Hypocrisy

Guy:Incognito · 10-02-2012 04:33AM

MickySticks wrote: »

We have one of the lowest corporation tax rates in Europe so the least we can expect is for these companies to pay employees a wage they can live on.

Like some sort of minimum rate of pay set by the government? I like where your going with this idea, you should put it in a letter and send it to Enda.

whatsamsn · 10-02-2012 04:42AM

Now dont quote me on this one,

But I was told that the new Tesco store just off the Navan Road in Dublin is doing terrible business and that it has reduced a portion of its staff to part time.

Would be interesting if true as Tesco paid quite the penny to build the store.

MrStuffins · 10-02-2012 04:48AM

whatsamsn wrote: »

Now dont quote me on this one,

But I was told that the new Tesco store just off the Navan Road in Dublin is doing terrible business and that it has reduced a portion of its staff to part time.

Would be interesting if true as Tesco paid quite the penny to build the store.

This wouldn't surprise me. Sure there's already a Tesco just down the road on Prussia Street and this new Tesco is behind the ridiculously quiet retail centre that is The Maple Centre.

Although there's Cabra, Dunard etc there to bring in custom, I honestly think the spot it's in is less than ideal and everytime I've been in there the place is almost empty (as opposed to the likes of Dundrum which always seems busy)

policarp · 10-02-2012 04:56AM

ColHol wrote: »

What would be the difference in giving two people 20 hr contracts, or having one person on 40 hours and the other on the dole anyway?

Because a person on a 3 day week gets 3 days dole.
Therefore costs Dept. of Soc. Welfare 1 day extra per employee. . .

whatsamsn · 10-02-2012 04:59AM

MrStuffins wrote: »

This wouldn't surprise me. Sure there's already a Tesco just down the road on Prussia Street and this new Tesco is behind the ridiculously quiet retail centre that is The Maple Centre.

Although there's Cabra, Dunard etc there to bring in custom, I honestly think the spot it's in is less than ideal and everytime I've been in there the place is almost empty (as opposed to the likes of Dundrum which always seems busy)

You read my mind Stuffins.
The Tesco just off prussia street. Open for years and still open.
While the new one is tucked away behind the maple centre. Surely you'd think Tesco would just relocate the prussia street store into the new one

but they didnt.

LH Pathe · 10-02-2012 05:01AM

You tesco spotters r worse than train spotters.

MrStuffins · 10-02-2012 05:05AM

whatsamsn wrote: »

MrStuffins wrote: »

This wouldn't surprise me. Sure there's already a Tesco just down the road on Prussia Street and this new Tesco is behind the ridiculously quiet retail centre that is The Maple Centre.

Although there's Cabra, Dunard etc there to bring in custom, I honestly think the spot it's in is less than ideal and everytime I've been in there the place is almost empty (as opposed to the likes of Dundrum which always seems busy)

You read my mind Stuffins.
The Tesco just off prussia street. Open for years and still open.
While the new one is tucked away behind the maple centre. Surely you'd think Tesco would just relocate the prussia street store into the new one but they didnt.

Yup, makes no sense! They did it with Dundrum when they merged the one from the Main Street.

When you look at it, both Prussia Street and Navan Rd branches are effectively on the same street.

MrStuffins · 10-02-2012 05:07AM

LH Pathe wrote: »

You tesco spotters r worse than train spotters.

Pffft. Train Spotting is SOOOOO 1990s!

LH Pathe · 10-02-2012 05:07AM

This is unbelievable. Continue...

MrStuffins · 10-02-2012 05:08AM

policarp wrote: »

ColHol wrote: »

What would be the difference in giving two people 20 hr contracts, or having one person on 40 hours and the other on the dole anyway?

Because a person on a 3 day week gets 3 days dole.
Therefore costs Dept. of Soc. Welfare 1 day extra per employee. . .

I think he meant what's the difference to Tesco?

matrim · 10-02-2012 06:03AM

Because a person on a 3 day week gets 3 days dole.
Therefore costs Dept. of Soc. Welfare 1 day extra per employee. . .

From governments perspective they would probably prefer 2 people at 20 hours because it presents the unemployed figure better for them even though it might be more money.

e.g. out of 100 people if 50 are full time and 40 are part time that's 90% employment. However if 70 are full time and 0 are part time that's 30% unemployment

Johro · 11-02-2012 12:07AM

MrStuffins wrote: »

If someone is working a full time job and is earning minimum wage or higher and can't live off it, this is not Tesco's fault.

The person should learn to live within their means like normal people do! The Celtic Tiger died a long time ago

Just to clarify, it's about Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's and Morrrisons, Tesco simply being the biggest. The employees interviewed for the programme were hardly living it up. They had problems meeting the rent, council tax and paying main utility bills. I would think a full time job should enable you to at least keep your head above water, even with the increases in energy bills. They simply aren't paid enough money and their employers know it, which is why they won't allow them to talk to the media, or else.

