The CAADE Centre Charity

Established 1988

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Fighting for the rights of Seniors everywhere

CAADE and the 'Campaign Against Age Discrimination in Employment'

The Campaign Against Age Discrimination in Employment was founded in 1988 by Philip and Bernice Walker. After a number of years 'suffering' the social and economic effects of ageism in employment, Philip considered it about time 'someone' fought back and with the active support of his wife Bernice started the full-time National Campaign by contacting Newspapers, Radio and Television Producers, Employers and most of all MP's of all shades.

The story of the Campaign is the subject of a book in itself but that it was needed at all was the most amazing fact. The Conservative Government of the day denied there was any such thing as 'age discrimination' and challenged us to prove it. We already had calculated ourselves, (others by then had joined in the Campaign team) that there were upwards of two million people over the age of 45 'suffering' from the prejudice of a majority of employers and settling to long-term unemployment. To many we were purely a source of mild amusement.

We could not prove our 'statistics' at the time but with the help of a number of willing Senior University Academics, the quest was set. History too was giving us good evidence as we looked at the situation in the USA and studied the ADEA (the Age Discrimination in Employment Act), passed in 1966.

Allies were hard to come by in 1988, mainly because of public apathy and ignorance of the subject but Philip insisted immediately that there could be no compromise here either, the UK must also enact Legislation.  By now a small group was meeting but only a half dozen people in the whole of the UK agreed with Philip that Legislation had to be the answer.

How times have changed.  Fifteen years on we are in a situation where fully comprehensive legislation against age discrimination in employment will be enacted in the UK by December of 2006 at the very latest. The story is a long, and often painful one, but there is no doubt that Philip and Bernice through CAADE were the founding parents of the Campaign in the UK.

The 45+ group in the UK were totally unrepresented in the early stages and it must be said that some groups who could have helped preferred to 'sit on their hands'. However we are pleased to say that today there is virtually no opposition to our demands - even amongst many employers. There are many 'groups' helping 45+ Seniors to survive today, even though public apathy is still rife. Our job today is to make sure that the legislation is 'good' and that it is 'enacted' properly.

The key to everything was really what was going on in Europe.  Proposals aimed at outlawing workplace discrimination on the grounds of religion, disability, sexual orientation and AGE, were approved in October 2000 by the European Economic and Social Policy Council. The new Directive based upon the now famed 'Article 13' of the Amsterdam Treaty was agreed after the Council accepted amendments put forward by the UK and others to improve the clarity and effectiveness of the measures.

What this meant then was that the Government had no choice but to develop age discrimination law irrespective of the evaluation process of the 'Codes'. They have been given an absolute date on this of 2006 when legislation must be in place. The expectation is that no earlier date than that can be expected.

So the emphasis shifted from 'if' to 'when'. What is important now is to get the law right. The law must suit employers as well as employees and particular emphasis must be placed on the transparency of 'information' and the education of all parties.

The eight principles (explained elsewhere in this website- first developed by CAADE) must have flesh developed on them. Employers would possibly fear a rush of litigation claims, so clarity must be of absolute importance. The Framing of any legislation must take account of both employer and employee needs. Any enforcement of law should be seen as a last resort so therefore the regulation of all these changes must benefit everyone.

Some have suggested that a 'composite' legislative approach is the only way
to go. CAADE and its partners think otherwise. Looking at the evidence provided us by Northern Ireland and New Zealand, a 'Single Legislative Act' makes a lot more sense.

So the UK has an ultimatum deadline of the end of 2006 to comply with all the rulings of the EU Equal Treatment Directive.

 (The Directive Text and accompanying EU Action Plan for fighting discrimination is on: www.europa.eu.int )

Many would conclude that CAADE's Campaign work is over and done with now and that as an 'entity' success could only ever lead to extinction.  The Campaign's work will never be over, there will always be someone trying to cheat on the over 45's. So be sure, though only a small part of the work that the CAADE organisation does today, the campaigning will always be alive and wide awake!

Today CAADE's campaigning contacts are worldwide.  In every corner of the World where 'age discrimination' is a problem you can be sure someone from CAADE is talking to them about solutions. Even in the USA, where first we searched for clues, there are many people still suffering from ADE.  They call or email us and we are still happy to get involved.

CAADE the Campaign was intended initially as a six month attack on Government whilst those involved found work again. For two people at least that six months campaign is still as fierce - even fifteen years later..

Philip Walker.

-----------------------------------MORE  READING ON THE  CAMPAIGN-------------------------------------------

                 F.A.Q.'s   BACKGROUND STATISTICS   WORLDWIDE PICTURE                                                                   LEGISLATION v. CODES

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                                 The current CAADE Campaign Lead Team is:

Philip Walker (Chair), Mrs Bernice Walker (Secretary), Rick Powell (Scottish CAADE), and Chris Sewell (Trustee and London Representative) Plus dozens of independent campaigners and activists supported by CAADE's information database.

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