Is Russia the land that time forgot?

 

I am the first to admit that I know little of Russian culture or history, but there has been several alarming stories coming out of the country in recent weeks.

In June this year, a law was passed by President Vladimir Putin banning propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations to miners. In addition there has been a catalogue of attacks on the rights of gay people, including a court decision that attempting to confront homophobia was extremist as it “incited social and religious hatred”. The court went on to comment that such extremist activities present a threat to Russia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The year before Putin was elected in 2012 the European court of Human Rights fined Russia for violating several articles of the European convention by banning over 160 pride events and marches between 2006 and 2008.

Former KGB officer Putin has done little to improve the rights of Russia’s LGBT community. The law has been interpreted as a tool to ban parades and marches as well as preventing discussions of homosexuality among teenagers. Since the anti-gay propaganda law was passed in June there has been an increase in violent attacks on homosexual’s and even suspected homosexuals.

One would imagine that such outdated ignorance would be condemned by the modern world, but two USA conservatives had defended the attacks. Brian Camenke, an activist for MassResistance,  who appear to be essentially an anti-gay movement in the USA is quoted as saying on the Harvey this weekend show, “the natural way for people to react to homosexuality- outside of the diversity training – is a degree of revulsion, so if two men start kissing in public you can expect a certain reaction from people”.

The show’s host Linda Harvey, defended the law as logical and claimed it was intended to protect children.

The MassResistance website currently carries article entitled “homo fascism- attacks against churches, citizens and business” and “the infamous fist gate report-we broke the news”. There is also a large banner at the foot of the home page saying “say no to same sex marriage”.

It is the mindless, ignorant bile that websites and movements like these that are a blight on this world, not homosexual people. There should be laws passed banning people like Camenker from spouting such hatred on television. It is he and his friend that are inciting social hatred.

It is the integrity of Russia, America and any other nation that shares their views that is at risk.

Russia, who are set to host the 2018 football world cup, has an equally dismal record when it comes to fighting racism. Manchester City player Yaya Toure claims he faced racial abuse this week at CSKA, a claim the Russians deny despite Greek far-right party, Golden Dawn banners being displayed at several football grounds in Russia recently.

Despite the cold war ending years ago, it seems Putin’s Russia is frozen in time, offering no resistance to racism and homophobia and signing policies that should have been outlawed in the ice age.

                            

Former chief whip Andrew Mitchell was forced to step down from the post last year, after allegations that he called a police officer a pleb.

Prior to this accusation the majority of people did not know what the word pleb meant, and yet the outrage was such that the story ran for weeks before he finally stepped down.

The oxford dictionary defines the pleb as meaning an ordinary person-

 

 

especially from lower social classes.                                                         

Mr Mitchell is the son of Sir David Mitchell, former Tory MP. Before becoming an MP himself he worked for Lazard, one of the world’s largest investment banks, after enjoying an education at Cambridge University.

It is therefore completely feasible that this man would think a mere bobby, ordinary and of a lower social class. One would imagine this would be an accurate description.

Former Conservative politician-turned chat show panellist Michael Portillo said last night live on BBC1’s This Week programme, that he has heard Mr Mitchell use this term privately. Mr Portillo did attempt to retract this statement afterwards. Whether he heard it or not, and whether Mr Mitchell used the word to a police officer is rather irrelevant.

The police are accused of lying to discredit Mr Mitchell.

What is apparent is that the police have not covered themselves in glory, yet again. Mr Mitchell admitted that he had sworn at police officers after they refused him entry through a gate at Downing Street, mumbling “ I thought you lot were supposed to effing protect us”.  

As a fit and proper person, a role model, and an elected representative of the government this is not acceptable. If it was Joe Bloggs on a Friday night swearing at police officer’s he could expect an appearance in court facing drunk and disorderly charges and may even find himself in the court report in the local paper. Probably no more, probably no less.

 

At a time when the reputation of the police is at an all-time low in the media, appearing to try to fit up a leading politician was possibly the most stupid thing they have done. Already accused of dishonesty, brutality, corruption, and more they are now accused of having a lack of integrity.

