(21 Sep 2014, 9:19 am)AdamY wrote You can tell Ed Miliband's desperate when he reels out the old 'We'll increase the NMW to £8 p/h if we get elected' line.

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/sep/20/miliband-pledges-rise-poorest-workers-labour-uk

As much as I'd like to see it happen; it won't - irrespective of whether Labour get in or not.

(21 Sep 2014, 9:45 am)AdamY wrote Upon further reading, the £8 p/h target is set to be achieved by 2020.

That's like 30p per year assuming that £6.50 will be reached by 2015 (just less than 34p per year if not).

It sounds even less appealing now!

(21 Sep 2014, 9:45 am)AdamY wrote Upon further reading, the £8 p/h target is set to be achieved by 2020.

That's like 30p per year assuming that £6.50 will be reached by 2015 (just less than 34p per year if not).

It sounds even less appealing now!

(23 Sep 2014, 2:50 pm)Dan wrote Interesting read outlining the (obvious)  consequences of the rising minimum wage...
http://libertyscotland.wordpress.com/2014/09/23/ed-miliband-the-minimum-wage-and-unintended-consequences/

(23 Sep 2014, 6:18 pm)aureolin wrote Funnily enough, a lot of the reasons are recycled from when the NMW was introduced in 1998. John Major's conservative government argued this profusely throughout the 1997 general election campaign. Although the majority of Tories now agree that NMW was the right decision.

They managed then, and they'll manage again if Labour come to government next May. My only criticism is that we need this now - not in 2020.

There are alternatives available. Firstly, a negative income tax should be considered. Under this system the government would supplement the wages of the lowest paid employees in order to bring their wages into line with the cost of living. While there may be inflationary repercussions to this strategy it would certainly remove the burden from small and medium sized enterprises and avoid the unemployment consequences outlined above. This strategy, as proposed by Milton Freidman, is untested but is certainly the most likely to succeed in real terms.

(27 Oct 2014, 9:01 pm)Andreos1 wrote I haven't had a look at the green partit's manifesto, so have no idea what they propose, offer or want.

They have a representative in Parliament, so deserve to have their say in any debates, TV shows etc.
They obviously don't have the magnetism or pull of Farage though.

(27 Oct 2014, 9:14 pm)aureolin wrote Have a look at their manifesto if you get a chance. You'll probably be pleasantly surprised. Labour Durham are looking over their shoulder, because a lot of students and younger residents have been saying they're voting green. Which they've found out from doing their usual doorstepping.

(30 Oct 2014, 7:19 am)Andreos1 wrote http://m.sunderlandecho.com/news/local/all-news/parliament-agrees-thatcher-misled-the-public-over-miners-strike-1-6922704

It's out there now.
Said a while back that this will be the next big 'no win-no fee' case and it just needs a test case to set the ball rolling.

(30 Oct 2014, 9:12 am)Andreos1 wrote Yeah, the papers released under the 30 year rule implied she has lied.
The motion put forward confirms that she did mislead the entire country.

Makes you wonder what other pork pies have been hidden away.

(30 Oct 2014, 9:37 am)Andreos1 wrote Unions, communities, families, individuals - the list of people affected by the strike/closure programme is massive.
Any one of them could launch a claim.

It could be like the asbestos or whitefinger claims from a few years back.
Led/promoted by unions, but up to individuals perhaps?

30 years on and there has just recently been a debate in parliament about the communities struggling to adapt and the longer term implications of the pit closure programme.

(30 Oct 2014, 9:50 am)marxistafozzski wrote Struggling to adapt is an understatement, this area, especially, has struggled every day for the last 30 years, I say we pretty much lost everything

(30 Oct 2014, 6:59 pm)aureolin wrote Goes to show that Scargill was right, and the public were allowed to be conned by yet another Tory/Thatcher cover up. Even more evidence that we need proper independent enquiries into Orgreave and Shrewsbury 24 too.

Here's a question though. These findings about the Tories misleading the public in the 80s would have ultimately gained the public support for them implementing the disgraceful restrictions to Trade Unions, in the form of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992. Maybe this is enough proof that these unnecessary restrictions need to be abolished, and once again allow workers the freedom to fight for decent pay and conditions.

(30 Oct 2014, 7:30 pm)marxistafozzski wrote Shrewsbury 24...Is that the campaign Ricky Tomlinson supports after he and some of his pals were sent to jail in the 70's and isnt all this coming at a time when some staunch trade unionists were supposedly blacklisted by building firms to keep troublemakers away or at least make it difficult for them to find employment...

Orgreave was shocking, but I reckon Arthur Scargill brought a bit trouble on by himself, just by being there, if I remember correctly Scargill was centre stage and end up with the polis pinching him...

The Rise and Fall of Arthur Scargill

What a difference 30 years makes, Scargill is now supposedly a recluse with very little friends...

(30 Oct 2014, 8:24 pm)aureolin wrote I dunno mate... I guess if I was in the same situation on the picket line, I'd want my general secretary standing in front and leading the membership. It wouldn't happen these days of course, with the mass restrictions on Trade Unions and picketing. I've stood and taken abuse on picket lines, and you literally can't say a thing back to them, or you'll be hauled in for breaching picketing laws. Of course those abusing you would only be ticked off under the public order act. 

Ricky Tomlinson was one of the pickets arrested in Shrewsbury, and fronts the Shrewsbury 24 campaign. He spoke during a fringe event at my union's conference this year, and there was standing room only.

(30 Oct 2014, 9:06 pm)Andreos1 wrote Was he any good?

Missed him at the gala last year. 
Was stood chatting on the racecourse, not realising I was smack bang in the middle of the area the guests etc walk by to get to the stage.
Saw a fella who looked like him, didn't think anything of it - until he was seated on the stage.

I needed to scoot off and missed his speech.

(31 Oct 2014, 3:52 pm)Michael wrote Just got a letter from Bridget Phillipson.... asking me to go to a coffee morning... also there was a questionnaire about how she is doing tackling anti-social behaviour...

Honest... only time i get kids next to mine is when Sandhill View is coming up or like now during the holidays... doesn't bother me at all.

And everyone else in my street... i rarely see them

(31 Oct 2014, 4:15 pm)Andreos1 wrote @Michael

You could ask Bridget about her big bus campaign and QCS!

(31 Oct 2014, 4:19 pm)Michael wrote Haha, might have a long wait.. it's on the 22nd November... busy that day..