SEB Defeated Again In Firefighter Pension Dispute

Thursday, 18 April 2019 14:21

The States Employment Board has failed in a third legal challenge over a pension row with firefighters.

The Fire and Rescue Service Association argued that the pension 'CARE' scheme imposed on staff would make them worse off - and that the SEB failed to arrange meetings when concerns were raised.

After two Employment Tribunals ruled against the SEB - the body responsible for public sector pay and work conditions took the dispute to the Royal Court.

However, Commissioner Julian Clyde-Smith ruled in favour of the FRSA.

President Craig Channing says this could have been avoided.

"We were quite happy to sit around the table with the employer. We were quite happy to come to a compromise or reach a negotiated outcome that was fair, sustainable and equitable moving forward - not just for firefighters but more importantly the public we serve.

"We feel we've been neglected and denied the opportunity to come to a resolution."

The Royal Court found that the SEB acted 'unreasonably' in failing to discuss the issue of the scheme with firefighters who were upset at the impact it was having.

Mr Channing now wants to move on and sit down with the SEB to resolve the dispute.

"Because the original tribunals didn't go their way, the States Employment Board appealed on grounds which we thought were vexatious just in an attempt to frustrate firefighters so we would drop the case, but that's not the case.

"We've got a good resolve, we knew we had a good case and hopefully now we can move forward together."

Firefighters overwhelmingly rejected the latest pay offer from the SEB, with all 84% who took part in the ballot refusing the deal.

The States Employment Board says it's disappointed with the judgement from the Royal Court and will study it in further detail before responding further.