The millionaire binman

qwert_yuiop

armour wrote: »

My uncle was a security guard at the BBC in the 50s, 60's & 70s. As an irish immigrant he was able to buy a house such as this:

http://www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/houses/london/godolphin-road/?include_retirement_homes=true&include_shared_ownership=true&include_sold=true&q=Godolphin%20Road%2C%20London%20W12&radius=0.25&results_sort=newest_listings&search_source=facets
So yes, your binman could have lucked in similarly.
To extend the point, how about the Dutch settlers who 'bought' Manhattan island from the native Americans for $24 worth of trade goods? It may not make you a million but it's difficult to lose out 'long term' by investing in property.

Didn't do them much good when the British took it off them. They lost out pretty easily. I met someone yesterday who used to own a huge cattle ranch in Zimbabwe. They're in a terraced house in ireland now.

flea72

ukcarper wrote: »

Has the privatisation of waste services had an effect on wages.

No, the employment tribunal in birmingham caused pay to go down in waste services. As picking up binbags was classed as unskilled, pay was brought into line with cleaners and catering staff at the council.

ukcarper

flea72 wrote: »

No, the employment tribunal in birmingham caused pay to go down in waste services. As picking up binbags was classed as unskilled, pay was brought into line with cleaners and catering staff at the council.

So Graham's bin man would have been earning more when he bought house.

flea72

ukcarper wrote: »

So Graham's bin man would have been earning more when he bought house.

In relation to other unskilled workers yes. But the binman referred to by the OP would most likely have bought in the 70s. His pay would have been similar to that of a labourer and house prices would still have been within reach of that type of income.

Over the ensuing years, min wage has brought lower paid jobs up to a similar footing and the tribunal has made it impossible for a binman to be viewed as more skilled than a cleaner, so pay will never be above the cheapest an employer can get away with paying.

Our local council recently did a risk assessment on all roles within the council. An office worker sitting at a desk with no public contact, was viewed as being at greater risk of injury, than a binman lifting heavy loads, picking up waste of unknown origin and dealing with irate customers face to face. Of course there is no skill in walking 20 miles a day, whilst lifting 3 tonne of rubbish, anyone can do it, yet sitting at a desk tapping on a keyboard, earns a premium, due to it being a skilled job, with increased risk.

ukcarper

flea72 wrote: »

In relation to other unskilled workers yes. But the binman referred to by the OP would most likely have bought in the 70s. His pay would have been similar to that of a labourer and house prices would still have been within reach of that type of income.

Over the ensuing years, min wage has brought lower paid jobs up to a similar footing and the tribunal has made it impossible for a binman to be viewed as more skilled than a cleaner, so pay will never be above the cheapest an employer can get away with paying.

Our local council recently did a risk assessment on all roles within the council. An office worker sitting at a desk with no public contact, was viewed as being at greater risk of injury, than a binman lifting heavy loads, picking up waste of unknown origin and dealing with irate customers face to face. Of course there is no skill in walking 20 miles a day, whilst lifting 3 tonne of rubbish, anyone can do it, yet sitting at a desk tapping on a keyboard, earns a premium, due to it being a skilled job, with increased risk.

I'm not sure they would I was in a much better job in the 70s and couldn't afford London prices.

flea72

ukcarper wrote: »

I'm not sure they would I was in a much better job in the 70s and couldn't afford London prices.

Not even under right to buy, as a council tenant?

ukcarper

flea72 wrote: »

Not even under right to buy, as a council tenant?

Never had the chance of a council house even in the 70s they were very hard to get.

But that is a way someone on a low wage could buy there were also so very dodgy areas where you might have been able to buy and some of those areas have been gentrified.