Glastonbury 2009

[genee_rave]

Some good pics of an empty glasto site here: http://www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk/news/site-snaps-14

ETA: ooh and some really good 'glasto moments' sent in by people, I like the YMCA one! http://www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk/news/help-us-uncover-glasto-2009s-secrets

 

[Tank Girl]

 

[dwenfish]

Read something similar elsewhere. If what was reported is true picture, then it did sound shitty this year Previous years people have had good reports. Hard graft but no shittyness).

it's always been a nazi work camp, can be a really good laugh as long as you take no notice of the fascist overlords and take the piss as much as poss but it's not exactly a secret that they're complete cunts...

 

[dwenfish]

This was paid work. Apparently they'd hired too many people and were just laying them off in quite a shitty way and he said that the bloke in charge of them just spoke to them/treated them like shit and had zero people skills.

he's famous for it.

 

[paolo]

it's always been a nazi work camp, can be a really good laugh as long as you take no notice of the fascist overlords and take the piss as much as poss but it's not exactly a secret that they're complete cunts...

I've since spoken to a mate who has a friend who's been doing it for years. Said pretty much the same as you are saying dwenfish. He's been having a great time, finding loads of booze and partying it up in the evenings.

I get the feeling that the neg reports are coming from people new to it. Probably expecting the more fluffy vibe that the volunteer pick has. Sounds like you need to be fairly thick skinned for the after pick.

 

[madzone]

I've since spoken to a mate who has a friend who's been doing it for years. Said pretty much the same as you are saying dwenfish. He's been having a great time, finding loads of booze and partying it up in the evenings.

I get the feeling that the neg reports are coming from people new to it. Probably expecting the more fluffy vibe that the volunteer pick has. Sounds like you need to be fairly thick skinned for the after pick.

Sounds like you also have to be able to cope in full on sun with no water and sunscreen

 

[tarannau]

What's stopping someone filling up a bottle of water from the umpteen taps or slapping on some sunscreen?

I can understand people been pissed off if they're being mistreated or let go on the spot, but moaning that they may be hot and bothered picking up litter in the open air seems a little much. What else did they expect?

 

[madzone]

What's stopping someone filling up a bottle of water from the umpteen taps or slapping on some sunscreen?

I can understand people been pissed off if they're being mistreated or let go on the spot, but moaning that they may be hot and bothered picking up litter in the open air seems a little much. What else did they expect?

They were told sunscreen and water would be provided. They were also only given latex gloves to pick up stuff - very handy against needle-stick injuries. They weren't given time to eat on ocassion and they were generally verbally abused and constantly threatened with being fired

Have you read the accounts of what they were treated like?

Fucksake - only on urban could you get people thinking it's ok to be treated like shit in scorching weather by some jumped up little prick with a power complex

 

[tarannau]

Nope to be honest, although it's always difficult to see the wood for the trees where internet gossip is concerned.

That said, if I was fair enough and prone to being bothered by sun and heat I'd never rely on anyone else to supply me with suntan lotion. And I can't believe that filling up a water bottle would be beyond folks either. It just seems an unconvincing moan amongst other concerns. If I had signed up to go tromping around collecting litter I'd at least go vaguely prepared for life in the open air.

 

[madzone]

Nope to be honest, although it's always difficult to see the wood for the trees where internet gossip is concerned.

That said, if I was fair enough and prone to being bothered by sun and heat I'd never rely on anyone else to supply me with suntan lotion. And I can't believe that filling up a water bottle would be beyond folks either. It just seems an unconvincing moan amongst other concerns. If I had signed up to go tromping around collecting litter I'd at least go vaguely prepared for life in the open air.

In my case it's not internet gossip.

They weren't tromping round, they were on their hands and knees, sometimes picking up human excrement.

But hey, they're only teenager and travellers. Who gives a fuck how they're treated.

