Bargain Booze and Staff Exploitation

On Friday I heard that the friendly, helpful staff at our local Bargain Booze were sacked. Why? Were they all in some conspiracy to defraud the company? Were they idle? Were they abusive to customers? No. The new manager wants to run it himself, with his family. So, six girls on the dole for no reason other than the God of Profit. Here's the email I sent Bargain Booze. Feel free to copy and modify it and send it to them (info@bargainbooze.co.uk) if you feel, as I do that these girls have been poorly treated by a large national company.

I have used Bargain Booze for several years now, partly due to the excellent prices and partly due to the friendly staff. Some weeks ago I was introduced to the new store manager at the Church Street, Tamworth, Staffordshire shop. Last Friday, 10th August I went in to buy some cans and as I left the girls said something along the lines of 'Say goodbye, this is our last week.' When I asked why I was told the new manager had terminated their employment and he was going to run the shop himself with the help of his family. Quite honestly I was appalled. All these girls have worked at the shop for some time, so one assumes that their ability to do the job is not in question. They are always pleasant, polite and helpful. As far as I am aware, they are honest and loyal. To terminate someone's employment without good reason must surely be illegal and if not it should be. It is without doubt immoral. Some time ago I asked the manager how they sold their beers so cheaply. I was told that it was because stock was bought in such large quantities on a national level that Bargain Booze could virtually name their own price. One might reasonably expect such a large company with its obvious financial muscle to be able to insist that existing staff be retained as part of the franchise. Or is this another example of profit before people? If this, as I suspect, is the case then I must consider withdrawing my small contribution to the said profit and take my custom elsewhere.
I look forward to your response.

Regards

Paul Higgins

Fingerprinting Your Kids

Just received an email that linked to this
More here
An excellent piece here:

Googling 'fingerprinting children' will give you a wealth of information. It seems the 'fingerprinters' (as might be expected) are all for it and advocate the benefits. However, the 'fingerprintees' or their guardians are a little more sceptical.
Two of the against arguments, just for those who do not see an issue, are that it 'normalises' biometric use, making it seem trivial for youngsters who know no better. Which could lead to obvious security issues in later life. Also, using passwords means that in the event of identity theft or passwords being hacked or stolen, one has merely to change ones password. In the event of biometrics being stolen, and I believe the criminals will find a way once it becomes popular and financially viable, they haven't stolen your password. They have stolen you!

Tony Benn- my hero

Mr Benn is one of the finest politicians this great country of ours has ever seen or is likely to see in my lifetime. I would say give him the crown, make him King, but he would not accept it. He is the the best politician this country has ever or is likely to see. (Maybe Churchill would be a close second). I don't expect universal agreement. I don't suppose most of you will agree. What I do say is before you condemn him from what you know from the right-wing media, listen to what he has to say. The man is intelligent, knows his subject and quite often you might find, as I have, that he talks sense. Common sense that we all understand. And more power to the man. The world will be a sadder place when he and people of his ilk are gone.

North South Divide

There have been a lot of comments on the ‘North/South’ divide. I live in the Midlands, so which am I? Can’t you realise the so-called divide is nothing to do with ordinary people suffering. It is the fault of government and the media for biased intervention and reporting. Let’s ignore them and be united. WE are the people, and WE shall (can?) overcome.

Bloody Elections

Gordon Brown will probably be our next unopposed prime minister. But given that New Labour has stage managed everything they have done in their term of office, this will be no different. Every Labour politician who has been suggested as a contender has soon afterwards declared they will not oppose Mr. Brown. The silence is deafening. I remember John Prescott being totally opposed to the removal of clause IV from the Labour Party manifesto. . ("To secure for the workers by hand or by brain the full fruits of their industry and the most equitable distribution thereof that may be possible upon the basis of the common ownership of the means of production, distribution, and exchange, and the best obtainable system of popular administration and control of each industry or service."). A few hours with Tony Blair, and he came out in favour of removing clause IV. What was he offered? The deputy leadership, perhaps? That is exactly what he got. And now he is a sidelined nobody. We have been conned by Tony and his cronies for too long. We need to re-establish the labour party as a truly socialist organisation. A life long Labour man, my last vote for this watered down Tory administration was in 1997. I will tell you why. Though opposed to their 'New labour' policies I voted for them. In that terrible year, local politicians, members of the party and Labour councillors advised me, after expressing my doubts, that maybe Tony was trying to get elected on new, popular policies and once in government he would introduce a real socialist agenda I suggested that this was immoral, and as I have always maintained that we (the ‘Real Labour’ party) should be educating the people, and not looking to be elected on popular policies that conflict with our beliefs. Trusting these local politicians, et al, and against my better judgement (who else could I vote for? Another Tory administration?) I voted Labour, to my eternal regret. I have never failed to vote, my small voice is part of the process that may bring us back to a fairer society. This so-called democracy we live in gives me only two choices. Vote for the lesser of several evils or abstain from the right to have an input in this perverse system. I will not tell you how I vote. That is between me and the ballot box. However; I will tell you I now vote for the party and or politician that most closely expresses my beliefs, regardless of their political affiliation.

