Chilean Miners Recovered, But Economic Reality Has Still Not Reached Unions & Local Authorities…

Must have to drill harder:

Leaders of 1.6 million council workers lodged a claim today for a "modest" pay rise of at least £250 next year and a review of their working conditions.

Aha! Ha ha ha ha ha! They’ve taken leave of their senses!

Heather Wakefield, of Unison, said: "Councils can afford this small increase. They have billions in their reserve funds stashed away. Surely this is the rainy day they've been saving for? There is also enough money to keep services running - but many council workers are in constant fear of losing their jobs.

"At the same time they are working harder than ever to help the local communities they work in pick up the pieces after the recession."

Heather, sweetie, it’s not the council’s money. It’s ours. The taxpayer’s money.

And if they are saving it, it isn’t so they can pay your members more, it’s likely to be so they can afford the pension schemes your members are on.

Peter Allenson, of Unite, said: "Last year the employers implemented a pay freeze, but when inflation was taken into account, it was a pay cut in real terms.

"Locally, employers have been targeting the workforce by reducing shift and overtime payments, including members of staff that deliver home and personal care.

"We have reached the stage, in many cases, where local government staff can go and work in their local supermarket and receive better pay and conditions. Unite demands that this callous treatment stops now and the first step is for the employers to pay this claim in full."

Hey, don’t let us stop them! If they can find better employment elsewhere, then let them go right ahead.

However, when councils are still squandering public money on politically-correct nonsense left right and centre, it’s hard not to see that the unions might have a smidgen of a point.

So, when are unions going to criticise this sort of thing?

A week-long awareness week is taking place to highlight the dangers of excessive alcohol consumption.

/facepalm

Sevenoaks Community Partnership has coordinated a range of activities to encourage healthier drinking habits, and to promote the services available.

The government-led initiative, which runs until Sunday 24 October, encourages participants to send a letter to their local MP in support of better alcohol awareness.

We’re paying tax to a government initiative in order for it to ask us to write to our representative to ask for more of the same? Madness, utter madness!!

Councillor Pat Bosley said: "Alcohol Awareness Week gives people an ideal opportunity to find out more about the benefits of sensible drinking and reassess their own drinking habits.

"It will also help people to understand how drinking can affect their children and help them keep on track of how many units they're drinking."

Two words for you, Bosley: Personal. Responsibility.