1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148 
PDA's benevolent fund isn't the first URTU members already have one
Page 17
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
I READ WITH interest Rikki Chequer's column (CM 18 December 2008) that lauded the Professional Drivers Association's proposed initiative to assist drivers who have suffered misfortune by setting up a benevolent fund. He states that it is something that "should have happened a long time ago".
Well, I'm pleased to say that it is something that did happen a long time ago. The United Road Transport Union (URTU) has been assisting its members with a benevolent fund for many years.
The fund helps URTU members who have been charged with offences in relation to road traffic acts while following their employment.
It provides free legal representation in court should an URTU member be in a position where their licence is at risk and financial assistance to alleviate the hardship that might result from the imposition of fines for certain road traffic offences.
James Bower
Communications manager United Road Transport Union
Rikki Chequer says: The URTU scheme is for URTU members; the PDA initiative, if successful, will encompass all professional drivers in our industry; induding those who feel a union or even an industry professional body membership is not for them.
As far as the concept has been explained to me by the PDA, while the start-up is being organised via PDA members, it is to be a separate totally benevolent trust for the benefit of all in the industry who are in need.
Many other industries and professions have such funds. Individuals and companies within those industries contribute simply because it is non-political and serves those in the industry who are in need, regardless of affiliations. That is what this industry has been missing.