[Archived] The General Election 2015

[imy9]

Again you appear to have not bothered to read the reports, merely the headlines. The old school unions will still be allowed to strike, no problem there at all. The government are trying to make it that those concerned have to at least have a decent turn out at their ballots. No more of the 40% voted of which 75% said yes to strike action. Ridiculous that you can bring a service to its knees on the back of 40% turn out of which not even all agreed.

P.S. completely agree about the 10% payrises. Although it is being paid to ALL MP's. Hope the Labour ones are giving theirs away to charity. They're not? .. well I never.

Why not allow people cast votes via email or text? It is 2015 and turnout would be higher.

Secondly why is 40% not good enough for Unions but 30 odd per cent is when it comes to electing the government?!

[Gav]

Again you appear to have not bothered to read the reports, merely the headlines. The old school unions will still be allowed to strike, no problem there at all. The government are trying to make it that those concerned have to at least have a decent turn out at their ballots. No more of the 40% voted of which 75% said yes to strike action. Ridiculous that you can bring a service to its knees on the back of 40% turn out of which not even all agreed.

P.S. completely agree about the 10% payrises. Although it is being paid to ALL MP's. Hope the Labour ones are giving theirs away to charity. They're not? .. well I never.

Absolutely ridiculous that a government with only 37% of the vote can play politics with people's rights.

[Biddy]

Secondly why is 40% not good enough for Unions but 30 odd per cent is when it comes to electing the government?!

It shouldn't be. But gladly a low turn out at an election will not stop the country functioning.

Absolutely ridiculous that a government with only 37% of the vote can play politics with people's rights.

Aye, but that's not the point. Although I note you ignore the bit about Labour MP's and their pay rises.

[ABBEY]

Not often I agree with you Imy but you are spot on . Just an excuse for Tories to put the thatcher jack boot in again .

[Gav]

It shouldn't be. But gladly a low turn out at an election will not stop the country functioning.

Aye, but that's not the point. Although I note you ignore the bit about Labour MP's and their pay rises.

Workers should be allowed to strike if they're being treated unfairly, the Tories are trying to further weaken the unions as it weakens the Labour party, its not rocket science.

Miliband was going after the hedge funds, they fund the Tories, slap the hedge funds with stamp duty and that weakens the Tories.

I’ve not even started on fox hunting, is that what those Tory idiots are concerned about? Bleedin fox hunting? only a few weeks into a new parliament?

I’m angry today, good job we’re not playing tonight, I’d def get myself into trouble somehow!

[Lancs Rover]

Workers should be allowed to strike if they're being treated unfairly, the Tories are trying to further weaken the unions as it weakens the Labour party, its not rocket science.

Miliband was going after the hedge funds, they fund the Tories, slap the hedge funds with stamp duty and that weakens the Tories.

Ive not even started on fox hunting, is that what those Tory idiots are concerned about? Bleedin fox hunting? only a few weeks into a new parliament?

Im angry today, good job were not playing tonight, Id def get myself into trouble somehow!

I think you probably would, GAV. But it would be funny to watch. 😀

[thenodrog]

Tired old Old Labour rhetoric. Yawn.

[Gav]

I think you probably would, GAV. But it would be funny to watch.

I've put some Andy Williams on the ipod, not exactly Rock N Roll but its done the trick, along with some Aussie wickets, calm now

[Guest]

I don't think this is just about the Tories. They seem to have their finger on the pulse about this one. I know private sector workers are largely unsympathetic when strikes are practically making life more awkward for them. What little sympathy is generally there is waning.

[T J Hooker]

As a very low paid private sector worker i do get i bit cheesed off seeing people that are already on good or reasonable money in public sector professions going on strike every 2 minutes, although i admit its likeky just jealousy on my part as most people working in places like mine dont have anybody(a union etc..) To fight our corner for or with us and we cant afford to start or sign up to private unions.

[Lancs Rover]

As a very low paid private sector worker i do get i bit cheesed off seeing people that are already on good or reasonable money in public sector professions going on strike every 2 minutes, although i admit its likeky just jealousy on my part as most people working in places like mine dont have anybody(a union etc..) To fight our corner for or with us and we cant afford to start or sign up to private unions.

Unions are far from perfect. But they do act as a brake on management and help members out in various ways . That said, you're caught between a rock and a hard place there, TJ. Depends on whether you trust your employer, I suppose.

[T J Hooker]

no cant trust the employers where I work, up to now anyway(although there has been a big change at boardroom level recently so there is a glimmer of hope) like most factories and workplaces I've worked at any grievances I or anybody else may have I has to be taken to the hr manager and hr have an entire dept whos purpose it is to find legal ways to shut us up and milk us for all they can on behalf of the board.

