The Good News thread, local jobs, economy etc

[Rincewind]

I agree, which is why I'm quite pleased to read this largely positive report from someone who has apparently worked there for many years.

So you agree that picking on vulnerable people is OK? It seems you have picked out the parts you agree with and ignored (described as moaning) the parts you do not.

[MooseBreath]

So you agree that picking on vulnerable people is OK? It seems you have picked out the parts you agree with and ignored (described as moaning) the parts you do not.

He implied that a menacing looking chap might not be challenged as much as he should. That's a shame but human nature I guess. He did not imply that the vulnerable were picked on at all.

[Rincewind]

Maybe he is one of the good ones which is why he is speaking out. The sort of bloke who smiles at the customer, calls them sir and genuinely wants to help them find work. 

 

I once saw a guy who works for us sanction 23 customers in one day!, it took him a ridiculous amount of time to do all the paperwork!, had he done this to get a better box marking? or to warrant his job? no he did it because the night before he had watched a programme on tv. it disgusted me!. There are customers that quite blatantly flaunt the rules and there are the odd customers that indeed require a sanction!, but I mean this, only the odd one!. and never generally the ones that actually get the sanctions!.

 

 

We also do our referrals online now, and these are not vetted by anyone, so basically you could walk into a jobcentre and be pulled for not actively seeking, we would take the details of what you have been doing over the past fortnight and totally change your answers, thus guaranteeing a sanction

Edited 6 October 2014 by Rincewind

[Guest MattP]

Slutocracy

Feminism, politics, and all that jazz.

 

 

Another clearly very independent 'alternative media' site. The whole interview is probably made up.

[MooseBreath]

Maybe he is one of the good ones which is why he is speaking out. The sort of bloke who smiles at the customer, calls them sir and genuinely wants to help them find work.

I once saw a guy who works for us sanction 23 customers in one day!, it took him a ridiculous amount of time to do all the paperwork!, had he done this to get a better box marking? or to warrant his job? no he did it because the night before he had watched a programme on tv. it disgusted me!. There are customers that quite blatantly flaunt the rules and there are the odd customers that indeed require a sanction!, but I mean this, only the odd one!. and never generally the ones that actually get the sanctions!.

We also do our referrals online now, and these are not vetted by anyone, so basically you could walk into a jobcentre and be pulled for not actively seeking, we would take the details of what you have been doing over the past fortnight and totally change your answers, thus guaranteeing a sanction

A couple of minor indiscretions over 16 years is not a bad return. I'm just thinking of the outrage I could cause if I published some of the most immoral things I've seen happening at work lol you get that kind of thing everywhere, human beings at work will always be prone to the odd misdemeanor

[Alf Bentley]

This might explain, at least partly, the conundrum of several years of falling unemployment, a resumption in growth, yet consistently falling real incomes.....

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/oct/03/self-employed-osborne-entrepreneurs

 

"The rate of self-employment, according to the latest figures from the ONS, is at its highest for 40 years. Since 2010 38% of the growth in employment has been because of the self-employed. There are now 4.6 million, about 15% of the workforce. Politicians love to call us “entrepreneurs”, as if we’re all about to unveil a blueprint for the next Google. “It’s never been easier,” George Osborne told the Tory conference this week, “for thousands to start their own businesses in Britain.” It certainly isn’t difficult to start a business. It’s keeping one going that’s the challenge.Most of the self-employed work in building and construction. After that it’s cab drivers, and after that chippies and the “skilled trade”. Most women who are self-employed are cleaners, carers or hairdressers. Does the chancellor really imagine that workers like these are raking it in?The average income from self-employment has fallen by 22% since the financial crash of 2008. Last year’s figures showed that average earnings had dropped from £15,000 to just under £10,400. This year’s figures from the ONS talk about a “median income” of £207 a week. That, of course, is without hope of any sick pay, holiday pay and paid maternity leave – or, for 70% of self-employed workers, a pension. It starts to make a public-sector wage freeze look like a banker’s bonus".

