Fife Council are about to take the lead for Concessionary Rail fare charges for the elderly (Those over 60).  Currently Glasgow leads with an affordable charge of 40p for a single journey. While Fife lags behind at 50p.

Well, you may ask, how is Fife Council going to take the lead?  Is Fife going to reduce the cost and jump into the lead with a 30p fare.  No, don't be silly, the Council Shylocks are not doing that.  Very simply, at a single stroke they are aiming to abolish the pensioners 50p single fare. That is to save Fife Council £700,000 or £10.71 per year for each person over 60.

Fife Council boast they are a multimillion pound organisation with payroll costs of £625m . Their employees earn on average a whopping £25,000 per year. This compares to those over 60 with an income of about £6,000 per year. Why is a multimillion pound organisation penalising those who no longer work and have retired? The pensioners struggle to make ends meet and Fife Council are now adding to that struggle.

I suggest that they cut their wage bill by 1% instead, this may provide savings of £6.25m and it all could be found by natural  wastage.

(Article by Charles Litster)