Off Topic General Election Special

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I might start my own party for the next election.

One of my promises will be to hang every single member of the Conservative party, the Labour Party, the Lib Dem’s, the snp, the Green Party, the dup, the whoever. Every single one of them.

Who’s with me?
 
originallambrettaman said:
The amount that Labour is proposing to inject into the NHS, is less than the amount it would cost to implement a four day working week in the NHS.
Click to expand...

When Labour talk about a 4 day week – or more accurately a 32 hour week - they are outlining their visions for the future beyond this term – ambition – and have talked about it taking a decade. In some areas of the pub sec, perhaps it will never be possible, but in others it will give some people a sense of work life/balance back.

We have people overworked, stressed and more mental health problems than ever. Life expectancy is also going down for the first time in decades.

Some pri sec companies already operate such initiatives and both at home and abroad. But whether it will work in the NHS is unknown – I’d like to think it is.

I know a lot of people on this forum are retirement age or approaching and this may be difficult for them to see how this will benefit them. But there are lot of workers that desperately need a 32 hour week (which is a more accurate description of it). If the pub sec does this, perhaps the pri sec will follow (where possible).

But I applaud their vision. As I do with things like the extra Bank Holidays. I’d rather have that to look forward to than the de-regulation of workers’ rights meaning fewer holidays and protections. Surely we should look to advancement, not regression.

Let’s raise the bar higher and higher.
 
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Leon T Trout AFC said:
When Labour talk about a 4 day week – or more accurately a 32 hour week - they are outlining their visions for the future beyond this term – ambition – and have talked about it taking a decade. In some areas of the pub sec, perhaps it will never be possible, but in others it will give some people a sense of work life/balance back.

We have people overworked, stressed and more mental health problems than ever. Life expectancy is also going down for the first time in decades.

Some pri sec companies already operate such initiatives and both at home and abroad. But whether it will work in the NHS is unknown – I’d like to think it is.

I know a lot of people on this forum are retirement age or approaching and this may be difficult for them to see how this will benefit them. But there are lot of workers that desperately need a 32 hour week (which is a more accurate description of it). If the pub sec does this, perhaps the pri sec will follow (where possible).

But I applaud their vision. As I do with things like the extra Bank Holidays. I’d rather have that to look forward to than the de-regulation of workers’ rights meaning fewer holidays and protections. Surely we should look to advancement, not regression.

Let’s raise the bar higher and higher.
Click to expand...

Great, so we're going to give everyone a four day week, other than doctors and nurses, maybe teachers and the fire brigade, as we need permanent cover for those to. Sounds like a really well thought through plan to me.

I've no issue with companies switching to a four day week if it suits them, I'm sure there's many business which would benefit from such an arrangement, it's inflicting it on those who it doesn't work for that's the problem and that's a great many of them.

I don't believe any party will reduce peoples holidays.
 
Leon T Trout AFC said:
When Labour talk about a 4 day week – or more accurately a 32 hour week - they are outlining their visions for the future beyond this term – ambition – and have talked about it taking a decade. In some areas of the pub sec, perhaps it will never be possible, but in others it will give some people a sense of work life/balance back.

We have people overworked, stressed and more mental health problems than ever. Life expectancy is also going down for the first time in decades.

Some pri sec companies already operate such initiatives and both at home and abroad. But whether it will work in the NHS is unknown – I’d like to think it is.

I know a lot of people on this forum are retirement age or approaching and this may be difficult for them to see how this will benefit them. But there are lot of workers that desperately need a 32 hour week (which is a more accurate description of it). If the pub sec does this, perhaps the pri sec will follow (where possible).

But I applaud their vision. As I do with things like the extra Bank Holidays. I’d rather have that to look forward to than the de-regulation of workers’ rights meaning fewer holidays and protections. Surely we should look to advancement, not regression.

Let’s raise the bar higher and higher.
Click to expand...