 

The median self-employed income is £10.4k?! Christ! I thought that I was scraping by, but I'm on well above median income for a self-employed person (though below median income for an employee).

There are some interesting links from that article to others. Not sure if they'll be accessible when I post, so here they are:

http://www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2013/12/03/the-fast-disappearing-income-of-the-uks-self-employed/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-28866302

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/may/06/self-employment-uk-job-figures-analysis

[MooseBreath]

Self employment seems to have become a popular choice for the over 60s as a way of giving up the rat race but continuing to bring a bit of money in by working casually and or part time. I would imagine that's why the average income from self employment has fallen - most of the people doing it are only intending to earn small sums.

[Guest MattP]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opinion_polling_for_the_next_United_Kingdom_general_election

 

Good news depending on what side you are on but in here as it seems to have become the unofficial politics thread.

 

For the first time since 2010 the Tories appear to have actually closed up in the polls properly and seem to have strung together a few days where they have been ahead in 3-4 samples rather than the odd one springing up every two months. Have to think it's a combination of Cameron's conference speech and Miliband forgetting to mention the economy in his.

 

Hung parliament still odds on for next May, with the Liberals losing seats and UKIP probably holding 3-5 it could end up being the most interesting election for years, literally could be seeing less than ten swing seats deciding who or what ends up as a coalition afterwards.

[Alf Bentley]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opinion_polling_for_the_next_United_Kingdom_general_election

 

Good news depending on what side you are on but in here as it seems to have become the unofficial politics thread.

 

For the first time since 2010 the Tories appear to have actually closed up in the polls properly and seem to have strung together a few days where they have been ahead in 3-4 samples rather than the odd one springing up every two months. Have to think it's a combination of Cameron's conference speech and Miliband forgetting to mention the economy in his.

 

Hung parliament still odds on for next May, with the Liberals losing seats and UKIP probably holding 3-5 it could end up being the most interesting election for years, literally could be seeing less than ten swing seats deciding who or what ends up as a coalition afterwards.

 

Largely agree with this analysis. However, I've a nasty feeling that, unless Labour get their act together, we could be looking at 1992 revisited: i.e. polls very close, but the result drifting to a narrow Tory majority on the day.

 

Ashcroft's polls in the marginal seats argue against a Tory win, but a further small shift could wipe out the Labour advantage there....a distinct possibility unless Miliband & co start dictating the agenda and convincing wavering voters they're a credible alternative.

 

I bet some of the Tories are kicking themselves for having shafted the Lib Dems over Lords reform, though. That led the Lib Dems to retaliate by scuppering boundary changes for the Commons. If the boundary changes had happened, a Tory majority could have been looking probable, rather than just possible. 

 

Hung parliament still looking most likely for now, though, with the precise balance of forces crucial. Another complicating factor: I've heard rumours that the SNP might take a number of seats off Labour, off the back of the rise in the "Yes" vote during the referendum campaign....so the SNP could yet be in the equation IF it's very close, and they win, say 10-12 seats or more....

[ADK]

None of our political parties are very credible propositions for election.

[MooseBreath]

None of our political parties are very credible propositions for election.

What would you like them to offer that they aren't currently offering?

[Guest MattP]

Largely agree with this analysis. However, I've a nasty feeling that, unless Labour get their act together, we could be looking at 1992 revisited: i.e. polls very close, but the result drifting to a narrow Tory majority on the day.

 

Ashcroft's polls in the marginal seats argue against a Tory win, but a further small shift could wipe out the Labour advantage there....a distinct possibility unless Miliband & co start dictating the agenda and convincing wavering voters they're a credible alternative.

 

I bet some of the Tories are kicking themselves for having shafted the Lib Dems over Lords reform, though. That led the Lib Dems to retaliate by scuppering boundary changes for the Commons. If the boundary changes had happened, a Tory majority could have been looking probable, rather than just possible. 

