URTU fights for 60
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by Kathy Watson • The United Road Transport Union is urging drivers to join a campaign to cut the mandatory retirement age to 60. URTU president Mike Billingham believes the Budget plan to equalise retirement at 65 for men and women is grossly unfair to drivers.
Drivers rarely make it to 65, he says, because of the pressures of the job which are getting much worse with customer demands for just-in-time deliveries and the strain of driving on congested roads.
"Many drivers are now forced into working 15 hour days which you can withstand while you are young but which begins to tell when you get older," says Billingham. "As it stands I have never attended a retirement party, but I have been to plenty of funerals. It would be better if pension age was equalised at 60 so drivers could enjoy retirement."
Government statistics indicate that 57% of males between the ages of 60 and 65 are not working; they are only entitled to limited benefits. Independent calculations by Union Pension Services have shown that the Exchequer could save money if a common retirement age of 60 was adopted.
URTU is part of the State Pension at 60 Alliance which has just delivered a 100,000 signature petition to Downing Street.
The union is mounting a postcard campaign by drivers to give to their MPs to promote the issue. Anyone interested in supporting the campaign should contact Mike Billingham on 061-881 6245 (mobile 0850 244372).