[Guest]

I've never worked in the public sector, so like most others, I've just learned how to play the game with no assistance. The plus side is that it gives you a bit of mettle for negotiating skills - when to push for something, when to draw the line... when to become pally with your boss, when not to... I'm guessing that's something that public sector workers don't have to go through.

I think Unions are fast becoming a tainted name in the modern era, particularly because workers who aren't involved in the dispute are adversely affected. They need to change how they operate so as not to p*ss off the rest of the country's workers.

[ABBEY]

I couldn't think of not being in a union .. Fought my case a few times

[Lancs Rover]

I think public sector work is more or less the same as private sector. One difference probably is that the unions are accepted if not always liked in the public sector. I think strikes are pretty rare though. Most of the stuff they do is around representing workers to management. It's a big help especially because - in my opinion obviously - a lot of public sector 'outcomes' are not easily measured. So there's a lot of power stuff going on. Teaching for example. I teach in probably dozens of schools each year. Those OFSTED categories are not a good way to compare schools and teachers. Too artificial. Unions often end up trying to prevent individual members of staff being stitched up by management according to criteria that's really just somebody's opinion.

[thenodrog]

I couldn't think of not being in a union .. Fought my case a few times

That's what they are for. Using their membership for political purposes is not what they are there for.

no cant trust the employers where I work, up to now anyway(although there has been a big change at boardroom level recently so there is a glimmer of hope) like most factories and workplaces I've worked at any grievances I or anybody else may have I has to be taken to the hr manager and hr have an entire dept whos purpose it is to find legal ways to shut us up and milk us for all they can on behalf of the board.

TJ.... how often do you apply for other jobs? Seems like you need to unless you have become happy in your comfort zone. there's a big wide world out there and low pay and bosses that you can't trust sounds like something you should be walking away from.

[T J Hooker]

Getting another job is a risk that you can only take if you have money to fall back on if the new job doesn't work out and also I've worked at my current place for quite a while now so id lose out on a good sized pay out in redundancy money if the place finally went under.

[Guest]

Just play it smartly. If you have an incline that the place is in trouble, no harm in quietly looking elsewhere for a better deal. Also good for practising interviews if you haven't been to any for a while. Nothing to lose, other than arranging a suitable time to do it.

[Biddy]

Getting another job is a risk that you can only take if you have money to fall back on if the new job doesn't work out and also I've worked at my current place for quite a while now so id lose out on a good sized pay out in redundancy money if the place finally went under.

So it sounds like you have got used to the comfort zone.

Why would you need money to fall back on if you left? Plenty of people move jobs every year to better themselves, have a new challenge or if you simply don't like where you are working. As long as you find a job before you hand in your notice, you don't need a nest egg. If you don't like the new job too much, start looking again. Needing money sounds like a cop out.

Also Phil is right, get some interview practise in especially if you think the place is going downhill. Compulsory redundancy pay is peanuts in reality so unless they have great terms (which I can't see if they were to go under) then the money will run out pretty soon. I certainly wouldn't rely on it.

[yoda]

Absolutely ridiculous that a government with only 37% of the vote can play politics with people's rights.

After watching those 4 candidates for the Labour leadership with Andrew Neil this morning, you will have to get used to the in power Tories for a long time to come.

That is the real failing of Labour.

[thenodrog]

After watching those 4 candidates for the Labour leadership with Andrew Neil this morning, you will have to get used to the in power Tories for a long time to come.

That is the real failing of Labour.

Not forgetting the immense contribution of the SNP.

[T J Hooker]

Yea where clearly living in different worlds socially and financially speaking😉 i respect and understand what your both saying but you dont get where I and others in my position at the bottom end of the spectrum are coming from.

Yes compulsory redundancy pay may be peanuts, but it would be a big enough bag of peanuts to keep me afloat for a while whilst i looked for a BETTER job. Generally spesking the only jobs locally that im like likely to get wouldnt be to different wage wise, so its more a case of better the devil.....

But as i say a new board has taken control and they are starting to say all the right things, but obviously their priority right now is getting the company back on an even keel.

[yoda]

Yea where clearly living in different worlds socially and financially speaking i understand what your both saying but you dont get where I and others in my position at the bottom end of the spectrum are coming from.

How long have you been in this position TJ and who do you blame ?

[Al]

Not forgetting the immense contribution of the SNP.

Yes Theno. A couple of years ago the SNP were a help to Labour but now because of Sturgeon and Salmond with their separatist policies, their support has rendered the Socialists practically unelectable.

[Guest]

So it sounds like you have got used to the comfort zone.

I think I've done that in the past. I suppose if things seem steady and you're happy enough with the income, it happens. I eventually ended up realising I wasn't progressing with my career or learning anything new, although it took me about 4 years to realise it.