Call for reduction in retirement age as life expectancy fall

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Call for reduction in retirement age as life expectancy falls

http://www.cwu.org/news/archive/call-fo ... falls.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

General secretary Billy Hayes has called on the government to stop raising the retirement age.

Addressing the retired members annual conference in Birmingham, Billy questioned the view that everyone is living longer and more healthily.

He claimed that when people retired in 2009, men lived on for an average of 19 years, women for 21 years. Now those indices have dropped to 18.3 and 20.6 years respectively.

Billy then focused on the geographical inequalities, claiming that a person living in East Dorset lives 5.5 years longer than a Mancunian and 4.3 years longer than a Liverpudlian.

The general secretary also attacked the growing cases of elderly people dying due to cold weather, with the number increasing by 29% to over 30,000 last year.

Chris Hand, chair of the youth committee, felt that the government were trying to drive a wedge between generations. He told how the idea of an old person living at home, having to decide whether to eat or have heat made him feel physically sick.

Chris told how in the North West there had been joint meetings involving youth and retired members. It was in these forums that they learned of attacks on things like the free bus pass.

"The retired members have the knowledge that we seek. You do an impeccable job, We are all one union, no one is more important than anyone else," said Chris.

Charlotte Egan, vice chair of the youth committee, declared that: "The rising cost of living is hitting us all."

Dot Gibson, general secretary of the NPC, questioned whether the government would put the retirement age down, now that life expectancy was reducing.

She attacked efforts via the media to foster intergenerational conflict. "They are trying to whip up an attack on pensioners. If people pay in they are entitled. If they are getting a load of dough, then tax them," said Dot, who questioned the claim that older people do not care about the young. "Do they think we're not bothered that they (young) have nowhere to live or work," said Dot. "It is disgusting what is happening to young people."

Dot promoted the NPC's dignity code, claiming support from Labour Health shadow Andy Burnham for the idea of a national care service, funded by taxation and free at point of delivery.

Dot also called for a defence of universal benefits, like the winter fuel allowance and free TV licence, which are coming under increasing attack.

In debate, a motion calling for the energy companies to be taken back into public ownership received enthusiastic support. Cathy Leech for the RMAC catalogued how prices to consumers had been hiked whilst those at the head of the companies helped themselves to huge pay rises and bonuses.

"The reality behind the price rises are 24,000 deaths of the elderly, babies and others," said Cathy.

A motion passed, calling for the minimum time for a home care visit to go up from 15 to 20 minutes.

Joan Moxon for the RMAC, told how a friend was left in bed all day, until he was dripping with urine. The time limit meant that the carer had to decide whether to feed or change the person.

There was debates around two motions concerning recruiting and retaining retired members and the dissemination of information relating to minutes and what the RMAC are doing.

Frank Luckings of South East Anglia called for retired members to be more actively involved in the union, not to be discarded when they stop working.

There were also motions passed calling for individuals to become members of the NPC, an increase in the winter fuel allowance and better communication of information through the branches.

Read the full conference report for more information. http://www.cwu.org/assets/_files/docume ... ce_rep.doc" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[UnhappyGremlin]

Never happen.
They're trying to raise it, presumably to the point where we die whilst at work, so as to save on pensions.

[k979aaa]

The way things are going most will be dead before retiring at this rate and if you do make it you will be far poorer than the last three generations!

[UnhappyGremlin]

The way things are going most will be dead before retiring at this rate and if you do make it you will be far poorer than the last three generations!

Think statistics show that those who will retire in about 20 years or so are already worse off, let alone anyone after that.