The Department for Communities and Local Government has said that it will raise the amount firefighters must pay towards their pensions from 1 April 2014 despite the concerns raised by the Fire Brigades Union during the recent consultation.

The same increases have also been announced in Scotland, and similar announcements from Wales and Northern Ireland appear imminent.

Responding, Matt Wrack, FBU general secretary, said: “Since their time in office, this government’s attacks on pensions and the fire and rescue service as a whole have been relentless, and yet again they have refused to listen to the concerns of firefighters.

“Firefighters are proud to work tirelessly for their communities, but the government’s response is to make their pensions unaffordable and jeopardise their retirement.

“Surely now it’s time to draw a line in the sand and say no more attacks on our pensions and no more cuts to our service.”

The increases will apply to members of both the 1992 and 2006 firefighters’ pension schemes.

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