STIRRER CAMPAIGN AGAINST AGE DISCRIMINATION

15-02-2007

Age discrimination is supposed to have been outlawed - but just try telling that to Ken Jarrett. The 71 year old from Birmingham is one of 140 workers sackedby hire firm by Enterprise Rent-A-Car because they say he's too old.

71-year old Ken is the victim of a purge by the US-owned company which is getting rid of every employee over the age of 65.

That means 32 older workers in the West Midlands are being thrown on the scrapheap, along with the others elsewhere in the country.

“I've still got lots to offer, and there've been no complaints about my work” said Ken, who used to drive and valet cars at the company's Stirchley office before being fired last week.

“In fact I know that managers actually prefer older workers because they are more reliable and careful.

“But they just want to get rid of us all and hire younger staff who are cheaper.”

That's a claim Enterprise denies. Vice-President Jim Burrell told us that the company's managers have to retire at 65, and they are simply bringing other workers into line to avoid breaking equal opportunities legislation.

He also said that staff have the right to appeal against their dismissal, but as Ken points out: “There's not much point appealing to a company who don't want to employ you.”

It seems to me that the firm are hiding behind the law on discrimination to justify their own bigoted attitude towards older staff.

Does anyone want to join my crusade to make sure that over 65's have the same employment rights as younger workers, including access to a tribunal if they're sacked?

The campaign starts here.

(This article was also published in the Birmingham Mail as part of The Stirrer's regular Thursday column. To read the rest, click here)