The public service pensions disputes of 2011/12 saw the acceptance or imposition of detrimental changes to pension funds for local government and health workers, teachers and civil servants, albeit the damage was limited by the campaign in opposition which included - on 30 November 2011, the largest strike seen in this country for decades.
One group of public service workers were split off from this dispute, however, as the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) and the Government held longer running talks about the separate pension fund for firefighters. Those talks appear now to have reached an impasse and the FBU are to ballot their members for action (http://www.fbu.org.uk/?p=6819).
The partial retreat by London Mayor, Boris Johnson, on proposals for the closure of fire stations (http://www.brixtonblog.com/clapham-fire-station-saved-following-community-campaign/14173) demonstrates the potential political power of community and trade union mobilisation to defend the fire service.
The thousands who have been mobilised to defend fire stations are an obvious constituency to support a fight for fair pensions for firefighters. - and the FBU should call for support from all those of us ready to provide it.
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