To sack or not to sack…

•March 6, 2016 • Leave a Comment

Yesterday I witnessed the latest chapter in a what has been potentially the worst football season ever for Newcastle United.  All fans are now shouting for Steve McClaren to be sacked, or to fall on his sword.  But is that actually the answer?  OK,  so let’s put aside the fact that Steve may have picked the wrong starting eleven.  He picked eleven very well paid footballers who ought to be able to play as a team regardless of management decisions.

Instead, it looked like eleven individuals, all acting as individuals, with no connection whatsoever.  It was diabolical to watch; and probably would have been funny if we weren’t second from bottom of the premier league.  Shelvey was potentially the best player overall,  as at least it looked like he was trying.  And as for Sissoko,  the less said about his performance, the better.  I have no idea what the players get up to during training, but I don’t think it involves kicking a ball around, if yesterday’s activities are anything to go by.  Maybe sitting around sipping coffee, and talking about the weather?

Let’s just examine what a football manager does before, and during a match.  Firstly,  he selects the team – the starting eleven plus the substitutes. And whilst the fans may not always like his selection, the fans don’t necessarily have all the facts at hand.  For instance,  player X may been experiencing an intermittent hurty index finger and therefore wouldn’t last the full 90 minutes. Secondly, the manager decides the formation and strategy.  Again, this isn’t to everyone’s taste, but we’re not football managers.

But then, once the players are out on the pitch, there is very little the manager can do.  He can shout and scream at the players, but that’s about it.  At this point, it is up to the captain to make on-the-pitch decisions.  The captain should be empowered to change things around a bit, if it’s clearly not working.  That’s the captains job.

As fans, it is very easy to blame the manager, and, of course, he does have to take ultimate responsibility.  But the players, too, have to shoulder some of it.  They each get paid more money in a month that I earn in a year.  Yet, they rarely admit how badly they have played, or accept any criticism whatsoever.  They let the manager take it.  I mean, after all, if Newcastle get relegated,  the players will probably transfer to other clubs.  And when they go home after an awful performance like yesterday,  I’m sure the odd glass of expensive champagne,  or whatever, will make things better.

But we still blame the manager.

Personally, I think the players should donate last week’s wages to charity,  or maybe divide it up amongst the 50,000 fans that turn up week after week to watch them play.

Don’t get me wrong.  I’m not defending Steve McClaren.  I’m as angry and frustrated as the next fan.  But what will sacking him achieve?  He’ll probably be on a contract where he’ll get a large pay off for being sacked,  and Newcastle will be without manager.  And, to get someone else, will mean that Mike “every pound’s a prisoner” Ashley will have to splash out some cash.  Also, will the next man in charge be any better?

I certainly don’t want to see Newcastle United get relegated, but I can’t see a way out of this mess.  Maybe during the next week McClaren will part company with the club, and someone else will be brought in.  But ultimately,  will they be able to turn Newcastle’s misfortunes around.

Posted in Football, Newcastle United, NUFC
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It’s a dirty old world….

•April 3, 2015 • Leave a Comment

Have you noticed of late how much rubbish there is on the streets of Britain? Go on, have a closer look.  Everyday when I walk through Newcastle city centre, I despair at the amount of litter that our, so – called “civilised” society drops on a regular basis.  Crisps packets, drink cans, and, my personal favourite, cigarette ends, appear all over the place, and usually right near a rubbish bin.

Time again, I have witnessed individuals drop their rubbish, or stub out their cigarettes, inches from a waste bin.  On the subject of cigarettes, although we have successfully banished smokers from inside public areas, Newcastle city council generally have provided bins where cigarettes can be disposed of.  So bloody well use them, you scruffs!

A few weeks ago, I was walking around near the civic centre and spotted a load of discarded fast food packaging, just left lying around on the grass.  I have no idea what people must live like at home,  if this is how they behave in public. 

image

Regularly, there is a lady who gets on the same bus as me.  She carefully takes out a drink and a packet of crisps from her bag, and consumes them. The empty bottle goes back in her bag.  And the crisp packet? Yep, you’ve guessed it.  It gets dropped on the floor.  I’m sure it’s OK though because the bus driver has nothing better to do than collect her rubbish!  Scruff.

A few years ago, I visited Japan.  Everywhere is clean and tidy.  People don’t drop litter because they know it’s wrong. In fact,  there are few places I have been on my travels where I have seen litter as bad as it is in the UK.  I really don’t know what is wrong with people; put it in a bin, or take it home and put it in  a bin.  It’s really not rocket science, now, is it?

