It stinks mate, it really does. Hopefully soon you’ll find a company that deserves you.

“Youth is wasted on the young”

Just to say a belated thanks for the info, ppp.

I think most people acknowledge redundancies as a necessary evil, but what is inexcusable is the cavalier attitude and the hypocrisy of so many companies. I’ve been with the company 35 years now, and what was once seen only as the very last resort (and God knows the company had some tough times before) now seems to be regarded as a legitimate management tool with which to beat the workforce. A few years ago they announced they were going to outsource one large dept to Scandinavia (hardly renowned for it’s low manufacturing costs) and only after putting scores of people through about 14 months of agonised waiting, did they blithely announce they’d changed their minds. Another time they made people redundant at the same time as sponsoring a modern “art” project (the sort Arthur Pewtey would approve of) and sponsoring the local football team to the tune of about £300,000 ; effectively saying to those made redundant “actually, your job means less to us than seeing our name on the shirts of a fifth-rate football team.” A few months later they’re sending out questionaires asking why morale and productivity are so low. You really couldn’t make it up.

I’ve worked for the same large company for 35 years, and faced various threats of redundancy about 5 times, though by the grace of God I’ve always “made the cut” so far. I often wish those Daily Mail reader types who love to complain about miltiant “dinosaur” unions would realise there is another side to the coin, in inept, macho management who treat their staff as just another piece of disposable kit. Last year we had the latest in what now seems an annual cull, and by their own grudging admission Management made way too many redundant; result, they’re now employing dozens of expensive agency staff who lack the experience, and because they’re on short term contracts have no real motivation either. I even know several people who are back doing exactly the same job they lost, but getting paid more because they now work through an agency. Madness. And for anyone who has never faced redundancy, it’s a horrible, horrible experience, worrying for months whether you can hang onto your home, whether you can take your kids on the holiday you promised them, wondering if it will put a strain on your marriage, getting edgy with your workmates. And all the time, Management seem almost to enjoy it all, presenting it as positive “Restructuring,” bragging to the local press about bringing in JobCentre staff to advise those threatened, and glossing over the fact the union has to fight tooth and nail to get even the barest payoffs the law permits. (Sorry, rant over)

Cor! Will it be at Legends?

American built DH-4 “Liberty Plane” (Liberty engine)?

Will somebody explain to me what ‘closure’ is?

We didn’t have it in my day. It seems to be a new concept that is mandatory for televised victims rellies.

Moggy

I’ll explain “Closure” if you explain “Rellies” 😉