Article: Ageing drivers to be kicked off trains

[ozbob]

From Courier Mail click here!

Ageing drivers to be kicked off trains

Ageing drivers to be kicked off trains
Article from: The Courier-Mail

By Steven Wardill

April 26, 2008 12:00am

QUEENSLAND Rail will force almost one in five of its drivers to retire over the next decade despite expanding demand for coal and passenger services.

The State Government-owned rail company has retained a policy phased out in most other jurisdictions which forces drivers to retire at age 65 regardless of their health.

With more than 18 per cent of Queensland Rail drivers currently aged 55 or older, about 473 of the company's 2615 train crew will have to go over the next 10 years.

Replacing just the retiring drivers will cost the company more than $66 million, with training for each individual priced at $140,000.

The policy is in contrast to the push by governments for aged employees to stay in the workforce because of the nationwide skills crisis affecting numerous industries.

Some states, such as Victoria, pay train drivers a tax-free bonus to stay beyond 65.

Queensland Rail has insisted it could replace its drivers and meet the extra demand, however, it admitted the 65 years age limit might have to be reviewed because of "factors such as the employment market".

The company said it had received more than 3500 applicants for driver jobs in 2007, with 349 passing the selection process so far.

"QR doesn't experience any difficulties attracting new drivers," QR said in a written statement. "This is due to competitive salaries and rewarding job duties on offer amid a dynamic organisation."

However, the company has reduced the time it spends on training new drivers for its Citytrain network from 12 to nine months, which follows a shortage of crew last year.

"Taking into consideration the experience of an individual applicant, this has been possible due to one-on-one tuition and improvements to training," the company said.

One driver being forced to retire this year is Jim Johnson who has worked for Queensland Rail for more than 38 years.

Mr Johnson has been told that he must retire on his 65th birthday on June 27, meaning he will be hit with a massive taxation bill because his year's wages and his retirement benefits will all fall in the same financial year.

Requests to extend his employment by just days have been rejected by Queensland Rail.

Mr Johnson said that despite some extra weight he had no health problems and had passed all his annual medical examinations.

"I reckon I have got another four or five years," Mr Johnson said.

"I haven't had any problem for years and years. There is nothing wrong with me.

"I would like to keep going but you just can't with this railway," he said.

[ozbob]

Providing medical requirements are met, there is no reason why people should be forced to retire at 65 years.

This is discrimination.  If Prime Ministers can continue on, why not drivers?

Admin

[mufreight]

Train drivers generally are highly professional and their levels of experience are not gained in a few months, it is an accumulation of years of on the job experience.
Stress levels are now higher than ever before and the levels of physical effort which in the past the job required and which contributed to a healthy standard of fitness is now less.
Once drivers reach 60 I would agree that they should be subject to more frequent medical checks, every six months rather than every year as at present and provided that they are fit they should be allowed to continue untill 70 and so minimise the loss of that valuable accumulated experience.
In the days of steam in some states provided that they passed their medicals drivers could on applying annually for an extension work on till they reached the age of 70.
Can QR afford to loose their experience?