The London Central Employment Tribunal handed down judgment on 14th February 2017 in a test case concerning claims by 5,000 firefighters of age discrimination in relation to the transitional provisions attached the 2015 reforms to the Firefighters’ Pension Scheme. The claimants contended that this was unlawful age discrimination because the transitional provisions permitted firefighters who were within 14 years of normal pension age to remain in the more generous old Firefighters’ Pension Scheme. Employment Judge Lewzey dismissed the claim, on the basis that the older firefighters had a legitimate expectation that no major changes would be made to their pension entitlements when they were close to retirement, and so that the transitional provisions were a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim.
John Cavanagh KC acted for the Home Office and the Welsh Government and Adrian Lynch KC acted for the Fire and Rescue Authorities.