 

The political classes have taken the mistreatment of Mr Mitchell rather badly. Several MP’s from both parties have stated publicly that they have grave concerns for the public. The point being that if the police can dislodge a man of Mitchell’s profile, power and wealth from his job, effectively ending his career, what chance would a normal person, from a lower social class, arrested in a town centre have?

My feeling is that the incident may have been isolated. It was possibly a reaction to government policy, cutting police numbers. It may have started out as a bit of a stitch up which snowballed into the biggest news story of the year.

It is also my feeling that on the whole, police men and women do a bloody good job.

 Let’s not forget that they face danger every time they clock on; their loved ones not knowing whether they will return home.  

They face hatred and malice from the public, insulted and assaulted for trying to protect us. Appreciated by no one, they are blamed when heavy handed and they are blamed when they are too lenient.

 Some people say that they choose to take the risk because they choose to be police because they are a certain kind of people. I agree. The type of person I would call a hero.

There are undoubtedly questions to ask about some senior officials within the force and there are inevitably, like all walks of life, bad Bobbies. Just like there are bad builders, teachers, doctors, politicians, solicitors, or fast food assistants, some police are bad; however it would be disastrous to tar them all with the same brush. The overwhelming majority of police men and women sign up for the job to help people and make the world a better place – just like most politicians.

 

Why Chris Morgan could sharpen the Blades..

                                                   

 

 

Sir Alex Ferguson, Britain’s most successful manager, played football for his country less than a dozen times. He played 317 games for six teams in Scotland, scoring 171 goals. Not a bad return but not what you would call prolific either.

As a manager, he won the Premier League with Manchester United 13 times. He also won the FA cup 5 times and the league cup 4 as well as a cabinet full of silverware won in various European cups.

No one could argue that as a manager he was most definitely prolific.

For much of reign as Manchester United coach his biggest rival was Frenchman Arsene Wenger. Arsenal boss Wenger played 67 professional games, scoring just four times. In management he has won the French title with Monaco, the premier league three times and the FA Cup four times.

England’s most capped player, goalkeeper Peter Shilton played for his country 125 times over two decades. He played over a thousand professional games before retiring at the grand age of 47. After finishing playing he managed Plymouth Argyle reaching the second division play-off final and being relegated the following year.

Former England captain Bryan Robson who played for England 90 times, enjoyed some success as Middlesbrough manager, enjoying promotion to the premier league and spending millions bring in talent from abroad. He eventually left with ‘Boro in a relegation battle and took up the reigns at Bradford who were relegated that season. From Bradford he went to WBA narrowly avoiding the drop in a famous last game escape.

He also had a dismal spell in charge of Sheffield United.

This week Sheffield United sacked manager David Weir after less than 6 months in the role.  Weir is Scotland’s sixth most capped player, representing them 69 times in a 13 year career which saw him play for Hearts, Everton and Rangers. Sheffield United were his first employer in the role of manager but he saw just one victory before being relieved of his duties with United in the bottom three of League one. The Blades are expected to name Nigel Clough as his successor in the coming days. Clough played for Liverpool and Manchester City after making debut for his father, Brian Clough’s Nottingham Forest. He played for England 14 times, never scoring before going on to manage non-league Burton, leading them into the football league proper. He also spent four years at Derby before being sacked earlier this season. Will he go on to be another highly successful player unable to cut it as a manager, or will he break the mould?

Other world class, brilliant players such as Pele, Maradonna, Roy Keene, Kevin Keegan and Glen Hoddle who were highly decorated as players have failed to maintain that success at managerial level.  Winning trophies as a player does not guarantee success as a manager. Experience in the top division does not guarantee success as manager. The statistics show that even being a great leader on the pitch does not guarantee success from the touchline.

 

It is with this in mind that I wonder if current Sheffield United caretaker manager, Chris Morgan might be the best option. A tough no nonsense defender, Morgan played 185 times for his hometown club Barnsley before moving to Sheffield, playing almost 250 times for the Blades. If the records of the big names above are anything to go by, Morgan could be just what is needed to restore the fortunes of the sorry Sheffield outfit.