 

Hung parliament still looking most likely for now, though, with the precise balance of forces crucial. Another complicating factor: I've heard rumours that the SNP might take a number of seats off Labour, off the back of the rise in the "Yes" vote during the referendum campaign....so the SNP could yet be in the equation IF it's very close, and they win, say 10-12 seats or more....

 

I don't see the Tories being able to muster up a majority under any circumstances, they'll literally need about 40% of the vote and that's just not going to happen. They should be kicking themselves over the boundaries, it was absolutely imperative they were made fairer during this coalition and will haunt them come polling day I'm sure.

 

Ed doesn't hasn't sealed the deal at all, you get the feeling this would be all wrapped up under his brother by now, his lack of addressing the issue of the parties economic credibility has single handedly kept the Tories in with a chance.

 

The SNP will return a huge number of seats to Westminster, you would imagine most of those Labour voters who went yes would switch to the SNP, still they wouldn't be able to form a coalition so they'll just be dead seats in terms of any sort of coalition.

 

The more I see it the more I get a sneaky feeling the Con-Lib coalition might just hang onto enough seats to keep going.

[MooseBreath]

http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-29520761

RMT union "deeply concerned" that future tube trains have the capacity to be driverless. Yeah, I bet you are you robbing cvnts. The free market will deliver best value yet again.

[Guest Kopfkino]

http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-29520761

RMT union "deeply concerned" that future tube trains have the capacity to be driverless. Yeah, I bet you are you robbing cvnts. The free market will deliver best value yet again.

They should be happy they've managed this long. Can't imagine it would be too difficult to do

[RonnieTodger]

http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Leicester-man-crowned-UK-rock-paper-scissors/story-23062867-detail/story.html

 

Leicester lad wins the most important title of all!

[davieG]

Good news for Directors

 

 

Directors 'earn 120 times more than average employee'

 

Directors' earnings have risen 278% in 14 years while average wages have gone up by 48%

 

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-29587707

[johnny the fox]

Good news for Directors

 

 

Directors 'earn 120 times more than average employee'

 

Directors' earnings have risen 278% in 14 years while average wages have gone up by 48%

 

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-29587707

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/workers-fury-as-top-bosses-pay-soars-by-21-9790254.html

[Rincewind]

Good news for hotel owners in London

 

Town halls are spending vastly more on emergency accommodation to keep parents and children off the streets than since the Coalition came to power, according to figures released under the Freedom of Information Act.

 

 

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/welfare-cuts-leave-councils-with-huge-bill-to-put-families-in-hotels-9772401.html

[Alf Bentley]

Nice juxtaposition, the posts from Davie G, Johnny the Fox & Rincewind.....

- Pay of senior executives soaring: Government solution - cut the top rate of tax, despite the deficit

- Real incomes falling for the majority and rents soaring: Government solution - fail to encourage investment in affordable housing, cut benefits/tax credits, impose a bedroom tax and increase homelessness

 

Ken's post reminds me of the seedy underbelly of Thatcher's Britain, conveniently forgotten by many these days. Countless thousands living in "dole hotels": hotels and B&Bs playing the system to profit exorbitantly from providing minimal accommodation for the unemployed who couldn't find anywhere more suitable to live - all at the taxpayer's expense.

 

I even ended up in one of those places myself in Paddington in 1985, though thankfully I managed to find work and a flat within a week. I'd taken Tebbit's advice and "got on my bike and looked for work" in London: the hotel charged the maximum weekly rate that they could get away with (probably about £300 per week at today's prices), for which I was sharing a grubby, cramped room with 3 other blokes that I didn't know....and, for the compulsory "breakfast" element, they provided morning access to a hot water boiler, pile of tea bags, toaster and pile of Mother's Pride. For that, the hotel was creaming the equivalent of £1000+ per room per week from the taxpayer. There's unregulated free enterprise and Thatcherite management of the public finances for you!  