LambsEye · 11-02-2012 12:16AM

This might seem like a slightly reductive post (and indeed it is,) but what surprises me most is that people are still surprised by these kind of occurrences. The simple fact is that the cost of living has increased and people who work in these jobs are not being paid enough to keep up because the enormous machine in which they work can just fire and rehire as necessary, without making any changes to benefits, wages, hours, etc. It's so sad that people are stuck in this subjugating system.

Slightly, not so related (for all the good it will do, but still, I like it; http://www.thejournal.ie/noam-chomsky-backs-vita-cortex-workers-Jan2012/

Johro · 11-02-2012 12:22AM

stupidusername wrote: »

I'm not seeing what's hypocrisy is going on here

And I just want to point out that minimum wage,at least in Ireland,is the minimum rate that an experienced worker must get,not just the minimum wage of anyone working,and 8.65 is for over 18's.it's not even clear if that has any relevance here,but people do seem to have the wrong idea.

It relates to the British government pointing to the likes of China, among others, and it's low paid workers, while allowing big profitable companies in the UK to do the same, and subsidising them.

Johro · 11-02-2012 12:30AM

LambsEye wrote: »

This might seem like a slightly reductive post (and indeed it is,) but what surprises me most is that people are still surprised by these kind of occurrences. The simple fact is that the cost of living has increased and people who work in these jobs are not being paid enough to keep up because the enormous machine in which they work can just fire and rehire as necessary, without making any changes to benefits, wages, hours, etc. It's so sad that people are stuck in this subjugating system.

Slightly, not so related (for all the good it will do, but still, I like it; http://www.thejournal.ie/noam-chomsky-backs-vita-cortex-workers-Jan2012/

Exactly. But you would expect more support, more anger at the injustice of it, especially while governments pat themselves on the back for any drop in unemployment figures, when in reality people are stuck in jobs that don't even sustain them. What's been surprising me these past years is the total lack of solidarity expressed by workers in general.

LambsEye · 11-02-2012 01:03AM

Johro wrote: »

Exactly. But you would expect more support, more anger at the injustice of it, especially while governments pat themselves on the back for any drop in unemployment figures, when in reality people are stuck in jobs that don't even sustain them. What's been surprising me these past years is the total lack of solidarity expressed by workers in general.

If you think about it you would expect no support or anger, or any other sort of emotion that involves informed thought or some level of mobilized action. Fact is: carrots are cheep in Tesco + X Factor is on = complete ambivalence to this kind of thing. I completely agree that workers of all strata appear to have no idea of the collective power they hold, BUT when you're barely making enough to sustain you and your family then why would you challenge anything? Demoralization is working quite well thank you very much.

Johro · 11-02-2012 01:05AM

LambsEye wrote: »

If you think about it you would expect no support or anger, or any other sort of emotion that involves informed thought or some level of mobilized action. Fact is: carrots are cheep in Tesco + X Factor is on = complete ambivalence to this kind of thing. I completely agree that workers of all strata appear to have no idea of the collective power they hold, BUT when you're barely making enough to sustain you and your family then why would you challenge anything? Demoralization is working quite well thank you very much.

I guess. 'Give them bread and circuses' the Romans used to say. Apathy rules alright.

LambsEye · 11-02-2012 01:07AM

Johro wrote: »

I guess. 'Give them bread and circuses' the Romans used to say. Apathy rules alright.

I heard a rumour that Walmart employees have to sing the Walmart National Anthem before they start work. If that doesn't erode your soul and wear down any thought of resistance, I don't know what does!

matrim · 11-02-2012 01:19AM

Johro wrote: »

It relates to the British government pointing to the likes of China, among others, and it's low paid workers, while allowing big profitable companies in the UK to do the same, and subsidising them.

TBH there's a big difference between someone in England getting the minimum wage for part time work and struggling while having free education, health care and other government welfare supports and someone in China who has probably worked 60 hours a week in a sweatshop since they were 10 and would have no government support if they didn't work

Johro · 11-02-2012 01:24AM

matrim wrote: »

TBH there's a big difference between someone in England getting the minimum wage for part time work and struggling while having free education, health care and other government welfare supports and someone in China who has probably worked 60 hours a week in a sweatshop since they were 10 and would have no government support if they didn't work

Yes, I agree there are huge differences. I was pointing out similarities.
The authorities delight in creating 'us and them' situations so we can point at foreign shortcomings and in doing so ignore our own.

LambsEye · 11-02-2012 01:24AM

matrim wrote: »

TBH there's a big difference between someone in England getting the minimum wage for part time work and struggling while having free education, health care and other government welfare supports and someone in China who has probably worked 60 hours a week in a sweatshop since they were 10 and would have no government support if they didn't work

True, but it must also be noted that despite the fact that China has made significant progressions in the last few years, it is still considered a communist state. England pointing to China for any model of employment is plain balls.

policarp · 11-02-2012 02:45AM

LambsEye wrote: »

True, but it must also be noted that despite the fact that China has made significant progressions in the last few years, it is still considered a communist state. England pointing to China for any model of employment is plain balls.

Balls it may be, but every country in the world needs a working class.

Hypocrisy

Comments