Hello.
I’d like to see the pension age lowered for all tradespeople, and anyone who does a physically demanding job.
I’ve been a tradesman for 25 years and already have back and knee issues. I’m only 42 years old, and will struggle to continue this career until the current pension age.
I see so many pension age tradesmen, almost crippled with aches and pains and unable to enjoy their hard earned retirement.
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I fully support this, I am a 38 year old that has been a plant engineer for 20 years and from the age of 16 I had a few different jobs all heavy work. My back knees ankles hips and wrists are in constant pain. With the pain I already suffer with certainly isn’t going to get any better. I can’t see me doing this past the age of 50 so where does that leave people like us when work like this is all we know.
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It’s tough Billy. Anyone who doesn’t work a physical job, will never know what our bodies go through. I lifted carpets and solid wood flooring on my shoulders for 13 years on my own. Moved over to plumbing, heating and gas for a bit lighter work, but still comes with stress on my body. We should not be on the same work life span level as someone sitting in a nice warm office.
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I reckon retraining / free education should be made available to people in physically demanding jobs, maybe with some financial compensation that allows them to take the time off to do this. This means they can continue to contribute in another line of work.
Seems reasonable, IIRC the military pensions people out at 55 for the same reason (at 40 the average Royal Marine has the hips and knees of a 70 year old.)
This is also a good policy for bringing over typical Labour voters to balance out the more typical Thatcherite stuff Reform pushes.
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I am wondering whether older tradesmen could become consultants or trainers to pass on their knowledge and experience without the demands of the physical work. That way their skills would not be lost and they could still earn money. There might be opportunities to advise companies or to train apprentices somehow.
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I was an Airline Pilot. When I started flying the compulsory retirement age was 55. Later the compulsory retirement age moved to 65 and in my case the pensionable age moved to 67. Currently there is a shortage of experienced Pilots and many of us would like to carrying on working due to the loss of income or pension. I believe the pension should be paid upon compulsory retirement or when you fail your air crew medical. Both Australia and New Zealand have done away with the compulsory “ageist” retirement in favour of “if you pass your medical you are fit to fly”.
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Moira has a point we need to train the young, bring back skills apprenticeships, young lads with energy doing the hard work learning the skills & tricks of the trade from the older generation passing on years of knowlage.
Just like we learnt our trade skills
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