The news thread

[Ally Bongo]

4 minutes ago, Orraloon said:

GMB members voted over 60% against the deal. Unite and Unison were 64% and 58% in favour. That's quite a big difference between sets of workers in the same sector, some of them doing the same jobs. It would be interesting to understand why different sets of union members have such different views.

GMB told members to reject it

British Labour at it again

[aaid]

In case anyone doesn’t know, Karen Leonard is Richard Leonard’s wife.

https://www.gmbscotland.org.uk/your-gmb/gmb-public-services/nhs

 

[AlfieMoon]

24 minutes ago, Orraloon said:

GMB members voted over 60% against the deal. Unite and Unison were 64% and 58% in favour. That's quite a big difference between sets of workers in the same sector, some of them doing the same jobs. It would be interesting to understand why different sets of union members have such different views.

Possibly large blocks of different types of NHS jobs within differing Unions - meaning differing levels of gains to be had. The other factor is a differing narrative being defined by different unions. (GMB politics already highlighted) 

[scotlad]

GMB are at it.  The offer I've seen is decent in the current climate.

[Malcolm]

5 hours ago, AlfieMoon said:

Taxes going up in Scotland.  
 

41p rate going to 42p - alongside the continued freeze on the thresholds achieving ScotGov’s fiscal drag policy. A lot of people fighting hard for pay rises, only to be pushed into higher bracket. 

while I’m not going to argue the merits or not of increasing tax revenue, I think we have agree that the 42p tax is not aimed at high earners, but average households.  If we were to look at the professions that were in the high rate tax in the 90s, the landscape is entirely different.

also 47p at the highest rate is dangerously close to 50p which psychologically means you are working for the government not yourself.  I would be tempted to go part time to become more tax efficient, or seek compensation in the form of equity rather than salary. 

 Think those on variable incomes should be able to use unused tax benefit for previous years on their income.

[stocky]

18 minutes ago, Malcolm said:

while I’m not going to argue the merits or not of increasing tax revenue, I think we have agree that the 42p tax is not aimed at high earners, but average households.  If we were to look at the professions that were in the high rate tax in the 90s, the landscape is entirely different.

also 47p at the highest rate is dangerously close to 50p which psychologically means you are working for the government not yourself.  I would be tempted to go part time to become more tax efficient, or seek compensation in the form of equity rather than salary. 

 Think those on variable incomes should be able to use unused tax benefit for previous years on their income.

No we can't agree that 42p is not aimed at higher earners.

It is.

The average wage in Scotland is @ 28k.those above £42k are in the higher wage percentage.

in fact @ 50% higher than average.

so the 42p rate is aimed at those on the higher wage scale.not the average earner.

 

also 

 

nobody knows what'' unused tax benefit from previous years even means..''

I certainly don't..

the vast majority of people pay PAYE.

 

.

 

[Orraloon]

😂 

This is a good one. Let that be a lesson to you hen. Never pack your voice box in hold luggage, always keep it in your hand luggage. She can't perform because BA lost her suitcase, FFS. 😂 

I don't think the Pope will mind too much if she is wearing 3 day old pants. 😂

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-64002094

[Rich NATA]

 

 

 

[Orraloon]

18 minutes ago, Rich NATA said:

 

 

 

Maybe she is starting to realise that it might not be as easy to buy her way into the aristocracy as she thought. 😂

[aaid]

Derek Bateman RIP

[Ally Bongo]

13 minutes ago, aaid said:

Derek Bateman RIP

That's a shock - dont think it has hit the Twitter Yes folk yet

[killiefaetheferry]

1 hour ago, aaid said:

Derek Bateman RIP

Sad. Enjoyed his writing. 

[scotlad]

Only 71. 🙁

A good journalist. I used to see him the pub sometimes when he stayed in Glasgow, seemed like a nice guy.

[jailender]

Terry Hall, Specials and Fun Boy 3 has passed away. 

[bonzo]

21 minutes ago, jailender said:

Terry Hall, Specials and Fun Boy 3 has passed away. 

Just heard this, gutted. 

[Ally Bongo]

Gutted

He made everything he touched better

 

[Malcolm]

10 hours ago, Ally Bongo said:

Gutted

He made everything he touched better

 

terrible news.  Grew up listening to two tone wearing sta press, dog tooth trousers and Harringtons.  along with the jam, defined the turn of that decade for me. Saw them in glasgow on the 30th anniversary tour.

 

[aaid]

54 minutes ago, Malcolm said:

terrible news.  Grew up listening to two tone wearing sta press, dog tooth trousers and Harringtons.  along with the jam, defined the turn of that decade for me. Saw them in glasgow on the 30th anniversary tour.

 

Maybe you should’ve listened to the lyrics

[Malcolm]

36 minutes ago, aaid said:

Maybe you should’ve listened to the lyrics

 

maybe I did 😂

[Squirrelhumper]

Latest pay offer rejected by The Royal College of Nursing  members in Scotland. 

[AlfieMoon]

1 hour ago, Squirrelhumper said:

Latest pay offer rejected by The Royal College of Nursing  members in Scotland. 

There was a bit of premature celebration from those backing the government when the initial 2 unions accepted. It was far from a done deal. 
 

Seems that they are heading for strikes. 

[scotlad]

Apparently 7.5% was put to them - below inflation but compared to some offers being made it's okay (where I work for instance we were given 2% 🙄).

In the current climate I'm not sure how much they expect to get. Down south nurses were apparently offered 4% - I can quite easily see a scenario where they end up accepting less than nurses up here rejected!

[hampden_loon2878]

This is where the union end up with little sympathy, 7.5% is a good offer in the current conditions 

Edited December 21, 2022 by hampden_loon2878

[aaid]

21 minutes ago, scotlad said:

Apparently 7.5% was put to them - below inflation but compared to some offers being made it's okay (where I work for instance we were given 2% 🙄).

In the current climate I'm not sure how much they expect to get. Down south nurses were apparently offered 4% - I can quite easily see a scenario where they end up accepting less than nurses up here rejected!

I suspect they might do some sort of deal which rolls an improved deal over to next year.  So, 7.5% is the best we can do for this year but we can give you more next year - the tax rate increases in the budget are hypothecated for the NHS anyway.

[Squirrelhumper]

1 hour ago, AlfieMoon said:

There was a bit of premature celebration from those backing the government when the initial 2 unions accepted. It was far from a done deal. 
 

Seems that they are heading for strikes. 

From what I can gather, a lot have already jumped ship to TRCoN since that vote too such was their annoyance at their own union. I know my sister in law has.