 

Still, I'm sure one of the Tory boys will be on shortly to say how well "the economy" is doing, even if most people in the country are getting poorer. Growth is up, unemployment down, business is booming, top executives are boosting growth by putting an extra coat of gilt on the gates of their gated communities and employing extra servants Downton Abbey-stylee (even if they are mainly Latvians, who are more appreciative of the pay rates), while private enterprise is on the case ready to set up workhouses for homeless "scroungers"... Welcome back to Dickensian Britain!

 

Private wealth and public squalor, take from the poor and give to the rich..... Same old Tories! Kick the fvckers out!

[ADK]

Yes, I don't know how any intelligent person can defend the Tories.

[MooseBreath]

The government don't set the pay of ftse-100 directors, so I'm not sure how this is a political issue. Very small sample size as well, just 100 companies, of whose earnings are sourced in the region of 80% from abroad, so are only quite loosely linked to the UK economy, and much less to the UK government. If you've got a pension you're more than likely a shareholder in those companies. Maybe you should be glad they're doing well.

[Rincewind]

Couldn't put it better Alf. I wonder who the landlords of private housing vote for? There are some MP's who have private housing on their estates and receiving rent from the taxpayer as the tenants receive housing benefit. The taxpayer is making up the shortfall in wages of low paid, part time and zero contract  workers in order that they receive a living income. But while Cameron and co. put out the 'workers and shirkers' line fed through the media some of the public will not see it any other way.

I'll shut up now. My first rant for a fortnight I think I have held off well.

Edited 13 October 2014 by Rincewind

[ADK]

Pick on the least relevant item to discuss, I agree looking at a small number of people's pay is irrelevant to discussions on the economy. Poor argument that lends itself to accusations of jealousy. Are FTSE 100 companies doing well? Director pay doesn't always tally with success. That's a private company issue though.

[Rincewind]

Interesting read http://speye.wordpress.com/2014/10/13/social-landlords-120-million-bungled-bedroom-tax-strategy/

[Buce]

Nice juxtaposition, the posts from Davie G, Johnny the Fox & Rincewind.....

- Pay of senior executives soaring: Government solution - cut the top rate of tax, despite the deficit

- Real incomes falling for the majority and rents soaring: Government solution - fail to encourage investment in affordable housing, cut benefits/tax credits, impose a bedroom tax and increase homelessness

Ken's post reminds me of the seedy underbelly of Thatcher's Britain, conveniently forgotten by many these days. Countless thousands living in "dole hotels": hotels and B&Bs playing the system to profit exorbitantly from providing minimal accommodation for the unemployed who couldn't find anywhere more suitable to live - all at the taxpayer's expense.

I even ended up in one of those places myself in Paddington in 1985, though thankfully I managed to find work and a flat within a week. I'd taken Tebbit's advice and "got on my bike and looked for work" in London: the hotel charged the maximum weekly rate that they could get away with (probably about £300 per week at today's prices), for which I was sharing a grubby, cramped room with 3 other blokes that I didn't know....and, for the compulsory "breakfast" element, they provided morning access to a hot water boiler, pile of tea bags, toaster and pile of Mother's Pride. For that, the hotel was creaming the equivalent of £1000+ per room per week from the taxpayer. There's unregulated free enterprise and Thatcherite management of the public finances for you!

Still, I'm sure one of the Tory boys will be on shortly to say how well "the economy" is doing, even if most people in the country are getting poorer. Growth is up, unemployment down, business is booming, top executives are boosting growth by putting an extra coat of gilt on the gates of their gated communities and employing extra servants Downton Abbey-stylee (even if they are mainly Latvians, who are more appreciative of the pay rates), while private enterprise is on the case ready to set up workhouses for homeless "scroungers"... Welcome back to Dickensian Britain!

Private wealth and public squalor, take from the poor and give to the rich..... Same old Tories! Kick the fvckers out!

As is so often the case, Alf has said everything I would say, but more eloquently.