I would agree with much of what you have said here and at my age I'd welcome a 32 hour week,I recently left a job because on top of a 45 hour week,they wanted too much commitment for weekend work.

I want to see out the rest of my life without the stress and exhaustion of working 60 hour weeks but the young and the greedy play into management hands by taking every hour they can get.In my days as a steward I fought for better basic pay and the creation of more jobs,nowadays wage negotiations invariably revolve around enhanced overtime rates and a longer working week.

Personally I think the unions will baulk at the idea of a 32 hour working week and it'll never be implemented and putting that aside I fail to see how production will go up by working less hours?

Let's also consider that if NHS staff aren't afforded the same rights in terms of a shorter working week,which they won't be,how many will seek employment in different spheres? And how many will claim discrimination and testify that they are being treated less favourably?
 
Leon T Trout AFC said:
Decent video summarising the Fake News story.

Whatever your political persuasion, if you value ethics and integrity, this must surely concern you:

You must log in or register to see media
Click to expand...

Always up for a challenge, i'll give it a go.

A number of issues and story's here. The first one, 4 year old child is ill and ends up at A+E with mother. As always these days it's busy. What parent in their right mind would let their sick child lay on the floor? if there was nothing better sit the kid on your lap whilst you sit on a chair.
OK so your getting pissed off waiting but do you really need to send pictures to the media right now? Did you think that would speed thing up it getting care for your child.
The hospital issued an official apology so it must be true, well I think the standard line put out is only normal, even before any investigation of the incident. Of course we are disappointed, we were extremely busy at that time, it's normally better than this bla bla bla.

Now its gone viral, all over social media. The now famous tweet / post on face book. its seems like every man and his dog has a friend who is a senior nurse at Leeds hospital and they all managed to compose the exact same statement about the incident. So that bit is fake but who started it? The journalist claim to have found the woman who posted first but she claims it was sent to her from a friend or contact? Further investigations find a vague link between her son and a Conservative MP. But both claim they know nothing of the message.

It's sad that the original story has been forgotten and now it's all about social media. I read somewhere describing it as the genie is out of the bottle, it's turned into a monster and now there is no control of it. Anyone can post anything and it spreads like a wild fire.
 
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balkan tiger said:
Always up for a challenge, i'll give it a go.

A number of issues and story's here. The first one, 4 year old child is ill and ends up at A+E with mother. As always these days it's busy. What parent in their right mind would let their sick child lay on the floor? if there was nothing better sit the kid on your lap whilst you sit on a chair.
OK so your getting pissed off waiting but do you really need to send pictures to the media right now? Did you think that would speed thing up it getting care for your child.
The hospital issued an official apology so it must be true, well I think the standard line put out is only normal, even before any investigation of the incident. Of course we are disappointed, we were extremely busy at that time, it's normally better than this bla bla bla.

Now its gone viral, all over social media. The now famous tweet / post on face book. its seems like every man and his dog has a friend who is a senior nurse at Leeds hospital and they all managed to compose the exact same statement about the incident. So that bit is fake but who started it? The journalist claim to have found the woman who posted first but she claims it was sent to her from a friend or contact? Further investigations find a vague link between her son and a Conservative MP. But both claim they know nothing of the message.

It's sad that the original story has been forgotten and now it's all about social media. I read somewhere describing it as the genie is out of the bottle, it's turned into a monster and now there is no control of it. Anyone can post anything and it spreads like a wild fire.
Click to expand...

That happens to be one of the most sensible and reasoned responses I've read all week.
 
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balkan tiger said:
Always up for a challenge, i'll give it a go.

A number of issues and story's here. The first one, 4 year old child is ill and ends up at A+E with mother. As always these days it's busy. What parent in their right mind would let their sick child lay on the floor? if there was nothing better sit the kid on your lap whilst you sit on a chair.
OK so your getting pissed off waiting but do you really need to send pictures to the media right now? Did you think that would speed thing up it getting care for your child.
The hospital issued an official apology so it must be true, well I think the standard line put out is only normal, even before any investigation of the incident. Of course we are disappointed, we were extremely busy at that time, it's normally better than this bla bla bla.

