Labour Pledge To Raise Minimum Wage To Eight Pounds Per Hour

Exactly same argument made by business and the Conservative party when minimum wage introduced. It didn't happen.

 

I did also say that there is a lot of luck involved in life......you appear to have been unlucky

hth

 

It won't happen. And the reason it won't happen is places like Aldi. Aldi don't pay their staff minimum wage, they already pay them a wage comparable to what Ed Miliband is proposing. They have to as they expect their staff to work bloody hard. No one sits on a checkout all day, they do everything in the store and you see them whizzing about like blue arsed flies. One minute they're on the tills, the next stocking shelves, then in the store room. If they only paid the same as the likes of ASDA, Tesco and Sanibury's they perhaps wouldn't get the staff. People don't want to do a lot more work for the same money they could get elsewhere. Having said that, because the staff do everything and are so busy, the job is far less boring.

A bigger minimum wage will hardly make a difference to Aldi's overheads as they already pay their staff a similar amount, so they won't have to put up prices. They won't voluntarily put up prices to try to squeeze a bigger profit because the only reason they survive, the only reason they're a viable business is that they offer consumers low prices. They're no frills, the shopping experience in Aldi isn't particularly enjoyable, the only reason people go is the price. They're not going to change that, if they do people will stop going.

The popularity of Aldi has had a massive knock on effect on the other supermarkets.

I used to always shop at ASDA, then changed to Tesco. When I drive to Tesco, I drive past an Aldi. After doing this for a few months I decided to give it a go. I couldn't believe how cheap the fruit and veg was. Decent quality for the most part too and the majority of it British. I buy tons of fruit and veg. Going to Aldi halved my shopping bill. I changed my shopping habits. I'd buy the bulk of my shopping from Aldi then go around the corner to get a couple of bits from Tesco that I couldn't get in Aldi.

Because I did that I still kept an eye on the price of Tesco's stuff. After years of prices going up, they started coming down. Free range eggs that got up to about £1.50 for half a dozen a couple of years ago are now available in all supermarkets for a quid, just like Aldi. Milk is down to a quid for four pints, just like Aldi. Fruit and veg in Tesco isn't just a bit cheaper, Tesco have significantly slashed their prices. Aldi was taking their business away and they've had to lower their prices to compete.

Markets all across the country are seeing a renaissance. Barnsley have plans to rejuvenate our market and, hopefully, return it to its former glory, although we'll have to wait and see on that. The prices you get at the market can be even cheaper than Aldi and the quality is often superb. Because these stalls tend to be mom and pop operations with few, if any, paid staff, the increase in minimum wage will have little effect on their overheads.

Competition prevents the kind of inflation you are talking about. For a time it was happening. Supermarkets only needed to look at one another to set their prices. They could all increase prices together. They were in competition, but essentially they were a cartel. The likes of Aldi and the resurgence of markets has changed all that. They can't do it any more and what you've described won't happen.

The supermarkets may find that the wholesalers and distribution centres put up their prices after a minimum wage increase. But there's huge competition in those areas too and if the one they're using raise prices they'll look for an alternative who give them a better deal.

Because supermarkets make such enormous profits, they've a lot of room for manoeuvre on prices and while ever we've got the no frills option that has become so popular, we're not going to see the kind of price increase that you have described. If they try it, they'll go out of business because people will go elsewhere. Making a smaller profit than they once did is a hell of a lot better than no profit at all.

 

It should be £10 to make it worthwhile for people on benefits to get a job. I've done a lot of work with long term unemployed people and when all benefits are taken into consideration the difference between those and the current minimum is very small unless they have lots of hours. Many jobs on offer are not full time, but benefits stop immediately when they take a job.
£8 will probably be reached by 2020 no matter what the shade of the government, although it's less likely with the Tories, because the faceless rich back benchers will resist it to a man, or woman.

 

By 2020.

It should be a tenner. Minimum.

 

Price controls. Or socialised supply of life's basics...

 

Wasn't this the justification for introducing the minimum wage in the first place? Dampens competition etc. But I agree, it won't solve things on it's own.

At the minute, I'll be voting labour because I've no alternative for Barnsley Central. If the Greens stood, I'd probably vote for them. What I reckon Labour should be doing is promising:

1. Action on private landlords pushing up private rents for relatively poor conditions.
2. Public housing - there should be more. No tenancy associations, proper council houses.
3. Travel costs - nationalisation of key train journeys, including local. £10 for a return to Leeds, 40 miles? Give up Northern.
4. Energy & utilities, including internet & phone - as above.
5. Minimum wage - £10 per hour by 2016, guaranteed to rise at the rate of inflation.
6. More powers for local government, including extra wages for councillors to actually give people a reason to become one rather than the current retired/something to do lot.
7. Environmental policies - commitment for electric, clean cars. Charging terminals in every forecourt, available to be installed at home etc.

Vote Dyson.

 

I'm with you. Shall we stand as The West Stand Bogs Party?

Re Private Landlords I'd introduce Local Authority Licensing and run inspections and actually reward the good ones with subsidies for improvements.

 

Not only do you look like Robin Hood, you sound like him, too. Care and compassion for the common man & the planet he lives on. Dislike for the political elite and their financial masters.
The more I hear you speak, the more I read what you write, the more impressive you become.
I'd vote Dyson, given the opportunity.
I now sound as effeminate as I look.

 

One fly in the ointment, well two. That ****ing shell suit and the fact that he says that Archaeology is a load of old bones...probably.

 

HE SAID THAT????? I'll rip his head off!!

 

I definitely believe he has said that. And if I believe it he needs three pieces of evidence to disprove it

On a more serious note, I wish the Labour Party would be as bold as to make some of the things mentioned policy. Instead they are now getting dragging into a sideshow of English Devolution.

 

I agree.

 

It's moving the financing away from the treasury to the employers.

Some small employers won't be able to finance the increase and will let some staff go.

 

The pay of the FSTE 100 bosses has risen by 142% since 1986, the pay of the average worker has risen 41%.
The minimum wage if it had kept inline with inflation since 1986 would be £18.89. It isn`t , it is not even half that!

 

I'd rather that some subsidy for employment is made available to qualifying employers (small employers) which then assists on both fronts and starts to level the playing field. Either that or all businesses with a turnover above a certain level are nationalised

 

Agreed in a fair world that would be ideal. Try policing such a system though.

 

To the salt mines for anyone found in conflagration of the rules. Are you suggesting that business people would milk it?!

Where there is a will there is a way...

 

And now they balance that up with an announcement on a freeze on child benefit. Just shot themselves in the foot with that one I reckon.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-29301289

 

Agreed. But then again Ed Balls is a **** end Blairite