I’ve decided there should be a new job. The Litter Punishment Agency will employ people who can keep 50% of the fines themselves.  Upon discovering a litter scruff, an employee of the LPA will have a conversation similar to this:

LPA: I’ve just caught you dropping your crisp packet on the floor.
Litter scruff: F*** off!
LPA: You now have two choices … pay a £50 fine, or pay a £50 fine and get beaten to within an inch of your life.
(Large muscular man/woman appears next to LPA employee …)

Harsh?  Not really.  It’ll certainly get the message across.  And it will help out the unemployment figures.  Imagine how much money you could make from people dropping their cigarette ends in a single bus stop.  I reckon I could seriously rich within a month or two!

The main problem seems to be that no one has any respect for anything or anyone these days. When I was young, I’d get a clip around the ear if I dropped anything on the floor. Try that these days, and you’ll probably have a knife stuck in you!

Maybe I’m just getting old. Maybe I don’t “understand” the youth of today. But regardless of that, please JUST PUT YOUR RUBBISH IN THE BIN!

Thanks.

Posted in Litter Scruffs
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Football… it’s a funny old game

•September 19, 2014 • 1 Comment

Being a Newcastle fan can be a chore.  On one hand, the pure passion of the 50,000 strong crowd that regularly frequent St.James Park, can make even the grumpiest of Geordies smile.  On the other, it can be the most frustrating experience ever!  Even expressing your opinion on social networks, such as Twitter, can get you in trouble.  But remember, it is just an opinion, and you have the right to agree or disagree.

Let’s jump straight in with Alan Pardew.

Sure – he hasn’t had the best of starts to the season, having won just one game.  In fact, he didn’t have the best end to the previous season, come to think of it!  I can’t actually remember the last time I saw Newcastle win at home. So on no account should I defend Pardew.  Or should I?

I don’t believe in the manager sacking culture that seems to exist in modern football.  It rarely works, and Newcastle fans have seen their fair share of managers coming and going from St. James Park.  Take Manchester United and David Moyes, for instance.  Did anyone seriously expect him to do as well as Sir Alex on his first season?  Yet he was sacked to be replaced by someone who also has had a rocky start.  Compare Moyes’ start to that of Ferguson:

image

OK… so it’s not quite the same as Alan Pardew.  He has had plenty of chances to prove himself.  And failed.  So why I am not joining in the “SackPardew.com” campaign?

Before every match, when the team list and formation is published, Twitter is full of comments about how good, or bad, Pardew’s selection is.  However, he is the manager, and the Twitter masses are not!  Maybe you can get the formations to work on FIFA 2014 (or whatever it’s called) but this is the real world, and things are never simple.  Everyone wants to be a football manager, yet not many people ever make it.  Maybe there’s a reason for that…

Even when Pardew plays the formation that everyone wants, and we lose, it’s still his fault.  That’s the problem.  No one ever really blames players for playing badly, or just accept that sometimes s**t happens.  Just blame the manager.  For everything.

So back to the sacking culture….

Well, it’s quite simple.  Sacking a manager is one thing.  But without a sensible replacement, what’s the point?  Imagine if the fans wanting Pardew sacked find out that Mike Ashley has signed Tony Pulis?  Or maybe Steve Bruce?  Or maybe someone from the conference division who has an unproven track record?  The point is that sometimes it is ‘better the devil you know’.  The alternatives could be far, far worse.

If we lose to Hull tomorrow, and Pardew is sacked, and then Mike appoints Tony Pulis, or someone else that the fans might not approve of, then those that complained about Pardew CANNOT COMPLAIN!!!  I emphasise that bit to get the message through.  If Ashley does sack Pardew, then he is likely to appoint the cheapest person he can possibly find.  After all, he is in it for the money, not the glory.

Some fans suggest that Pardew should resign – why should he?  He has a nice contract where he get’s paid loads of money if he gets sacked.  If you were in his position, would you quit with nothing, or stick it out to get a nice pay off?

I, for one, will not be protesting tomorrow.  I will be doing my best to enjoy the match, and take whatever positives I can away from it.  After all, IT’S ONLY A GAME!!!  With a bit of luck, the terrible news about Jonas Gutierrez should make people realise that there are far more important things in life to worry about!  I, for one, have recent experience of that.

So, if you want to protest – fine.  But don’t expect me to join in.