Now its gone viral, all over social media. The now famous tweet / post on face book. its seems like every man and his dog has a friend who is a senior nurse at Leeds hospital and they all managed to compose the exact same statement about the incident. So that bit is fake but who started it? The journalist claim to have found the woman who posted first but she claims it was sent to her from a friend or contact? Further investigations find a vague link between her son and a Conservative MP. But both claim they know nothing of the message.

It's sad that the original story has been forgotten and now it's all about social media. I read somewhere describing it as the genie is out of the bottle, it's turned into a monster and now there is no control of it. Anyone can post anything and it spreads like a wild fire.
Click to expand...

The parents have every right to go to the media if their story is correct. Perhaps the child was more comfortable laying on the floor than sat up in a lap. Either way, it looks bad that a hospital can't look after a sick child properly. The extent to what is the government's fault, the hospital's fault or the immediate care giver is the debate. How much has the hospital spent on art and acupuncturists the last decade, for example? How much are the top managers earning and what has been the increase etc.

There are many factors to be investigated, but everything is binary in UK news regarding these matters at the moment.
 
TheCasual said:
The thing people miss with the 4 day working week is AI and automation.

Even in the medical profession there is that automation isn't.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/technology-41575859/the-origami-inspired-mini-surgeon-robot
Click to expand...

I don't think people have grasped the idea that there are going to be far fewer jobs available in the future
especially for unskilled workers , automation and AI will replace many.

Not really a party political thing as nobody has any solution as to what to do with those people who
no longer have a job. There are going to be massive changes though , it certainly won't be business as usual
and carrying on as we have for the last 50 years.
 
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TheCasual said:
The thing people miss with the 4 day working week is AI and automation.

Even in the medical profession there is that automation isn't.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/technology-41575859/the-origami-inspired-mini-surgeon-robot
Click to expand...

Be careful what you wish for!! I spoke to a driver recently who was delivering to coca-colas main production plant(can't remember correct location but that's not important),what is important is the fact that robots do the loading/unloading of lorries!! Apparently in situations like this you can do away with 2 or 3,000 workers,replace them with robots and should any snags occur the skilfully trained technicians(6-10 I believe) sort the snags!! Scary times ahead due to automation?
 
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Ric Glasgow said:
Be careful what you wish for!! I spoke to a driver recently who was delivering to coca-colas main production plant(can't remember correct location but that's not important),what is important is the fact that robots do the loading/unloading of lorries!! Apparently in situations like this you can do away with 2 or 3,000 workers,replace them with robots and should any snags occur the skilfully trained technicians(6-10 I believe) sort the snags!! Scary times ahead due to automation?
Click to expand...

You can't stop automation and AI. So we should embrace it.

We're embarking on 4th industrial revolution.

The only solution I can see is UBI or UBS.
 
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TheCasual said:
You can't stop automation and AI. So we should embrace it.

We're embarking on 4th industrial revolution.

The only solution I can see is UBI or UBS.
Click to expand...
I read an article in a Sunday paper earlier this year from a guy that invests in companies that are developing in Ai and automation !
He said everybody should be worried about how quick it will advance .
He said it will effect every single area of employment and don't think your area is safe from it !
 
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Ric Glasgow said:
Be careful what you wish for!! I spoke to a driver recently who was delivering to coca-colas main production plant(can't remember correct location but that's not important),what is important is the fact that robots do the loading/unloading of lorries!! Apparently in situations like this you can do away with 2 or 3,000 workers,replace them with robots and should any snags occur the skilfully trained technicians(6-10 I believe) sort the snags!! Scary times ahead due to automation?
Click to expand...
I like this story Ric. I can see the office workers drinking Diet Coke during their break watching the auto bots unloading the crates. It just won’t be the same.
 
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