tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3952108899218764633.post3886384670107900188..comments2024-02-28T22:03:19.609+00:00Comments on A Scottish Liberal: Slavery alive in Cameron's "Big Society"Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02027368242570244912noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3952108899218764633.post-70024331021918792152012-06-12T11:08:40.708+01:002012-06-12T11:08:40.708+01:00In response to anonymous:
a) Yes, it's absolu...In response to anonymous:<br /><br />a) Yes, it's absolutely fine to bring people from outside the city. It's a good opportunity for such people to gain experience of a big event. But if they're doing that, then some consideration must be given to their accommodation needs.<br /><br />b) Agreed, the £2.80 per hour is essentially an abuse of these "exceptions". <br /><br />c) Toilet facilities are something the employer is legally required to provide. Absolutely disgraceful oversight in my view.<br /><br />d) 14 hour shifts - well, whatever our personal views, according to the European Working Time Directive no-one can be required to work them. And, if they agree to work such long shifts (as I have many times), they are legally entitles to a number of breaks and to use toilet facilities which it seems were not provided. <br /><br />e) Failure to provide accommodation - a significant oversight at best. If you're shipping in busloads of workers from outside London the very least you'd expect is for the employer to realise these people need to sleep somewhere after the event. Perhaps not a legal requirement, but a practical consideration that Close Security UK should have provided for (or advised in advance that they were unable to provide for).<br /><br />f) Agreed - completely indefensible. There can be no excuse for that dehumanising behaviour.Andrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02027368242570244912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3952108899218764633.post-50559150735516906082012-06-11T21:01:41.786+01:002012-06-11T21:01:41.786+01:00Let's see. Bringing in people from outside Lon...Let's see. Bringing in people from outside London? Fine - not a problem. <br /><br />Paying £2.80 per hour? Almost certainly an abuse of the "training" exceptions to the minimum wage. <br /><br />Failure to provide adequate access to toilet facilities? Big problem. <br /><br />14 hour shifts? Not something I have a problem with particularly.<br /><br />Failure to provide accommodation? Could just about be legally in the clear, but definitely shady behaviour.<br /><br />Telling people to sleep under a bridge? Indefensible.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3952108899218764633.post-17900757973025815672012-06-06T11:35:37.586+01:002012-06-06T11:35:37.586+01:00Dear Tim,
I imagine you are familiar with the Gua...Dear Tim,<br /><br />I imagine you are familiar with the Guardian report revealing corporate exploitation on the part of one of the stewarding providers for the Jubilee events.<br /><br />Like many people I am appalled at this. I have no doubt you are too. The abuses that have taken place are of questionable legality and are morally reprehensible. It is beyond belief that practices effectively cultivating and reinforcing slavery are being used by private companies in 21st century Britain.<br /><br />However. the fact they have taken place at all is an indictment of the government and the misguided initiatives it has put into place. There can be no doubt that Close Protection UK must be held responsible for its actions, but I am also concerned that this is merely a symptom of a wider problem.<br /><br />I would hope as president of the party you would issue a statement making clear how disgusted you are with the situation and reinforcing our party's commitment to abolishing slavery in all its forms.<br /><br />Kind regards,<br /><br />Andrew PageAndrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02027368242570244912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3952108899218764633.post-71943973695068327402012-06-06T11:10:47.878+01:002012-06-06T11:10:47.878+01:00Thank you George. I also thought your own piece wa...Thank you George. I also thought your own piece was very good - your anger at both the corporate exploitation being reported and the coalition's culpability is well-placed (and also quite reassuring). We need to speak up against social injustice in all its forms.Andrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02027368242570244912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3952108899218764633.post-12597470444629421502012-06-05T23:26:44.698+01:002012-06-05T23:26:44.698+01:00Very, very, *very* well said.Very, very, *very* well said.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07182217326137612970noreply@blogger.com