Report - Fire Brigades Union

More documents

Recommendations

Info

SECTION D — PENSIONS included papers on cap and share and on options for the future. Cap and share is a method that is being adopted in a number of public sector schemes to reduce the risk of pension cost increases to the employers. In brief, if actuarial factors show that the cost of the scheme has increased then members have to share the cost of the increase. Once the employers’ share reaches a cap determined by the Treasury then members have to meet the entire increased cost. Members share the cost or bear the cost by increasing contributions or taking a cut in their benefits. CLG introduced this paper and explained that cap and share would be imposed on the firefighters’ pension schemes following their next valuation in 2011. That valuation would be used to examine how the schemes have fared since 2007. Changes to assumed rates of inflation, pay increases, life expectancy etc will be costed and subjected to the cap and share arrangement. Falls in the stock market will not be subject to this regime. The FBU outlined that there was much more detail required on this issue before any decisions could be made and highlighted that the risk-sharing element of the decision would have to be considered in great detail, especially in the 1992 FPS, due to it being a closed scheme. CLG also introduced a paper, Options for the Future, which included tiered contributions, fixed commutation, ending final salary pension schemes, raising the normal retirement age and a more flexible retirement process. CLG suggested that members of the Firefighters’ Pension Committee should say which options were palatable and which ones were not. The FBU made it quite clear that until further information was made available, any discussion was premature. CLG was also reminded that the NFPS was introduced as a cost-saving scheme and the effect of its introduction has not yet been measured. CLG was adamant however that whatever the result of the next general election, substantial further savings would have to be made. Their attitude was that because the FPS is more expensive than the NFPS, it is the FPS that will be the target for savings. The FBU also stated that all the other options suggested would need to be explained fully including any proposed savings to the scheme highlighted before any decisions on them being acceptable or not could be taken. The FBU suggested that this work was undertaken before any further options paper was put before the committee for its consideration. After a debate on this suggestion CLG reluctantly agreed to provide further information to a future FPC. CLG made it plain, however, that they fully expect major changes will need to be made to the FPS, and it is clear that their preferred option would be to close the FPS altogether and move all members into the NFPS. In addition to the discussion that was taking place at the Firefighters’ Pension Committee meetings the government announced that John Hutton would chair an Independent Public Service Pensions Commission structural review of public sector pensions for the 2011 budget. At the 38th meeting of the Firefighters’ Pension Committee, held on 17 November 2010, CLG explained that the level of savings required from the spending review equated to an increase in employee contributions of around 3%. CLG explained that these would be phased in from April 2012 and that with the introduction of tiered contributions for more senior roles this would equate to employee contributions in the Firefighters’ Pension Scheme rising to around 17%. This was described as a necessary cash injection exercise and that further benefit changes would be implemented in 2014 following further recommendations from phase two of the Hutton review. Members were informed of this on 19 November 2010 in circular 2010HOC0712SS which outlined the imposed employee contribution levy and what it would mean for the Firefighters’ Pension Scheme (FPS), the New Firefighters’ Pension Scheme (NFPS) and the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS). Independent Public Service Pensions Commission On 22 June 2010 circular 2010HOC0421SS informed members that John Hutton had been appointed to chair an Independent Public Service Pensions Commission, which had been set up to review public sector