RETIRED, NOT RESIGNED

29 R MT general secretary Eddie Dempsey and regional organiser Steve Skelly presented a number of long service badges at a meeting of Cardiff branch which took place at Cardiff Arms Park. 25-year awards were given to Neil Cordy, Barrie Willacott and David Morgan. 10-year badges were given to Jason Landa and Dawn Callaghan. There was also a special presentation for Big Roger Fowler on his retirement after 39 years of dedicated activism. Eddie Dempsey spoke very highly of Roger and the influence he had on him when he first joined the union and attended the South Wales and West Regional Council, when Roger was the regional council president. He presented Roger with an engraved tankard and bottle of his favourite Grey Goose Vodka. Roger was an active member of the union’s Disabled Members Advisory Committee (DMAC) over the last six years of his career and was thrilled and humbled that DMAC members attended on the night, travelling all the way from Exeter, Liverpool and Leeds to spend the evening with him. It was an indication of the measure of the respect and love that he has earned across the union. ACTIVE: Retired RMT member Arthur Richardson addressed AGM delegates in Glasgow this year on behalf of retired RMT members on campaigns for pensioners’ rights A re you retired, or approaching retirement? Do you agree that people don’t have to stop being active after they retire? There’s still plenty to do – and not just in the garden! Plenty to fight and organise for: campaigns, recruitment, as well as the pleasure of meeting up with like-minded people for social activities, without the worry of having to get up next morning for an early start! As secretary of the South Wales & West retired members’ branch, we recruit retired workers and help with workplace recruitment in our region. Not only have our activists got a bit more free time, they have plenty of workplace and union experience to offer as well. And, of course, today’s workers are tomorrow’s pensioners, so it’s important that we work together and support each other. A decent state pension is worth fighting for, and RMT recognises this – although unions have traditionally focused on occupational pensions. The UK has the lowest state pension among developed countries according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Recent changes to the state pension mean that today’s workers; many of whom are in short-term, insecure or part- time employment, will probably not qualify for the full state pension which now requires 35-years of NI contributions. Two million pensioners in the UK live in poverty, most of them after working hard all their lives. Isn’t that worth a fight? Take a look at the RMT’s Retired Workers’ Charter and you’ll see several issues that represent the vital fight for decency and dignity in retirement. As well as joining your local/regional retired activists’ branch see www.rmt.org.uk for details and don’t forget to apply for your RMT Retirement Benefit (form F3, available from your Branch Secretary, or on-line at www.rmt.org.uk). Many retired members do forget to claim it or don’t know about it! The RMT Pensions Officer is Paul Norris, and you can contact him at: p.norris@rmt.org.uk Enjoy your retirement – but enjoy it even more by remaining an active and proud member of a union which fights for its members on all fronts. See you on the picket lines! Retired activist Kevin Williams calls on others to join local retired activists’ branches CARDIFF AWARDS RETIRED, NOT RESIGNED R MT regional organiser John Watson presents Martin Devreede of Birmingham Engineering branch with his 50 year service badge. 50 IN BRUM