 

Answer the call: join a union

                           Answer the call: join the union.

Answer the call: Raising wages and professionalism in call centres, marks the start of a month of campaigning on behalf of call centre workers world-wide. Although staff in call centres around the world are generally on fairly low pay, there is a report that suggests many of the employees are highly skilled and highly qualified.

The report states that in India, staff earn on average, less than 32 rupees (less than 50p) per day.

72% of French call centre workers are university educated but earn less than 65% of the national average.

The story at home is similar with many British call centres employing ex teachers and ex solicitors among their ranks. The average wage in Britain for a call centre operative is just £17,433.

In comparison the average national wage is £31,511 for men, while women on average earn £24,469.

A customer service representative in a call centre where there is collective bargaining with a trade a union earns on average 7% more than none unionised workers.

The wildly varying reward depending on the type of job you do, along with the misconception that call centre operatives are worth less than some manual jobs needs addressing urgently.

One way to improve the situation is clearly by more workers joining trade unions. A worker on £17000 would be £1190 a year on average better off if they belong to a trade union.  The cost of belonging to a trade union is on average, less than £170 per annum.

So why is it, that so few of our major work forces enjoy the benefits of a recognised trade union?

Many none union members claim they are against the political side of unions and are unwilling to pay the political levy. They don’t realise that there is an opt-out clause or exactly what the levy does. The political levy paid to the unions is so that organised trade unions can hold the government of the day to account, whichever party may occupy Downing Street.
Historically the trade union movement has been influential in fighting for many of the employment rights we all enjoy and take for granted today. Maternity leave and paid holidays, health and safety, and equality in the work place would probably not exist without the pressure exerted on governments and business from the union movement.

Some people see unions as the dinosaurs from the 1970’s that were blamed for much of the trouble at that time. They see union representatives and leaders as militants, out for a fight and to line their own pockets.

The modern trade union is much less aggressive. It is instrumental in helping people from all walks of life including the unemployed. Unite the union offers community membership for just 50p a week. This contribution entitles members to benefits such as access to legal help and assistance with C.V writing and job finding skills and debt counselling.

A far cry from the turbulent ‘70’s, the modern union has learning representatives who’s remit is to facilitate up-skilling of members in core subjects such as English and Maths. There are health and safety representatives with a mandate to ensure safe working practices, and there are equalities representatives working tirelessly to ensure minorities are treated fairly.

Many elected union representatives are volunteers, giving up their free time to improve the lives and working conditions of their members. Trade councils meet monthly across the country, for free, to organise demonstrations against policies such as the hated bedroom tax or cuts to probation services that will inevitably put dangerous criminals back onto the streets prematurely. Delegates affiliated from many different trade unions contribute donations from branches to various causes and campaigns.

 Without the trade union movement it would be left for the millionaire political classes to thrash out between themselves what is best for us, the workers.

The current government want to dilute worker’s rights with schemes like the rights for shares idea. They asked millionaire businessman Lord Beecroft, a venture capitalist, to suggest changes to employment law. The Beecroft report suggested making it easier to hire and fire workers with no fault necessary. The Lib-Dems claim they saved us from many of his suggestions and years of Labour governments did little to strengthen the role of trade unions.

A recent survey revealed that the number of people interested in politics was increasing while the number of people who trusted politicians was in decline. This supports the argument that trade unions have a legitimate role to play in responsible politics and in supporting the countries hard working men and women to earn a decent living in decent conditions.

The unions are not of course entirely blameless for the situation. They need to be more vocal and more proactive in telling the masses the real benefits of trade unions. They need to expel the myths of union barons living in luxury and union rep’s being work shy skivers.

They need to extinguish the belief that unions defend the wrongs of workers and promote the fact that they defend the rights of workers. They strive for fairness- Fairness in the workplace and fairness in society.

Trade union representatives and leaders are normal working men and women from ordinary working backgrounds living in normal houses, on normal estates in touch with real issues.