When firefighters embarked on their careers, they did so in the knowledge that they would retire at age 55.

Accordingly, they signed up to an occupational pension scheme recognising that retirement age.

By extending the retirement age the government are, in my opinion, breaching the firefighters’ contract.

Not only that, but they are putting the public at risk by expecting firefighters to work those extra five years when they may not be fit enough to carry out the tasks expected of them.

If they could guarantee that there would be some other role that they could fulfil until the new retirement age, then I don't think the firefighters would have as strong a case. But they can’t.

Consequently, firefighters are at risk of being sacked through no fault of their own. That is plainly wrong.

The government refuses to recognise this and refuses to renegotiate. Therefore, I believe, they are left with no choice but to take industrial action.

The government also needs to understand that by expecting older firefighters to go into risky situations when they may not be fit enough to do so, they are putting not only firefighters’ lives at risk but also those of the public.

Harry Bosch (via website)