations to get equal treatment. It is a truly momentous decision."
(KMcA/GB)
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