Food Banks

[Suffs Profile]

In every walk of life there are selfish, unpleasant people who abuse power or put themselves first. Generalising about groups of people based on bad examples is quite a dangerous road to go down.

Quite so. It is terribly sad that unions, which have stood up and helped so many, have got such a bad press, not only from those who don't want workers to have rights (your chimp example ) but from those who get swept along with the perks as per my example. I certainly belonged when I was working for a large company. I always felt that if a right I enjoyed was won for me by a union, it was only fair to belong to it and they hopefully would have supported me if I had been treated unfairly. I belonged to Unison and it was interesting to read their magazine to see how those who were really in need of support (especially in the public sector) were being treated in the workplace. It is, of course, a discussion that could go on all night. Maybe, just sometimes, they cut off their nose to spite their face but there are arguments both for and against that.

I agree EM ... I became a member of Unison when I worked for the local authority ... their support to us all as we went through a long drawn out and very difficult restructuring process was invaluable. I kept on my membership of Unison when I retired. It’s free for pensioners, and you never know when you might need them ... and they hold some interesting talks etc.
Someone very wise once said to me ‘things don’t stand still; if we’re not moving forwards we’ll travel backwards’. I think ‘now’ is an example of that

[dennispc Profile]

In Leicester, employers disregarded the laws on minimum wage, health and safety and regulations on Coronavirus. No union to fight for employees.

A friend of mine keeps in touch with his University mate, who was made redundant … in March and has just started work, for three months, as a Tesco delivery driver. He was, until recently, a very senior marketing manager but cannot even get interviews now. There were 1050 applications for 6 driver jobs. That’s the scale of the problem. Food banks will be essential to a lot more people soon.

Last week, following agreed Parliamentary procedures, a MP was elected to chair the Defence Committee. He was sacked from the party, not by his constituents. That’s not democracy.

This post was drafted last night before I saw Suffs post, the paragraph above certainly fits the feeling of going backwards.

[Earthmaiden Profile]

Usually when things go backwards there is mass unrest and rebellion. Watch this space

Of course, we are not a proper democracy. I always feel that 3 terms (2.5 really) with any one party leading is the absolute tolerable maximum before it needs changing in order to keep a balance.

[scullion Profile]

and don't forget the need for electoral reform!

[KeenCook2 Profile]

and don't forget the need for electoral reform!

hear, hear, scully ....

[Suffs Profile]

and don't forget the need for electoral reform!

hear, hear, scully ....

[Seatallan Profile]

Hear, hear!!

The welfare rights unit I worked for was a drop off/distrubition point for the local food bank. I know I've said this before, but by the time I stopped work we were on average giving out 8-10 parcels per day. When we started, some years previously, it was probably less than that per week.

[Earthmaiden Profile]

and don't forget the need for electoral reform!

Absolutely. I meant that in our current undemocratic system a leading party tends to go completely nuts after 3 terms max.

[karadekoolaid Profile]

I meant that in our current undemocratic system

If you want a truly "undemocratic" system, I´ll send you a ticket so you can come and live over here
There IS NO perfect system.
Britain has a "first past the post" system. Evidently not the perfect option, but creates a "strong government" (Mrs T).
Trump actually got fewer votes than Clinton. Look where that´s got us.
Italy and Spain seem to have elections every six weeks because the population votes for their local heroes.
Or you could try Argentinian Socialism, which has tried,failed, tried, failed, tried, failed, and has recently been re-elected.

[dennispc Profile]

Before this topic drops off the page, I thought I'd follow those who gave examples of good Union practice.

Q. Who owns Bristol Airport?

A. teachers’ pension fund - not a UK one of course.

Have a google bearing in mind that in the mid 1980’s the public sector unions asked the government to ‘privatise’ their pension fund. The PM said no, ‘cos her Dad ran a grocer’s shop so she knew all about national economics. Think about all the money that would've have been saved from the public purse if that had happened.

[Suelle Profile Website]

Before this topic drops off the page, I thought I'd follow those who gave examples of good Union practice.

Q. Who owns Bristol Airport?

A. teachers’ pension fund - not a UK one of course.

Have a google bearing in mind that in the mid 1980’s the public sector unions asked the government to ‘privatise’ their pension fund. The PM said no, ‘cos her Dad ran a grocer’s shop so she knew all about national economics. Think about all the money that would've have been saved from the public purse if that had happened.

Not a Union issue, but Luton Borough Council are having to make stringent budget cuts because they own Luton Airport, and revenue has fallen to almost nothing over the last few months. I expect it seemed a good idea at the time - guaranteed revenue, separate from government interference and reliance on taxes, in what was an expanding market.