MINIMUM WAGE SHOULD BE LIVING WAGE

27 Sep 2010

A living wage for public sector workers has been proposed at Labour’s conference today. But why should any workers have to work for a wage that is not enough to live on? Surely the minimum wage should be set at a level where ordinary folk can live on it.

It is obviously good that there is a minimum wage at all. Previously security workers in Glasgow would get £1 per hour or little more. And tax credits are also welcome as they boost the incomes of low paid working families. But both of these should only be the starting point, not the finishing point.

The reality is that big profitable companies can pay the minimum wage knowing that their employees can claim tax credits to be able to actually live. This is effectively a state subsidy to the private sector. If the minimum wage was raised, less people would need tax credits and that public money could be targeted at those most in need.

Another problem is having a higher living wage for the public sector while the private sector is allowed to pay less. This means that when a contract to build a school, clean the streets, or provide home helps is up for grabs, it is harder for the public sector to compete with the private sector. Therefore, there should be a higher minimum wage that applies to both public and private organisations.

John Mason’s experience at Westminster was that Labour ministers continually ducked this question. They congratulated themselves on the minimum wage and on tax credits. But when the Welfare Reform Bill was discussed they refused to tackle the minimum/living wage level, saying that was the responsibility of a different government department. Yet if we want to get people back to work, surely there have to be carrots as well as sticks. And what better carrot than a decent higher living statutory minimum wage.

CONGRATULATIONS NICOLA STURGEON

27 Sep 2010

John Mason is delighted to see that Nicola Sturgeon has topped the SNP’s regional list vote for Glasgow. The rankings were announced today and once again Nicola has come out top.

John reckons that Nicola has been superb as Deputy First Minister as well as in the various other roles she has fulfilled since the Scottish Parliament was reconvened in 1999. He says, “During the Glasgow East campaigns in 2008 and 2010 I was frequently in Nicola’s company out and about meeting voters. Almost invariably she is warmly received. And she can certainly handle difficult voters with tact and diplomacy! On a personal basis she has been very supportive of me and I am grateful for that.”

It is also good to see Humza Yousaf at number 2, making him very likely to become an MSP. This was the slot so ably filled in 2007 by Bashir Ahmed, Scotland’s first ethnic minority MSP. Humza is in the next generation and is extremely able and articulate. He will appeal to voters of all backgrounds and ages.

Bob Doris and Sandra White complete the top four. Both have worked very hard in the Scottish Parliament and will be an asset when they return in future.

However, having winners mean there have to be losers. Current MSPs Bill Kidd and Anne McLaughlin are placed at 7 and 8 on the list making it less likely they will be elected. This is disappointing as they have both been hard workers and have taken up many worthwhile causes. Hopefully they will do well in the constituencies where they are standing.

Of course, nowhere on the list is John Mason. That’s because he aims to win the Shettleston constituency!

WELCOME FOR SCOTTISH TEAM DEPARTURE

25 Sep 2010

John Mason has welcomed the decision of the Scottish Commonwealth Games team to head for Delhi as planned this weekend. Earlier this week there had been concerns about health and safety as well as questions over sanitation and cleanliness. However, it seems that sufficient progress has now been made to satisfy officials to let the team go.

John was concerned about the message that would have been sent out if Scotland had turned out to be one of the countries most critical of India’s preparations. That in turn could have led to other countries taking a very critical view of any mistakes Scotland might make in the preparations for 2014.

In addition he feels there has been a lack of understanding in the West that things are done differently in Asia. He himself lived in neighbouring Nepal for three years during the 1980s and visited Delhi during that time. He says, “In Nepal we routinely used pit latrines and accepted that hygiene standards were different from what most westerners were used to. India was and is more technologically advanced than Nepal but clearly they still have huge problems of poverty to face. In these circumstances there is no way they should be spending lavish amounts of money to cater to every whim of the western competitors.

“If we are serious about the Commonwealth and treating all countries as equals, then we need to be appreciative of the hospitality they lay on. Neither in India nor in Scotland is it acceptable to visit someone’s house and then start listing all the things you don’t like about it. The guest’s attitude is very important and frankly some of the Scottish attitudes have been disappointing in this whole episode.”

AIRDRIE SAVINGS BANK – SMALL IS BEAUTIFUL

24 Sep 2010

John Mason has today put his new account with the Airdrie Savings Bank into operation by making his first deposit there. ASB has seven branches with only one being in Glasgow – in Baillieston. (This part of Glasgow was traditionally in Lanarkshire.)

Today also saw the Independent Commission on Banking confirm that it will consider whether the larger banks should be broken up. The banks argue this should not happen (no surprise there then!) as they say smaller banks have also failed. But the reality is smaller banks can either be more easily saved by the government or allowed to fold while savers are protected. On the other hand larger banks have governments over a barrel as they cannot be allowed to fail because of the huge impact this would have on the economy. Clearly the UK is far too small a country to stand up to these banks and was effectively forced to bail them out.

At the same time ordinary customers of these large banks find they get a less and less personal service. Even the proposal by the banks to phase out cheques is clearly for the convenience of themselves and has nothing to do with giving the customer what they actually want. By contrast even the large supermarkets do make an attempt to give the shopper what he or she is looking for!

So John has become so fed up with the larger banks that he has decided to open an account with his local Airdrie Savings Bank. He said, “It was so refreshing to go into the Baillieston branch today and deal with friendly helpful staff. It was such a contrast to the big bank I have been dealing with for years. The ASB used to be treated as a bit of a laughing stock by its bigger industry brothers but things have certainly changed. Now the Airdrie is being seen as a possible model for future development of a better banking system.”

Notes
1. The Airdrie Savings Bank is Britain’s only independent savings bank.
2. A group of Scotland’s leading businessmen have come together to support the expansion of Airdrie Savings Bank outside of its Lanarkshire homeland. The list includes Brian Souter, Ewan Brown, Alastair Salvesen, Sir Tom Farmer, Ann Gloag, Sir Angus Grossart, Sir David Murray and DC Thomson & Co Ltd. The plan to create at least one, and possibly two new branches over the next 18 months, comes as the bank celebrates its 175th birthday. (From the ASB website)