Posted in NUFC
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Radio One

•September 7, 2012 • Leave a Comment

So Chris Moyles is leaving Radio One? So what, you may ask?

Well to most people, the Chris Moyles Show is something you wake up to.  It’s something that is part of your ‘getting to work’ ritual.  For some people, who cares if there’s no music; for most of us, we’re not morning people and to hear someone else ranting about bad stuff that happens makes us feel that much more alive.

Let’s consider the realistic demographic for the show.  Between 6:30am and 7:30am, the only people listening to it are people going to work.  School children are unlikely to be awake; students don’t even realise there is a 6am and 7am on their watches!  So, we have pretty much ruled out anyone under the age of 21.

Or maybe 23 if you include mature students.

So, the demographic age for at least the first hour of the show is 23+.

I get the bus to work around 7:30am.  I can guarantee that any school child/student on that bus is NOT listening to Radio 1.  They are playing their Ipod/Generic MP3 Music Player with the latest crap/song that included samples from original music.  They are certainly not listening to Radio One or indeed any other radio station.  In other words, they don’t care whether Chris Moyles is on or not!

So, the show is pretty much reliant on the workers; the people who have life experience; the people who really don’t care who is top of the charts but more about the fact that the show is commenting on things that they can relate to.  Sadly, however, the guy is charge of Radio One – Ben Cooper – doesn’t realise this.  He wants a “younger audience” for Radio One.

I believe this was tried with Zoe Ball and Sara Cox (to name a few) quite a while back.  It just didn’t work.  Chris Moyles, in effect, saved Radio One from extinction.  Sadly, the station hasn’t learned from it’s mistakes, and is trying the same trick again.

I don’t believe for one minute that Chris left of his own accord.  Sure – he did it on his own terms, in his own time, and at a moment when he thought it was right.  But I believe he jumped before he was pushed.  Whilst he may never admit it (and I don’t blame him), the station needs to appreciate what they are losing.

Nick Grimshaw is a ‘yes man’.  He is an aspiring DJ who will probably do whatever he is instructed to do by his bosses.  He will never be controversial; he will never be outspoken.  That is why Radio One boss Ben Cooper likes him.  In comparison, Chris was often outspoken, crossing the company line, but what Ben fails to realise is THAT IS WHY WE LIKE HIM.

Nick will never be Chris.  He will never have a dedicated team of people that fit so well together it is like they live in the same house!  The comedy jingles, the parodies, the rants, and the jokes.  All that fun stuff will disappear once a serious careerist like Nick takes the helm.  It will be modern music all the way – something that the basic demographic don’t want to listen to.  The Chris Moyles Show has around EIGHT MILLION listeners according to official polls.  Unofficially, there are probably a great deal more.  Will Nick get the same amount?  I very much doubt it.

To be honest, I think everyone of Chris’ listeners should send a note to Ben Cooper and to Radio One to express their deep concerns that the station is about to be ruined.  I wish I had Ben Cooper’s Twitter and email address and I would publish it here and encourage everyone to contact him with your complaints.

All that is left to say is good luck for the future to Chris, Dave, Dom, Aled and Tina.  We really hope to hear from you after the breakfast show ends.  Take care, and farewell.

End of an Era.

Footnote:

The final Chris Moyles show attracted a ridiculous number of texts and tweets.  That just shows how popular he is.  The controller of Radio 1 (that’s you Ben Cooper – @BossBenCooper) ought to realise what a mistake you are making!  Nick Grimshaw will NOT be as successful…

Posted in Music, Radio 1, Rant

Occupy

•November 20, 2011 • Leave a Comment

So about a month ago, a load of tents appeared around St Paul’s Cathedral in London. Why? Well certainly not to protest about religion, but to protest about rich bankers. Whilst it’s true that these rich bankers do have to take some responsibility for the economic state we find ourselves in, are a load of unemployed spongers hanging around a church going to make the blindest bit of difference?

Well, of course they’re not.  It seems that not paying any tax or national insurance and not contributing to society in any way somehow gives you the right to set up camp at one of London’s iconic landmarks.  In fact, one of the people interviewed on TV said she was “of no fixed abode”.  So, I suppose in fairness camping outside a church is probably a step up from being homeless.

Newcastle too has had some campers appear. Not really on the same scale – two or three have appeared around Earl Grey’s Monument.  This time they want to “save the NHS”.  Why? They certainly don’t contribute anything to keep it going.  In fact all they are doing is making the place look messy and making me angry at them and not the people they are protesting against.

