Last December a group of judges and firefighters won a Court of Appeal case against the government.
The Court decided that changes made to their pension schemes were age discriminatory.
Both cases were ruled together, as they dealt with similar issues and had previous contradictory outcomes.
The Supreme Court refused permission for the government to appeal the judgment.
On July 14th Elizabeth Truss, who is the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, issued an announcement which included this statement:
The matter will be remitted to the Employment Tribunal in respect of the litigants in the firefighters and judicial pension schemes. It will be for the Tribunal to determine a remedy. Alongside this process, government will be engaging with employer and member representatives, as well as the devolved administrations, to help inform our proposals to the Tribunal and in respect of the other public service pension schemes.
The Government has stated the reasons for the 2015 reforms remain and that the judgment does not alter their commitment to ensuring that the cost of public service pensions are affordable for taxpayers and sustainable for the long term.
It now seems the government accepts the court’s ruling will have wide-reaching effects, which will impact, we hope favourably, on police pensions.
The full Government statement can be read here.
I’d bet this is one the Federation didn’t want the FBU to win. It’s an utter disgrace they didn’t support their members and follow suit with the FBU.
Something stinks re that.
It really makes one wonder if the Federation are under some form of influence from the Government / Home Office.
The Government, like our Forces are very good at delaying things and will find ways to worm their way out of something they don’t agree on.
With a new PM who doesn’t appear anti Police like the last one, let’s hope the right decisions are made now.
A huge well done to the FBU for standing up for what is right and fully supporting their Union members.
Let’s hope the Fed grow some, shameful that they did not support the Fire Service and challenge the unlawful challenges to our pensions.
The government response shows they acknowledge the court’s decision, but they will find ways to avoid paying out INHO