I sincerely hope that my opinion on these matters is not so far from your own that you might consider them as a viable alternative to the current repressive regime.

Loopy Lotto Update

I contacted Trading Standards about my issue with this organisation swindling me out of my money. They suggested The Gambling Commission. The Gambling Commission have written back to tell me that they do not currently regulate online gambling, but will do so from September 2007. Does this mean that for all these years people have been using the internet, UK citizens have had no protection from fraudulent gamblers?

Loopy Lotto

Buggers have owed me £70 since January and now say I have no prize money. I've contacted the Gambling Commission. The £70 they owe me might close 'em down. I do hope so. Stay away!

Tony Blair on GMTV

I have just watched Tony Blair's interview on GMTV. It was a shambles. I think he has lost it- if he ever had it. He stuttered and stumbled his way through his answers giving the impression he didn't know what he was talking about or that he knew his answers where misleading, but wanted to mislead in a way he could cover up later. You know- the politicians 'no, I didn't actually say that- what I said was...'. But we all know what you meant, Tony.

Olympian Fiasco!

So the Olympics could cost us £9 billion. How much will it eventually be? I think they should call it the 'Olympic Dome'. Don't tell me about the financial benefits. The people who will make money will be the rich and famous and the businessmen. The 'minimum wage' workers, I suppose, should be grateful for the work. £9 billion? Looks like a good start to compensating the hard workers who have had their pensions stolen.

Gun Crime revisited

I see Tony Blair and David Cameron are now crossing verbal swords. Mr Blair seems to think it is a "specific, criminal culture". David Cameron says society is "in deep trouble". Well, they are both wrong. They are also both right. There are specifics of criminal culture that need to be targeted. But we also need to be looking at society as a whole. David Cameron has also said "We now stand for social revival. We used to stand for the individual. Now we stand for the family, for the neighbourhood, in a word, for society." I would ask you to remember the following. The culture we live in today is a direct result of the lack of job security and the unemployment experienced by two generations while there is a culture of the 'old boy' network that encourages wealth for wealths sake, providing you are from the 'accepted' class. When you hear Mr Cameron saying "in a word, for society" remember that this split, class ridden society we endure is a result of Mrs Thatchers moneterist policy. Oh, and don't forget that she said 'there is no such thing as society'. I do not believe the Tory party has changed to the extent David Cameron would have us believe. The root of Britain's problems is the intrusion of American ideology. To the extent that the USA has two capitalist political parties to choose from. We find ourselves in a similar position today. We can vote for Cameron's left of Tory agenda or Blairs right of (real) Labour's agenda. Which really, as the last ten years prove amounts to the same thing. We have no effective opposition.

Sorry

I know my blog isn't read very much. Probably not at all, except by me and perhaps some nefarious, hidden government agencies. But the way this country and the world is going, I am going to try to take half an hour every day to comment on things that make me feel sad, depressed and generally pissed off with Britain and all the crap ordinary people have to put up with. We don't have to put up with it. We have to organise and defy the laws and regulations that are putting us all at risk. We also have to realise that the things that are happening today are the first step to total control. We accept the slow erosion of our rights and privileges. It is called the 'drip drip' effect. It is done bit by bit, so we do not realise what is happening. But one day, it will all come together and it will be too late. Let's not leave it too late.

Gun Crime

Hi, I'm back again. I often see or hear things I might wish to post about, but often find my time is filled with other stuff, and never get around to it. But this latest news about kids (that is all they are) getting shot dead is enough to push the other stuff aside and have my say. Our 'glorious' leader Sir-Saint-His Royal Highness-Kiss My Arse Mr Tony Blair has said "horrific, shocking and tragic beyond belief". Well, Tone-ey, (I hope you don't mind my familiarity) it hasn't just started. It has just become a subject of debate in the media. Local elections due? No, can't be that? Can it?