I have a simple view in life – if you pay in you can get out.  I have been paying my taxes all my working life without complaint.  But I object to my hard-earned cash having to fund a few scroungers to hang around in tents thinking they have it so hard.  There are plenty of jobs they could do – litter picking would be a good one; they can help make the place look neat and tidy (mind you if we didn’t have such a unrespectful society we wouldn’t need litter pickers – but that is a whole different rant!)  In other countries, with less of a welfare system, people would be fighting to get a job of any sort.

With all these campers and the influx of people selling Socialist Worker (now there’s an oxymoron) , town is becoming unbearable.  We live in a capitalist society and as such there will always be people earning more than others.  If these people believe in some form of communism, they you only have to look at China and Russia to know that it doesn’t work.  Communism should be described as everyone is equal but some are more equal than others.

So what about the campers?  Well in my opinion I would kick them out and tell them to get a job!  Everyone has the right to protest – but not when it gets in my way! 

So, I’m going back to my Sunday afternoon pint and think about another week at work, paying my taxes to fund the ungrateful minority of our society …

Posted in Uncategorized

Musical Genres????

•February 14, 2011 • Leave a Comment

So what is it these days with musical genres?  It seems that whenever you listen to Radio 1, a new type of music appears out of nowhere.  At one point, R&B stood for Rhythm and Blues.  It originated in the 1940s, and evolved into Rock’n’Roll.  It had a meaning and a definition.  It was clear and understood.

These days R&B is used for anything that is vaguely dance-like.  It has no bearing upon it’s original foundations.

Rock evolved in the 1960’s and 1970’s and came in various flavours – heavy, metal and soft (for those male artists who wanted to produce a ballad without being class as girlie!).  It’s good to note that rock is still going strong and still has the same basis as always.

Rap – this I understand.  Talk fast over a backing track, get some female, like Rhianna, to sing some refrains or catchy choruses and before you know it, you have a hit record.  Maybe they should invent a genre called Identi-kit-rap.  Add a bit of swearing and you could have a sell-out, number one hit single.

A few years ago, I was listening to Radio 1 one Bank Holiday and they had an ‘Urban’ take over.  They were playing records from the 90’s that certainly were never classed as Urban.  What exactly is it?  I still have no idea.  Songs written in towns?  Songs played in towns?  If they are played in country villages, should they be classed as Rural?

It seems that everyone wants to invent a new genre to keep themselves original.  The latest one I heard was ‘grime’.  To me grime is what you find when you clear the plug/drains on a sink.  Grime is what you find in the sewer, and the deep, dark, crevices that you would never want to investigate.  So what does grime mean when applied to music?  Does it mean that the artists are disgusting individuals, covered in black slimy stuff, singing to empty venues because no one wants to go near them????

Not being satisfied with inventing new genres, musicians have come to the conclusion that it’s perfectly acceptable to  merge two or maybe three together.  In fact, anyone can do this just to get attention; how about – urban dub-step?  Country grime?  R&B Electro-pop?  In fact, it turns out that you can just use the term ‘fusion’.  Or append the word fusion to your chosen combination – an urban dub-step fusion.

Talking about dub-step – what the hell is it?

Dance music, as it was called in the 90’s, evolved into Garage or House music.  I’m not sure anyone really knew the difference.  Part of me wanted to invent some ‘Living Room’ music, or maybe, for the outside-lovers, Driveway Music.

I guess I am just old-fashioned (or maybe just old) and cannot comprehend this modern day style of music.  I probably never will.  Still as long as it gives me something to rant about, I will enjoy listening to radio.

So off I go – I am going to switch on some tropical-electro-reggae and get down to those groovy sounds.

Peace!

Posted in Music, Radio 1
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Football Transfers

•February 1, 2011 • Leave a Comment

OK.. so I thought it was about time I wrote something on this blog.

I have just about recovered from the football transfer madness of last night.  As a recently converted NUFC supporter – I have lived here for over 15 years now, and I figured that if you can’t beat them, you may as well join them – I am not really surprised by the goings-on last night.

Don’t get me wrong – I am certainly not a Mike Ashley fan.  However, for a young lad like Andy Carroll to be offered to Liverpool for £35million plus getting a £80000 per week wage bill, it would be difficult for him to refuse.  Whether he jumped, or was pushed, is difficult to say.  Only he knows – and we will probably never find out. For a club owner, that sort of money doesn’t come around very often.

