Something is Wrong

The CEO of Google's salary package is £138 million.  Google has entered an agreement with HMRC to pay £130 million in tax for the past 10 years.

GAP has not paid tax at all in the UK since 2011.  The minimum wage in the UK is £6.70.  The average wage is £26,500 pa.

Junior doctors are on strike, they are being asked to work 24/7 under conditions that effectively cut their pay.

Something is wrong with what we value and how it is rewarded.

The company ISS is sub-contracted by East Coast rail to employ cleaners and tankers, who clean and fill the trains water tanks.

The cleaners and tankers are on strike.

They are asking for a wage increase and a contract that guarantees their wages.  At present ISS pays them £6.19 per hour. (the legal minimum wage for an adult).  The workers say they often are short paid or not even paid at all. 
They also say to live in London you need £8.30 per hour.

I guess I will be travelling in a dirty train today.  I do hope there is a resolution very soon.

Where's My Mail?

Royal Mail has been on various levels of strikes for months now. So far our household has not received birthday presents, Internet purchases, family mail, invitations and that is what we know about.
Royal Mail says we are unlikely to ever receive them. Why is this acceptable?
Disputes will occur from time to time between enterprises and their workers. Most countries in the world can resolve their issues.
Here the parties appear to just become more firmly entrenched in their views neither side willing or able to move on.
So lets ditch Royal Mail (both sides) and have alternative mail delivery.

According to news reports that is what some companies are electing to do.
A report here from the Guardian.
Another here from the Royal Evening Standard.

So if you are planning on sending me a Xmas card this year maybe you should send it electronically!
Or maybe we can get Winston to train all the pigeons here to be useful.