Hutton: Take a job or lose benefits

Two things to say here. One, this is nothing new. Jobseekers have always been required to seek and take appropriate work in exchange for benefits while they look. Two, maybe if wages were at a decent level, people would be more inclined to take work. A member of a government who is asking for a 60%+ pay rise should think carefully about this.

We are being shafted!

Animals in hospitals, country ruled by hooded yobs, do-gooders saying we shouldn't punish them, the whole social infrastructure falling to bits. And Europe telling us we can't do anything about it because we will upset their human rights!!! Ha. Ha. Ha Ha Ha. Welcome to THEIR world. Well, back to the asylum for me.

I'm back

Well, I haven’t posted for a while because there is so much crap going on in the world that I can’t decide what to post on. And to do it all would take up more time than I have. So, here is a nice little quote I read recently-

"The difference between a democracy and a dictatorship is that in a democracy you vote first and take orders later; in a dictatorship you don't have to waste your time voting."

Charles BukowskiUS (German-born) author & poet (1920 - 1994)

Gran Arrested for defending Her Property

It is reported that a grandmother who confronted rowdy youths has spent a night in police cells for defending her property. Had she telephoned the police, they would have been long gone before police arrived. I have little doubt that these youths knew this, and that any defensive action would result in arrest for her, not them. I would like to know if the youths were similarly treated for trespass and possible criminal damage. It is because they know that they will get away with it that this sort of behaviour is prevalent. While I do not condone law breaking or excessive violence, once the right to defend oneself and ones property with a swift clip around the ear is enshrined in law, these youths may think twice about violating common sensibilities.

Full story here.

Prescott's Indiscretion

So 2 jags Prescott has been outed as a philanderer. It seems every party has its adulterer. Can we believe that people who have a family home and a home in London, who have ample time and freedom to take extra marital partners are not going to take advantage of the situation? We cannot only blame the politicians. The women involved are equally guilty. We do not know the particular circumstances of Mr. Prescott’s indiscretion. But given these circumstances and the possibility of the woman involved making herself obviously available, how many of us could say, hand on heart ‘I would not do it’. I like to think if I were in a serious relationship (and surely marriage is the most serious of all) I would reject all such advances. I can put my hand on my heart and say that I would not actively seek a relationship outside of a longstanding commitment. But could I, would I reject the advances of an attractive female? While I hope so, the only test would be to be there and say ‘No’. I am not a lover of Mr. Prescott, or New Labour, but we should temper our immediate reaction to condemn with the compassion of common sense. Would I, given the same opportunities and circumstances be as moral as I expect this man to be? I rest my case.

Patches, I'm Depending On You Son.

Micro$oft has discovered more exploitable flaws in its Internet Explorer. They do not intend to release patches for them until Patch Tuesday, leaving third parties to produce patches. Thanks, Bill.

Re- Standards are Slipping!

I sent the body of this blog to BBC's letters page, and to the Radio Times. Reading the news yesterday morning, the story was still posted. However, the word ‘airplane’ had been replaced with the correct English form ‘aeroplane’. Thank you, BBC for helping to maintain standards. Maybe it wasn’t changed because of my response. But it does hearten me to think that an individual may still have some influence. To quote Citizen Smith (for those who remember him) Power to the People!

State of the Health Service

Many health/hospital trusts are trying to solve their ‘overspend’ problems by sacking staff. Unless the staff that are going are consultants or managers (which I doubt) the pitiful NHS wages saved will be a mere splash in the ocean. Here is my answer to the NHS funding problem.

• Sack all the managers whose job it is to oversee spending. Once you have someone in charge of finances, to the exclusion of other considerations that is when we see financial problems start. And it should save a considerable sum.


• Re-introduce matrons. They ensure that wards are run effectively and efficiently from a clinical point of view. The knock-on effect of this will be to see efficient use of resources, and a consequential reduction in spending.


• Raise the top rate of tax to 80% and use the extra money to fund the NHS.


• Stop using money to kill people (Iran) and use it in hospitals. It seems the NHS doesn’t have a bottomless pit of money, yet the engineered conflict in Iran does.

I doubt these simple solutions will be adopted. This would ruin the conservative plot, continued by Tony Blair to privatise the health service by the back door.