The anti-Ashley brigade will say that he was forced to leave.  The more pragmatic may say it was his choice.  Certainly his agent would have had something to do with it.  After all, he (or she) was set to benefit.

There has been a lot of rhetoric, and hearsay.  The truth may never out.  Will people boycott St James Park?  Of course they won’t!  Will people not renew their season tickets?  No!  Newcastle United is one of the most passionately supported of all premier league clubs, and that will never change.  You only have to visit the area on a home match-day to witness that passion.  I am proud to live here, and be associated with such a team.

As for Newcastle United, Carroll has been out of action for the last five games.  Have we missed him?  Well, the Carroll-worshippers would say yes.  But there are others in the squad who have their moments – Best, Ameobi, Nolan.  But let’s not forget that one person does not make a team.

Look at Manchester United – the lack of Wayne Rooney at the start of the season was used as an excuse for their poor performance.  However, they seem to be doing well now with, or without him.

And so will Newcastle United.  They will carry on, develop, survive.  The pessimists will say that we will get relegated this season without Carroll.  Really?  The team is strong enough to carry on without him.

Andy Carroll is a young lad and has had several encounters with the wrong side of the law, and one more may cause him to be off the football scene for some time.  Look at Joey Barton.  We don’t need another episode like that one!  Maybe Liverpool is the new start that he needs?

As for the Ashley situation – we have the right to hate him.  He screwed over Chris Houghton, who successfully brought Newcastle up from the Championship.  He was responsible for the whole Kevin Keegan saga.  But whatever happens, Newcastle will survive.  By all means protest against Ashley, but he is not going to give up the club in a hurry.  He has invested a lot of money in it – potentially foolishly.  After all, football clubs rarely make any profit.  His grasp of football seems limited, and his ability to stand up and defend himself is non-existent.  When Alan Pardew was appointed, Ashley was nowhere to be seen at the press conference.

So should we hate Andy Carroll?  In my opinion, no.  Loyalty in football doesn’t exist these days.  He is young, possibly naive, and the temptation of large wages must be overwhelming.  Liverpool are taking a huge risk – last year he was valued at around £5million.

I’m sure the die-hards will hate me for writing this.  I’m sure he will get boo’d at St James Park, when he returns as a Liverpool player.  But let’s not forget – he’s still a geordie.  And if you were offered £80000 per week, would you turn it down?  The moral high-ground is easy when you’re not in that position!

Remember that it doesn’t matter whose name is written in the ‘This belongs to’ spot when it comes to Newcastle United.  The club belongs to the fans, to the town, to the North East.  It always has, and always will.

Long live NUFC!

TOON ARMY!

Posted in Football, Newcastle United, NUFC
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Unions!!!

•March 22, 2010 • Leave a Comment

Maybe I should rename this blog as “Why I hate Unite the union?”???

Certainly, they are causing me to rant the most these days.  This whole British Airways strike is ridiculous!

BA appeared to have offered a perfectly reasonable deal, but the union had absolutely no intention of taking it.

In fact, I don’t think they will accept anything unless it is THEIR deal!  They are pathetic, who obviously no longer care about their members, and just want to prove that they are all-so-powerful!

They don’t seem to realise that it is not the 1970’s anymore!  The world is in recession; airlines, amongst many other sectors, are losing money.  British Airways is due to make another huge loss this year.

So why do they think they are special?  Well they are not!  The leaders just want to engage in a power struggle.  In fact, recent commentaries suggest that the union is fighting amongst itself

This was highlighted in the High Court Judgement about whether BA had acted illegally by reducing the number of cabin crew on their planes.

BA won that case – the union was forced to back down.  It now seems that the strike is all about bullying and harassment

Personally, I don’t believe any of the cabin crew actually know what they are striking over.

The union has clearly been feeding false information. All through the strike the union has been carrying out an extensive propaganda campaign, full of misdirection and confusion.

BA planes have been taking off; passengers have been flying; and Terminal 5 has not been a “ghost town” as the union would have you believe. In fact, their video on YouTube is of the baggage reclaim area at at quiet time of the day. Not that Terminal 5 ever looks busy anyway because of it’s size! I wonder why they didn’t film the shopping areas????

Unite needs to give up now – they are not going to get a better deal.  In fact, Willie Walsh is likely to offer successively worse deals until they finally agree.  Striking members have already lost their discounted travel perks, and it is only a matter of time before pay cuts are mentioned.

So for the sake of their members, BA passengers, the country and my sanity, here’s a message to Unite the Union:

GIVE UP!!!!!  YOU HAVE LOST!!!!!

