Firefighters' pay offer announced
The National Employers for Fire & Rescue Services have made a pay offer to the Fire Brigades Union (FBU). The offer includes a four per cent rise on all basic pay rates and CPD payments, in addition to extending the minimum occupational maternity pay to 26 week’s full-pay. The offer also includes an enhanced retainer fee structure for on-call firefighters, to be introduced from January 2025.
Throughout 2024 both sides of the NJC engaged in productive and constructive talks around reform of the pay structure, these discussions will continue into 2025.
Councillor Nick Chard, Chair of the National Employers’ said:
“We believe that this pay offer represents another important step forward for the NJC and the sector as a whole. Extending occupational maternity pay to 26 weeks at full-pay, will ensure greater support for our highly valued female firefighters, and speaks to our ambition of attracting more women into operational roles.”
“A year-ago the NJC found a way to avoid dispute through discussion. We know the real testament of success for the NJC is not just in avoiding a dispute, but in building stability in the years that follow. We hope this offer can result in an agreement that is fair, acceptable to both sides and rewards employees for their hard work and dedication. We hope this pay rise can be in the pockets of firefighters by 1 July.”
Notes to editors
- The National Joint Council (NJC) for Local Authority Fire & Rescue Services is the joint employer and employee representative body that sets the pay, terms, and conditions framework for approx. 48,000 uniformed employees in the fire service across the UK, including firefighters and control staff but not including senior management posts.
- Employer representatives on the NJC are drawn from the Local Government Association, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Board, Welsh Local Government Association and the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service Board. Employee representatives are drawn from the Fire Brigades Union.