It was getting tough in 2006 and the workhouse still threatens us in 2011

starsandmoon

Gigervamp wrote: »

Barstewards! 'Scuse my language.

Hubby works for the council. His salary was ok, but a lot less than he would be getting in the private sector. We've been getting by ok although we can't afford any big cost things like holidays and we've found over the last few months that despite my carefull budgeting, the end of the month is pretty tight moneywise.

Yesterday, all the staff got a brochure with the new employment proposals and hubby's wages are being cut by 20%. That works out at about £500 a month less.

Some of the other proposals include stopping unsocial hours wages and essential car allowance. These things won't affect hubby, but they will affect people such as care workers who have to do nights and use their own cars. They don't get paid much more than NMW as it is and now they're expected to work nights for the same pay as daytime staff and get no help towards the wear and tear of their cars which they have to use for work.

Guess who the cuts don't apply to!

It's disgusting. Hubby might have a chance of a job in the private sector. He didn't want to go for it before because he felt a loyalty to the council, but not now. Fingers crossed for that because otherwise things are going to get incredibly tight here.

I work for Local Authority and have just taken a 20% cut in wages too. I wont use my car for work due to the cut in mileage plus they want you to be insured with business class which would cost me a fortune so I get the bus to meetings now. None of the bosses have had cuts, the Chief exec said she wont!:mad: Their answer to me when I said how will I feed my little girl and have the heating on too was "oh you get tax credits so they will help cover the loss in wages"

People slam the public sector but we dont get paid as much as the private sector because we always had a really good pension. Now that is being taken away too.

rachbc

ooh yes nice boots - I've been consdiered snow books this year but those are a bit out of my budget.

Gigervamp and Starsandmoon - barstewards indeed - wish I had words of comfort to offer. Services beign decimated and employees being treated like nothing my LA's accross the board. My collegues who are emplyed on a LA contract should hear just before christmas if they still have jobs after all taking a 20% cut in hours as a temporary repreive 6 months ago.

Kittie - interesting abotu the cashews - iwas reading a recipe for a creamy broclli soup that used cashews instead of dairy - wasn't sure abotu it but might give it a go now

ginnyknit

Those boots are an investment though aren't they. I wore crocs at work and they lasted forever! In the conditions up where you live Mardatha I think they would still last a good few winters and they are so cute!

I watched the news - I try to avoid it, not that I am an ostrich, I am well aware that we are up a certain creek and ain't got a paddle. I think our way of life is becoming a necessity not a choice and it makes me want to build a big brick wall around ginny towers. Where do we al go from here, I don't want to get to the point where I am worried about turning a light on and sitting wrapped in a duvet all day long :eek:

I had plantar fascitis too several times during my working days, its hell and my heart goes out to anyone suffering - comfy shoes and feet up at every possible minute of the day is the only thing. I think cold floors make it worse, charity shops all seem to have concrete floors and I could always feel the cold rising up through my legs - also they are very tight with the heating so you are always cold, in fact at my last shop I was ordered to remove a huge storage heater from the shop to make more room for stock which just left me with one heater in a huge shop and workroom! Thank goodness I got out before we started getting these severe winters.

suzid

Gingervamp & Starsandmoon we're in a similar position here too. Been telling DH for years that he was working too hard working a huge number of hours unpaid as well as some overtime, and that they would just use him and not give a toss. We're about 38% down on two years ago due the stopping of CB & TC's on DS. The council did a restructuring ie how can we pay them less. Overtime stopped, anyone leaving wasn't replaced except by some agency staff who had no longterm pride in the projects they worked on. The work load has been ever increasing but the feeling of self worth and valued for you work is non existent. Essential users will be next to go no doubt, and as DH has to travel all over the county with business use insurance, we'll be left subsidising the ****** council.

All the uni finance is worked out on pay two years ago so we've had to put in for a current years assessment.

I hope your DH gets another job soon GV. Feeling valued is so important as they spend so much time at work. To be miserable and put upon is just soul destroying.

shegar

mardatha wrote: »

Had a look and they look good, I like them. The Barista new work shoe looks ok for him, have texted him to see if he'd be allowed to wear them. He runs a security team in a big complex in Edinburgh and works 12 hour shifts. Thanks for this - things are quite desperate with him as his boss loves him and his team love him and they've all waited patiently since Nov for him to come back. He went back this week and is in agony. If he had to pack it in then the dole will give him sitting down jobs - and he's dyslexic as hell and can't do a desk job. Ahhh the worries - you think once they grow up things will be ok and you'll stop worrying? lol - THINK AGAIN!

