- Conference
- 2015 National Retired Members Conference
- Date
- 1 January 2015
- Decision
- Carried
The bus pass providing pensioners for free off peak bus travel in England and Wales has helped their mobility largely on a local basis. However, many pensioners find the cost of rail fares, even after using the 30% discount of a Senior Rail Card, an expensive hindrance to frequent visiting of friends and family across the UK as a whole. Unlike the Bus Pass, a combined free Rail Pass for off peak travel in all countries within the UK should make the UK an area of free movement to older and disabled people who have contributed and continue to contribute so much to the economy. In addition to encouraging public transport, such a move would reduce the volume of private cars and lead to less congestion and lessen the risks from older drivers on our roads.
Conference therefore calls on the National Retired Members? Committee to investigate and lobby for the introduction of a unified free Bus and Rail Pass to facilitate travel and encourage older people to take advance of public transport to fulfil their social, family and cultural aspirations to benefit the wider community in the UK.
Conference further calls on the National Retired Members? Committee to do everything possible to encourage the close working together of UNISON branches and other trade unions and appropriate bodies to achieve this outcome.