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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think we don't respect fire people enough

76 replies

Margaretinbloom · 25/02/2015 10:38

Listening some of the comments on lbc now, people don't seem to respect fire people and the job they do. They want to erode the pensions that they get when the reason they get an alright pension is because it is a risky job that not many want to do. Seems crazy to have them working until 60, I wouldn't want a 60 year old up a ladder trying to rescue me

OP posts:
Mrsmorton · 25/02/2015 10:41

A of firefighters have second jobs. Nurses don't have the luxury of that extra earning opportunity.

Mrsmorton · 25/02/2015 10:42

And they have to work til 60, underpaid and understaffed.

Not all firefighters climb ladders btw. Just like not all police officers chase suspects on a bike.

SweetsForMySweet · 25/02/2015 11:05

It's a vital service so they deserve proper conditions and it should be reflected in their pay too imho.

doodlyfiddly · 25/02/2015 11:06

No one can expect, in this day and age, to work for thirty years, retire at 50, get a £100k tax-free lump sum and a £25k a year pension. Oh, then live until possibly 80 or 90. It just doesn't work that way any more. It's nothing to do with the job they do (which I admire them for); it's just not realistic and they have to accept that.

MaxPepsi · 25/02/2015 11:10

All fire fighters do climb ladders.

They are allowed 2nd jobs, just like anyone else. They choose to work additional jobs partly to relieve boredom, partly because they need the money. Due to losing £250+ of their 4 weekly not so great salary. For a pension they are not going to get back!

YouBetterWerk · 25/02/2015 11:17

I agree, but I think the Police are not respected even more than Fire.

People quite rightly really rally round Fire when on picket lines, I always beep, show support, sign petitions, nurses got bumper stickers to support paying them more (again, quite rightly)
I doubt you'd get the same response were it the Police.

DejaVuAllOverAgain · 25/02/2015 11:17

Just because nurses get a raw deal doesn't mean firefighters should too Hmm

If firefighters signed up for the job having being promised that pension then they should still receive it. If they do change the pensions then they need to do it only to those who are going to sign up after the rules are changed. Of course they may find in the future that there may not be many too willing to sign up if both the wages and pensions are crap.

Thurlow · 25/02/2015 11:22

At least they have the right to strike.

Police don't.

Nicknacky · 25/02/2015 11:22

I'm in the position that my terms and conditions have dramatically changed since I joined my pension 12 years ago. I have to work 6 years longer, pay in more and receive a lot less.

My dad retired from the same job and I will have to work 6 years longer than he did, pay in 3% more than he did (I think) and I will receive 60k less in my lump sum and £500 less a month than he did.

I don't disagree that the pension system perhaps has to be overhauled but I think that should apply to new recruits, not existing members.

I'm no expert when it comes to pension, I just pay it and I assume I will get what I'm due but even I think it's unfair for any organisation to move the goal posts.

ghostyslovesheep · 25/02/2015 11:38

The issue isn't with Pensions as such though - it's with fitness

unlike the Police and Nurses Firefighters have to meet fitness standards in order to their job

if they don't meet those standards they will have to leave the job - right up to the age of 60

This is unfair - no other profession force you to do this - early retirement should be an option rather than loss of your job because you are no loner as fit at 58 as you where at 24

BreakingDad77 · 25/02/2015 11:45

not many want to do

From the massive competition a relative found to try to get in I wouldn't agree with this.

I do though agree its risky and should be paid as such, the same extends to armed forces where I think we do have recruitment problems.

DoJo · 25/02/2015 11:56

I don't think that those who call in to LBC are representative of the population as a whole. I am not aware of a lack of respect for firefighters in general, but there will always be people who find something to froth about for the purposes of a radio phone in show!

Original poster
Margaretinbloom · 25/02/2015 19:07

Fidly they pay 4k a year for that pension and the amount they get is only 19k a year, the 25k is with the state pension added on.

OP posts:
Milllli · 25/02/2015 19:11

Police do have to meet fitness standards Ghosty

Dangermouse1 · 25/02/2015 19:18

Milli, police and military fitness standards are related to age (so you are not expected to pass the same test at 55 as you did at 25). Firefighters have a single test for all ages - and both genders also the same standard. Independent research showed that female ffs would have an extremely low chance of being able to pass the current tests aged 60.

ghostyslovesheep · 25/02/2015 19:19

sorry - I forgot that new test came out last year. Is it just a beep test - not as rigorous as the FF tests are ?

Milllli · 25/02/2015 19:21

It is the same test up to the age of 50.

Milllli · 25/02/2015 19:22

Yep Ghosty just a beep test. Not the same as the firefighters one.

Milllli · 25/02/2015 19:24

The beep test has been done for at least 15 years.

YouBetterWerk · 25/02/2015 19:26

Ghosty it's Bleep test and push and pull test, at least it is in my Force. I was the only female to pass the push/pull. It's pretty intense.

arethereanyleftatall · 25/02/2015 19:32

My understanding is that lots of people want to be firemen, so 'a job no one wants to do' is incorrect. Those I know have a pretty cushy job, doing very very little. I know of one guy who has served for a year and still hasn't been to a fire. He spends all day getting paid to go to the gym.

TwoOddSocks · 25/02/2015 19:36

Well I actually think relative to most public sector workers fire fighters are actually treated very well. (My friend worked for a left leaning think tank that did research in this area). The job is actually less dangerous than you generally imagine and a large proportion of their time is spent doing much less demanding work than fire fires.

That said I don't think there should be a race to the bottom in terms of working conditions. However fire fighters have an incredibly strong union and are not hard done by at present as far as I can see. Nurses and teachers on the other hand....

GoodbyeToAllOfThat · 25/02/2015 19:37

I think it's the last of the "hero" jobs that remain heroic. The police and the armed forces have been tarnished by politics.

I know nothing about their pensions.

EveDallas · 25/02/2015 19:37

I'm on the fence here - I resented the Fire Service as a whole for a very long time. Both DH and I, at seperate points in our career, pretty much got off military flights from 6 month operational tours and walked straight into FF training having to provide strike cover, when we ourselves were not allowed to strike.

Then the week after returning to work from Mat Leave I had to go away for 6 weeks providing cover for another Fire service that were striking, partly because their off duty beds were being replaced with chairs.

However, I do agree that they have been shafted with regards to their pensions & gratuity (even though they are nearly double mine)

I respect the job they do but striking sets off a bad reaction in me.

PrettyFeet · 25/02/2015 20:12

I don't know any other service that are allowed to sleep during a night shift. They are also very very well looked after.

Ex was one and was off more than he worked due to taking the allotted amount of sick days even when not sick and many other days allowed for other things. etc. etc. etc. they all do.