Firefighters working to 60: The Fire Brigades Union s perspective. CFOA People Summit 2 April 2014

Transcription

1 Firefighters working to 60: The Fire Brigades Union s perspective CFOA People Summit 2 April

2 UK government plans Tory-led coalition government 2010 Pay more - contributions 8.5% or 11% to 13.2%+ Work longer - increase the normal pension age (NPA) Get less Firefighters Pension Scheme 1992: NPA = 55 New Firefighters Pension Scheme 2006: NPA = 60 2

3 FBU campaign Survey of members 97% opposed to increasing NPA Commissioned research Institute of Occupational Medicine, Cutler and Waine Our own review of past evidence e.g. Haisman Home Office study Pensions Bulletins, Firefighter magazine Result: Government commissioned its own review of the NPA, chaired by Dr Tony Williams, with FBU representing firefighters 3

4 4 Tony Williams, Normal Pension Age for Firefighters, January

5 Redeployment NFPS 2006 imposed an NPA of 60 Promise of redeployment greater emphasis on fire safety will create a wider range of job opportunities where some experience of firefighting and other emergency work will be beneficial ODPM, Government Proposals for a New Firefighters Pension Scheme: Government response to the consultation, 21 September : FBU found just 16 posts in only 5 of the 46 fire and rescue services in England (<1%) 5

6 Williams review This review is not endorsing any aerobic fitness standards, and acknowledges the limitations of just using a discrete physiological measure (e.g. VO 2 max) to quantify overall firefighting physical performance ability However, it will use a VO 2 max of 42 ml kg- 1 min-1 for the firefighting role for the sole purpose of modelling the theoretical impact of ageing on aerobic fitness levels, and its impact on the estimated number of Fire and Rescue Service personnel fit for duty. Williams, Normal Pension Age for Firefighters, 2013: 19

7 VO 2 max declines with age VO 2 max (ml kg -1 min -1 ) Lifestyle factors maintained Lifestyle factors follow population trends Age (years) Williams, Normal Pension Age for Firefighters, 2013: 51, Figure 4.8 7

8 Worst case For a worst case scenario, where firefighters physical activity status, body mass index and smoking status follow the typical age related changes in the population, assuming a yearly decline of 0.42 ml kg-1 min-1 per year at 55 years of age, approximately 85% of firefighters would be below the minimum standard required for operational duty. By 60 years, this percentage would increase to 92%. Williams, Normal Pension Age for Firefighters, 2013: 49 8

9 Best case In the best case scenario, where firefighters maintain their physical activity status, body mass index and smoking status as they age, the distribution of VO 2 max and estimated cumulative percentage of firefighters who would be fit for operational duty (above 42 ml kg-1 min-1) can be estimated at 55 years of age, approximately 15% of firefighters would be below the minimum standard required for operational duty. By 60 years, this percentage would have increased to 23%. Williams, Normal Pension Age for Firefighters, 2013: 49 => assumes starting point 47 ml kg-1 min-1 9

10 Sample Recent data collated as part of this review process on aerobic fitness for 7774 personnel from four UK Fire and Rescue Services (comprising 6725 wholetime and 1049 retained personnel, of which 7547 were men and 227 women representing a 78.4% response rate) found the average VO 2 max in this sub-population was 46 ± 8 ml kg-1 min-1 At years of age 51% of firefighters were below 42 ml kg 1 min-1. At years 66% of firefighters were below this standard. Williams, Normal Pension Age for Firefighters, 2013: 50 10

11 Aerobic fitness - men Age / Years Very Low 3% Low 8% Fair 22% Mod 34% Good 22% Very good 8% Elite 3% < > < > < > < > < > < > < > < > < > 40 Tony Williams, Firefighter NPA review, Firefighters Pension Committee, 4 July

12 Aerobic fitness - women Age / Years Very low 3% Low 8% Fair 22% Mod 34% Good 22% Very good 8% Elite 3% < > < > < > < > < > < > < > < > < > 30 Tony Williams, Firefighter NPA review, Firefighters Pension Committee, 4 July

13 Fitness and pensions The majority of UK firefighters are not currently fit to work beyond 55 two-thirds to 85%. These firefighters were never recruited at a standard that would allow them to work beyond 55, even if they maintained their fitness. The best case scenario assumes 47 ml kg 1 min-1 and BMI of 20 at recruitment. Women firefighters would be almost completely excluded. 13

14 Capability no job, no pension Not all firefighters meet the criteria, so significant numbers will be in a position where they can no longer cope, often through loss of fitness, but the only option is to leave or have their contract terminated on capability grounds without early payment of pension. This is often a difficult process for all involved. It can be a sad, negative way to end a long career with the fire service. Williams, Normal Pension Age for Firefighters, 2013:

15 Recommendations 12.9 Fitness standard(s). It is essential to determine minimum role-related fitness standard(s) across the UK fire and rescue service. Fitness selection at recruitment. FRSs should consider informing applicants that those whose fitness is close to 42 ml kg-1 min-1 are unlikely to maintain fitness to NPA. We recommend 2.5 hours a week of fitness training should be incorporated into the daily routine of wholetime firefighters. Appropriate support and opportunities for fitness training should be provided for retained firefighters. 15 Williams, Normal Pension Age for Firefighters, 2013: 146

16 Recommendations Early leavers. Firefighters over the age of 55 who can no longer meet the fitness requirement could be allowed to leave early on an actuarially reduced pension. The pension should be calculated so there is no overall financial advantage or disadvantage to the firefighter (or to the pension scheme) from the member leaving before the NPA. This would help address any equality issues in relation to women firefighters and disabled firefighters. Williams, Normal Pension Age for Firefighters, 2013:

17 Fundamentally flawed A final decision on the most appropriate NPA can only be made when a decision is made on minimum fitness standard(s). Williams, Normal Pension Age for Firefighters, 2013:

18 Where we are now Public Service Pension Act 2013 NPA of 60 Heads of Agreement no agreement Proposals are unworkable no job, no pension Negotiations FBU conference 16 May 2013 voted for a ballot for industrial action Nine short strikes September 2013 to January

19 Wider lessons Evidence-based policy Expert research Communication with members Political campaigning Mass meetings of members and officials 19

20 People Summit #PeopleSummit