Posted in Uncategorized
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A Pointless Strike?

•February 2, 2010 • 1 Comment

So maybe my first post is a bit political for a first post?

But nevermind…  It’s a subject that is annoying me and needs to be ranted about.

The subject of this rant – Unite the Union and their proposed British Airways strike.

The whole strike seems to be concerned with how badly treated cabin crew are; how little they get paid; how unfair it is for British Airways to offer them voluntary redundancy; and how dare the company try and save some money by taking one person off certain flights.

I can’t say I know the whole ins-and-outs of this argument, but I will summarise what I have read in the press.

Firstly, the subject of how badly treated they are.  Well I am not cabin crew, but have flown on enough airlines to know that British Airways crew offer excellent services; much better than certain other airlines.  The crew act professional at all times.  In fact, they certainly don’t give the impression they are badly treated.

Unite recently published a video on YouTube claiming to contain the views of real cabin crew.

However, the voices have been changed, and you never see any evidence that they are actually BA crew at all.  So could it be a union fabrication?  Or am I just a born cynic?

Secondly, the issue about how poorly paid they are.  Well there have been lots of press reports about the average salary of British Airways cabin crew in comparison to other airlines.  These reports put British Airways cabin crew at the top of the food chain, so to speak, when it comes to salary.  On average they get paid twice as much as Virgin if you believe the press reports.  It seems that even Unite cannot get evidence to back up their statements of poorly paid workers.

Read an article from their website, particularly the paragraph that reads:

One crew member speaking on the video has been working as cabin crew for over five years at Gatwick.  He said: “I take home around £1,100 a month and I’m still entitled to Working Tax Credits because we’re classified as low paid workers, and that’s common among most of the main crew at Gatwick.  Many of us have two jobs in order to pay our bills – often in bars and restaurants – to make ends meet.”

Well, the mathematically astute amongst you will work out that a take home pay of £1100 equates to an annual take home pay of £13200 a year.  That puts their gross annual salary just short of £20000.  That is a significant salary compared with a large proportion of the population!

The Times article linked above states that the average salary is £29,900 including bonuses which puts them nearly into the top 25% of earners in the UK.  In addition, the median annual salary all UK earners is £20,801.  This information is contained in an interesting BBC article.

So are British Airways cabin crew poorly paid????

British Airways, like most companies – including airlines, are struggling.  The solution, often, is to shed the workforce by compulsory redundancies.  BA has so far avoided anything compulsory, offering alternatives such as voluntary severance, and part-time working.  There was even a slightly amusing campaign last year where the company were offering employees to work for free!  Even more interesting was that people actually did it!

The airline has been losing money – extreme losses during last year… Predicted losses for the rest of the financial year.

So if a company offers voluntary severance/part-time working and the equivalent of 1700 full-time workers volunteer, has it done anything wrong?  Has the company ‘axed’ jobs as Unite would put it, or have they just found an amicable solution to a difficult problem?

Following on from Unite’s article, I didn’t get a pay rise last year, and stand little chance of getting one this year.  In fact, I imagine a lot of people in the UK have not had a pay rise for a while.  This is why it is called recession!!!

As for taking one person off a plane – so what!  As long as it is not breaking civil aviation rules, who cares!!!  In times like these, we all have to tighten our belts!  I, for one, think they should be grateful just to have a job!  I am sure there are plenty people in this country who would be prepared to work for half the cabin crew’s current salary.

Whilst I’m ranting about Unite, let’s move on to Derek Simpson, General Secretary of Unite the Union.  How much do you reckon he earns a year?

£30000?  £40000? Try a little higher…

Try closer to £200000, with the odd perk or two. And include his £800000 grace-and-favour house makes him, in my opinion, a bit of a hypocrite to be talking about low salaries!

Whilst I’m on the subject of Derek Simpson, I was amazed to read about his £400 per night hotel stay in London.  Read this article about how it was justified!

Is this the sort of person you want advising you on whether to strike or not?  And remember, if you go on strike and lose your job, he will still get paid!!!

All I can say to British Airways cabin crew is this:

If you go on strike, the company could go bust and you could lose your job!  Is this what you want?

All I can say to Unite the Union is:

If British Airways cabin crew go on strike, and the company goes bust, and everyone in British Airways loses their jobs, it will be on your conscience!!!

Do the right thing and vote NO!

Posted in British Airways, British Airways strike, Rant, Unite the Union
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