Well im really glad that I mentioned I have planta, cos at least you now know there is something to wear that will help his poor feet, poor man on feet 12 hr shift is not good, I know im at home all day with caring duties but if my feet ache bad then I can at least rest them , where as if your working for someone you just cant rest when you need to, let us know how he gets on, and that applies to anyone else with this condition, theres some really good advise from posters on here , thanks to you all,:T

ginnyknit

Just had to go on the crocs website - theres a 15% discount for new shoppers Mardatha!

Rosanna79

It's appalling to read of the shabby way in which various workers are being treated. My SIL in western Ireland and another friend both report really savage salary cuts down 1000 euro £800/month and in the case of the public sector workers something like 10 different taxes. It makes one wonder where it's all going to end. it's never the bankers, top managers and other greedy b****ers who suffer is it? Always those least able to afford the cuts to their own lives.

Has anyone been watching REEL HISTORY OF BRITAIN? IT's on BBC1 from 18 30 and the episode on the slums , only 80 years ago was quite disturbing.. It occurred to me that it's not beyond the bounds of possibility that we could return to those days with all that's happening these days.

Can't help agreeing about what I call the 'UP YOURS' attitude of staff towards repair and after sales service these days. Have recently encountered a ridiculous state of affairs recently at our local department store. For the last 8 years since I moved back to my home town I've gone there for regular measuring and ordering the cotton bras I need . Never been skinny on top and being allergic to both nylon and underwires have had to settle, like most well upholstered girls for a sturdy 'stoppem floppem'!!

Anyway went to aforesaid store last week to discover that ALL BRANDS except Camille had been removed so all nylon, underwired or not and therefore unwearable for someone who MUST WEAR COTTON. Assistants very apologetic and whilst trying to find alternative venues at which to purchase, another customer pointed me in the direction of what turned out to be a brilliant lingerie shop in a nearby market town. No possibility for me to buy online with my build- since 14 had one size top bigger than bottom half - and no I'm not boasting. It's a real pain as any other lass who shares the same problem will agree.

Found exactly what I wanted as soon as I crossed the threshold and ordering the rest of what I needed thought I'd have to wait 2-3 weeks - was able to collect within the week and well happy as they say.

The lady who runs this lingerie shop tells me that my bra is her best seller and my less well endowed friend who also likes to wear cotton will have no trouble obtaining her requirements either. Seems like rhe small individual shops are actually listening to what their customers want & hopefully will keep in business through this tough time ahead.

Why on earth would a big store be so cretinously stupid as to lose what will be a massive amount of business at least in our area where a greater proportion of the female population are rather well built?!! It seems totally ridiculous to me!!

Idiots! Bunglers! my grumpy old dad used to say - wonder what he would make of today's mad world?

We're currently drowning in cherry tomatoes, OH will NOT touch pasta or rice and hates the taste of basil! The home made tomato ketchup recipes I've trawled on line seem to have endless ingredients and seem rather expensive. Am going to do what I can in using these tomatoes in various guises ( freezing /roasting) as he doesn't want to give them away after the effort of growing. Does anyone have a really simple tomato ketchup or sauce recipe?? Answers on a postcard -please....

Hobsons_Choice

So sorry to hear about job losses and cuts. I used to work for Local Govt and had to endure the ribbing of "only sitting drinking tea" and "not producing anything worthwhile". I tell you...I worked bl**dy hard and my last boss couldn't even be ar*ed to put a letter in an envelope! PLUS he was on three times my salary for attending useless meetings and talking about football.
These cuts never seem to start at the top, do they?

v8monkeyboy

Roseanna79 - the Margarite (sp?) Pattern book 'The Basic Basics' has a brilliant recipe for tomato sauce that I've used in the past. I'm not at home right now with it to hand, but if you can wait until tomorrow, I'd be happy to post it up for you

T x

mardatha

Son's surgeon told him that plantar fasciitis will gradually go away on it's own. If you have it for a year then it's not plantar its something else.