pensions. On 28 June 2010 an invitation was sent to submit evidence and views for consideration by the commission. The FBU took up this invitation and submitted evidence to the commission on 3 August 2010. On 9 September 2010 the FBU, along with other public sector unions, took part in a round-table discussion with John Hutton and raised serious concerns with some of the proposals that were being discussed as part of the ongoing review. The initial report from John Hutton was released on 7 October 2010 and circular 2010HOC0638MW, issued to all members on 8 October 2010, outlined what the report spelt out – that public sector workers could look forward to working longer, paying more and getting less. Attached to the circular was a mythbuster which was designed to give examples of inaccuracies that were being spread about the firefighters’ pension schemes and some counter-positions that members could use to give a more balanced view. On 1 November 2010 the pensions commission put out a further call for evidence for its final report which was due to be released in spring 2011 in time for the budget. This request was in the form of 25 specific questions and asked for specific information on issues such as scheme designs and risk sharing. The FBU was also invited to a further round table meeting which took place on 2 December 2010 and once again raised serious concerns around the direction the review was heading, especially following the Treasury’s decision to impose the 3% employee contribution levy. The closing date for evidence was 17 December 2010 and the FBU submitted a response in line with this timescale. This response was distributed to officials on 17 December 2010 as an attachment to circular 2010HOC0760SS and was posted on the FBU website. 94 FBU Annual Report 2011
Section AIF 2010 Introduction The management committee of the accident and injury fund comprised: Vice president Alan McLean National officer for AIF Paul Woolstenholmes Executive council members – January to May 2010: Bro Roddy Robertson Region 1 Bro Jeremy Pagan Region 4 Bro Ian Leahair Region 10 Bro Stewart Brown NGLC Executive council members – June to December 2010: Bro Roddy Robertson Region 1 Bro Ian Murray Region 4 Bro Ian Leahair Region 10 Bro Stewart Brown LGBT The accident and injury fund department urges all officials at brigade and branch level to ensure that members adhere to the rules of the fund with particular attention to time limits required for submitting claims. FBU Annual Report 2011 95
Page 1:
The Fire Brigades Union Executive C
Page 4 and 5:
MICK SHAW President MATT WRACK Gene
Page 6 and 7:
Executive council members (continue
Page 8 and 9:
Section D Pensions 91 Section E AIF
Page 10 and 11:
8 FBU Annual Report 2011
Page 12 and 13:
Page 14 and 15:
SECTION A — NATIONAL JOINT COUNCI
Page 16 and 17:
Page 18 and 19:
Page 20 and 21:
Page 22 and 23:
Page 24 and 25:
Page 26 and 27:
Page 28 and 29:
Page 30 and 31:
Page 32 and 33:
SECTION B — FIRE AND RESCUE SERVI
Page 34 and 35:
Page 36 and 37:
Page 38 and 39:
Page 40 and 41:
Page 42 and 43:
Page 44 and 45:
Page 46 and 47: SECTION B — FIRE AND RESCUE SERVI
Page 84 and 85: SECTION C — TUC AND LABOUR MOVEME
Page 94 and 95: SECTION D — PENSIONS On 8 Decembe
Page 98 and 99: SECTION E — AIF 2010 Accident and
Page 100 and 101: SECTION F — LEGAL REPORT absence
Page 102 and 103: SECTION F — LEGAL REPORT brunt of
Page 104 and 105: SECTION G — INTERNAL ADMINISTRATI
Page 142 and 143: 140 FBU Annual Report 2011
Page 144 and 145: SECTION H — EDUCATION The review
Page 146 and 147:
SECTION H — EDUCATION The final s
Page 148 and 149:
SECTION H — EDUCATION two worksho
Page 150 and 151:
SECTION H — EDUCATION The new FBU
Page 152 and 153:
Page 154 and 155:
SECTION I — FAIRNESS AT WORK Ther
Page 156 and 157:
Page 158 and 159:
SECTION J — HEALTH & SAFETY shown
Page 160 and 161:
SECTION J — HEALTH & SAFETY WCPSs
Page 162 and 163:
SECTION J — HEALTH & SAFETY a num
Page 164 and 165:
SECTION J — HEALTH & SAFETY These
Page 166 and 167:
SECTION J — HEALTH & SAFETY CFOA
Page 168 and 169:
SECTION K — ACCOUNTS 2010 AND FIN
Page 170 and 171:
Page 172 and 173:
Page 174 and 175:
Page 176 and 177:
Page 178 and 179:
Page 180 and 181:
Page 182 and 183:
Page 184 and 185:
Page 186:
show all

Report - Fire Brigades Union

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?