Michelin, Gallaghers etc - lots of bad economic news!

wacko911

qwert_yuiop wrote: »

Sounds like nonsense

Yeah, I'd take it with a pinch of salt, the friend I heard it from told me he had heard it from 2 different people that work there... didn't half believe it myself as it would be massive news locally, just one of those friend of a friend of a friend stories.

But if it does happen you heard it here first

I know a lot of european's work there but it would still be a massive blow for the area.

tara747

motorguy wrote: »

And an awful lot of negative house prices news too from memory - even though the house prices have long since started moving UP.

Nobody has a crystal ball regarding house prices. Sometimes I'm right, sometimes you're right. And vice versa. I can say, though, that I'm better off financially than my friends who bought houses from 2005 onwards.

If we're going off-topic, there's your recent statement that the VW scandal wouldn't hurt their sales. :rotfl:


The average salary is lower, however the cost of living is lower too. Much lower.

Can you give specific examples of things that cost a lot less in NI? Public transport fares, cars, petrol, diesel, heating oil, food, utilities, clothes...?


Public sector jobs are not all going TODAY, and will be aborbed elsewhere. Plus dont forget a load of public sector people will take early retirement.

Absorbed where?

It' not just job losses - there's a recruitment freeze as well.


Yes, been on the payscales, and well up them.

This is just willy waving :rotfl:

Speaking of solicitors. I worked with one woman who was a solicitor in a civil service section, went from a £50K pro rata salary (she worked 3 days a week so was on £30K) to a six figure salary in the private sector...

You're very fond of your 'Well, my mate proves you wrong' anecdotes. Not really a substitute for proper statistics, though, are they?

Well dont settle for average pay then - those who are good in any job for any company can and will progress. And if not, move elsewhere.

And another thing i've found - dont dwell on other people and what the average pay here might be. Focus on what you have and how well you can do.

I'm doing absolutely fine. But this thread is not called 'All about me', or 'All about my mate X who earns more than average'. It's about the wider NI economy.

My replies in red above.

lazer

Bridgeton_Boy wrote: »

With all the recent job losses in private and also the public sector ( for example HMRC closing all local offices over the next 2 years) N.Ireland is in a bad way economically. I also think that with the EU membership referendum coming sometime soon (2016 / 2017) looking like a UK withdrawal that with the land boundary with the Republic of Ireland and the impact of restrictions and additional administration increased costs on imports / exports that we are going to suffer even more economic downturn than any other part of the UK. Instead of petty fighting our politicians should be putting aside their difference and treating these jobs losses as an emergency . Suggestions such as looking at how we can reduce costs for business such as with their power / utility costs, reducing rates on businesses, getting the UK government to provide grants to businesses to take on young people / long term unemployed ( and dont tell me there is no money as they are spending billions on renewing Trident missile system), stop the removal of public sector jobs from N.Ireland to UK ( as with HMRC, DVLC, 999 call centre,), start a programme of ensuring every home in N.Ireland has the best available insulation fitted so no one should live in a cold drafty house leaking heat, build better infrastructure (roads - e.g motorway from northwest to Belfast), more solar farms and wave power and look at hydro to help generate more of our own energy, upgrade broadband. These are just some of the things that we can do which can help if not stop job losses but at least provide an opportunity to have these replaced with new ones. Time for these fools on the hill to pull their finger out to do something before its too late.

Given all the job losses In Ballymena, perhaps it would be wise to centralise the HMRC regional office in that area instead of Belfast.


I am all for savings by centralising services to save money where suitable, but that does not mean move everything to Belfast!

tara747

lazer wrote: »

Given all the job losses In Ballymena, perhaps it would be wise to centralise the HMRC regional office in that area instead of Belfast.


I am all for savings by centralising services to save money where suitable, but that does not mean move everything to Belfast!

I agree. Decentralisation would also help to ease congestion in the Belfast area, and save people a few qud in fuel and parking. I'm so glad that I don't have to drive to work!

motorguy

tara747 wrote: »

Nobody has a crystal ball regarding house prices. Sometimes I'm right, sometimes you're right. And vice versa.

Indeed, however prices have been trending upwards for several years now, and you still havent bought, even though your aim initially was to buy at the bottom of the market.

tara747 wrote: »

If we're going off-topic, there's your recent statement that the VW scandal wouldn't hurt their sales.

Yes. It wont hurt their sales long term, which is what i said. Oh, and whats Octobers best selling car across Europe - VW Golf!

tara747 wrote: »

Can you give specific examples of things that cost a lot less in NI? Public transport fares, cars, petrol, diesel, heating oil, food, utilities, clothes...?

Yes of course - rent on a 2 bed apartment in say hatfield or slough or woking - aroun £1200 a month. Here - £500-600 a month.

Property prices in the above - semi detached approx £500,000. Here probably £100,000+

tara747 wrote: »

You're very fond of your 'Well, my mate proves you wrong' anecdotes. Not really a substitute for proper statistics, though, are they?

You mean based on real life examples and actual experience as opposed to "i've found something negative in the news, therefore everything is terrible"?

tara747 wrote: »

This thread is not called 'All about me', or 'All about my mate X who earns more than average'. It's about the wider NI economy.

Absolutely not, but neither should it be a "doom and gloom" thread which you seem want to make it.

motorguy

tara747 wrote: »

Sure, motorguy makes a point - there are opportunities to progress in most lines of work, even call centres. But the average salary is low. The few who earn £30k aren't enough to skew the figures.

Was just thinking about this over the weekend - the average salary in call centres may be low among agents who make up the bulk of the staff, however the vast majority of those people are aged between 18-25.

Surely this has to be seen as a positive, as its getting young people into jobs, which will allow them to progress into better paid jobs in that industry and other industries?

motorguy

lazer wrote: »

Given all the job losses In Ballymena, perhaps it would be wise to centralise the HMRC regional office in that area instead of Belfast.


I am all for savings by centralising services to save money where suitable, but that does not mean move everything to Belfast!

Was there not a move to spread civil service jobs out of belfast city?

For example, the charity commission are based in lurgan and that was part of that initiative?

motorguy

tara747 wrote: »

I agree. Decentralisation would also help to ease congestion in the Belfast area, and save people a few qud in fuel and parking. I'm so glad that I don't have to drive to work!

+1

That should definitely be happening more

Ticked

motorguy wrote: »

A long way to transport chicken fillets, given their home market is the UK and Ireland and into Europe.

Nothing surprises me anymore.

motorguy

Ticked wrote: »

Nothing surprises me anymore.

Well you need to be a realist then