Putting the Last Year behind us

 Hi Swantv Viewer

Christmas has passed and the beginning of 2023 approaches fast. Let's hope that the New Year brings hope and happiness for everyone.

We've had three prime ministers in as many months and the nightmare that has caused. The bank rate has been on a continuous upward trend. The was in Ukraine will soon have it's first year anniversary. Russian has tried to blackmail us over gas prices. Farmers have been battling with drought, lack of staff, bird flu and other disasters. Strikes have crippled the railways and postal services to name just two sectors. And the spiralling cost of living has impacted everyone, many with dire consequences. I think it's fair to say this has probably been the worse year for a generation!

So how can we think anything is going to change? It's true I can't see a magic wand being waved and all these difficulties vanish into thin air. 

The railway and postal strikes seem to be two pronged. These are not just wages disputes but working conditions. Both seem to feel that changes will be detremental to their jobs but if we don't embrace modern technology these industries will suffer. Yes there may be redundancies but streamling wil increase both efficiency and productivity. It would be a disaster if they lingered on without being resolved with the possibility of the same result as when the miners went on strike and within a couple of years the mining industry was dead. 

Postal services could easily be replaced by competitive services which would be bad for some rural areas where new carriers might cherry pick and cut certain services which were not

    profitable. The Royal Mail has certainly fallen down since privitisation, many services already cut, prices dramatically increased and existing services changed where deliveries can be in the afternoon. And now there are possible no future Saturday deliveries, first class stamps hitting £1 and self-employed delivery drivers employed.  I remember when there were two deliveries a day and the first was usually before 9.30 in the morning, where post boxes where empties several times a day postmen were recognised by their uniform, rater than the private cars we see sometimes and the motley selection of clothing worn!.

Roads are busier and ever, city parking is expensive and difficult, costs of fuel, insurance and running costs continue to rise. But cars are not the only alternative to trains. Coaches are clean, tidy and efficient with usually good facilities for wifi and a smooth ride so work is posssible And the cost is often less that half the price of a train ticket. Personally I love coach travel an if you are a regula commuter you get to now fellow passengers easier. Ok there can be motorway holdups but my experiences have been very few delays.

Today it emerged that 250 signallers and track engineers earn at least £100,000 annd another 650  earned more than £80,000. And a quarter of track maintenance staff are on £60,000-plus – more than double the £27,055 given to a newly qualified nurse. The average earnings for a signaller were just under £56,000 and £50,000 for track maintenance staff. Most staff have an average wage of £31,000 which is in line with wages/salaries across the UK. They include base salary, overtime, rest day working and allowances for unsociable hours. And now Mr Lynch has rejected a 9 per cent pay offer from Network Rail, a deal that has been accepted by the TSSA union. It is worth double digits over two years for the lowest paid.  Mick Lynch earns £84,000 a year and I bet his salary was paid on every strike day, unlike the strikers who must be seeing a loss of earnings right now. What are you earning in comparison and do you think they deserve the rise the demand? Should they demand no compulsory redundancies when changes might be necessary to give a similar or better service but cut costs to increase efficiencies?

Strike action can be a positive way to wage increases and working practice imrovements but holding the country to ransome is not the answer. Trade unions started in the 1800's when workers were treated unfairly and almost as possessions of the bosses, when health and safety was still 100 years away, and when deaths and injuries were the norm. Workers were treated unfairly and could usually be fired at a whim, when 12 hours a day and six days a week was the normal work pattern. Then trade unions were formed to protect workers conditions and wages.

The nurses strike, in my opinion is different. Wages are low, the hours long and the stress levels of dealing with a whole range of seriously sick or abusive patients are high. The NHS has been the poor relation for too long and badly neglected. Now I hear the prime minister

saying money is available to improvements but not wages. Sounds like Boris's claim to build 40 new hospitals when he meant upgrading existing hospitals, which is not additional. 

So lets hope the railway strikers see sense, accept a reasonable offer, realise that changes are necessary and get back to work early in the new year and lets get back to being able to work. And hope the government can make a reasonable and acceptable offer to the nurses.

Will the war in Ukkraine finish in 2023? I certainly hope so. Putin must realise now that he has already lost and that he has put himself in a precarious place when he could be toppled. I read about escape plans to South America but, when the conflict  finishes, let's see him on trial for Crimes Against Humanity and imprisoned for live, and Russia responsible for re-bulding Ukraine. I find it incredible that governments sidled up to Putin and acted like he was a friend, that when he build up his forces on the Ukraine border for "Military Exercises" they believed him and that the actual attack on Ukraine was met with disbelief.

And finally the cost of living! Ok, so there have been several factors that has affected world prices, the major factor being Russia again. Gas prices have spiralled, although we only use about 4% Russian gas. Prices from other countries have risen as demand has gone up. And, of course, Ukraine is known as the world's breadbox, growing cereals and supplying the world. But Russian has cut off Ukraine from the ports so exports are not possible. 

When Covid struck the the government generously paid out furlough money to millions of workers who were forced to stay at home but because insufficient checks were made, billions went to dishonest businesses that have never been recovered, a sustancial loss for the

government and our pockets. Many started working from home and a high percentage were then able to make considerable saving because commuting costs, morning coffees and lunches unnecessary; whilst the other half found their income slashed.  And of course, the PPI money that appears to have been siphoned off irresponsibly, much on equipment that was not of a satisfactory quality and for which millions are now being paid in storage costs. The government have much to answer for the losses that have now come home to roost in higher taxes etc.

I've thought about this but cannot see a solution. Although there is so much help out there for those in need, food banks and so on, we must think of a time ahead when those become redundant and nobody is living in poverty. Will the government find a way through this quagmire and bring us back to sanity? Maybe we should have a coalition where both major politican parties work together as happened after WW2. Two heads are better than one, and there is strength in teamwork. 

This has been a long post. What is your take on the current situation? If you were in charge of the govenment what would you do? Let me know. Comments below or come and talk with us.

Regards

 

Mike Leahy Director SwanTV

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