 

[tarannau]

With the greatest of respect, you wouldn't expect anything less than human excrement wading through Glastonbury's discards. I'm grateful to the litter pickers, but I'd never expect it to be anything other than filthy, unpleasant work in weather conditions that could get nasty. The guy in charge sounds a cock, but the cynic in me would pretty much expect that too. As someone else implied you ain't likely to expect enlightened bosses and fun work particularly

 

[madzone]

With the greatest of respect, you wouldn't expect anything less than human excrement wading through Glastonbury's discards. I'm grateful to the litter pickers, but I'd never expect it to be anything other than filthy, unpleasant work in weather conditions that could get nasty.

That's not the issue. The issue is that they were verbally abused and constantly threatened by someone who clearly has a problem in dealing with people. They were treated in a way that no-one here would tolerate and are somehow expected to be grateful for £6 an hour for doing it.

 

[paolo]

Arcadia awesomeness, 2009:

 

[kenny g]

FFS. Bin men are not expected to work in conditions like that so why the fuck should people cleaning up after festivals?

It is the employer's and employees responsibilty to consider Health and Safety and that includes the provision of suitable Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as well as suitable training etc. Who the fuck was the person responsible for the staff's safety during this process? if no one was acting as a responsible person that is a breach of the Health and Safety at Work Act (and associated Regs etc etc) in itself. Where was the fucking Health and safety assesment for the process? And how did they account for the almost certain presence of human and animal shit along with Hep C / HiV etc etc.

This is all basic Health and Safety stuff and i do NOT think that the provision of blue latex gloves is sufficient for people who are expected to clean a site such as Glastonbury.

At the end of the day the local council will have a Health and Safety Officer whose job will be checking on businesses to ensure that they comply with the legislative requirements that are in place. Get in touch with them and clearly explain what has been going on. If necessary contact the GMB and see if they would be interested in taking the matter up next year. If you want any more pointers please feel free to PM.

What i hate about this is the way that workers are being taken advantage of and put in risky situations just for the sake of a few pounds by an organisation the size of Glastonbury Festival. pathetic. If necessary i would be happy to be involved in a picket of next years festival. BUT at the end of the day legislation is in place that makes it a legal requirement for this shit to not take place.

 

[madzone]

My sentiments exactly kenny.

 

[wayward bob]

That's not the issue. The issue is that they were verbally abused and constantly threatened by someone who clearly has a problem in dealing with people. They were treated in a way that no-one here would tolerate and are somehow expected to be grateful for £6 an hour for doing it.

that attitude along with the water/breaks issue was what stopped us volunteer picking when they changed the organising company 10 years or so ago. it was a really hot year and we were getting all kinds of shit (most memorably being told - word for word - that we were the scum of the earth) and it just wasn't worth our while (we went on to info pointing which was muuuch more civilised). but even then we noticed that the paid pickers were getting it in the neck much worse than we were. i wonder if it's still the same company. i do remember a glowing article in the guardian afterwards interviewing the head guy, saying something along the lines of "some might say these people are the scum of the earth but they're not" oh how we lolled

 

[paolo]

Without wanting to appear to be siding with the devil, on the issue of proper gloves... All the volunteers I saw had them, so I assume that most of the after-pick did aswell. Unless they all got lost, which seems unlikely, albeit possible.

 

[madzone]

Without wanting to appear to be siding with the devil, on the issue of proper gloves... All the volunteers I saw had them, so I assume that most of the after-pick did aswell. Unless they all got lost, which seems unlikely, albeit possible.

Well, I've been told by someone who was actually at the after pick that only some people ahd proper gloves. You seem very reluctant to believe the first hand accounts apolo. why is that?

 

[bluestreak]

If its servicable, it gets taken by someone more deserving. Place is heavily tatted.

Yeah, until you gave me your tent I often upgraded. This year I walked away with a collapsible wheelbarrow, two good quality camping blankets, a new heavy duty fluoro jacket, and eve, meems, the rev and I all had as much booze as we could fit into out bags and arms. I was still drinking tatted booze two days later. And that was just from me alone tatting one field in two circuits. Glasto wombling tat ftw.

Although I did make a tit of myself as I entered a semi collapsed tent, found some fucking top notch boots and said outloud something along the lines of "kinell, who'd leave these behind" when a voice said "no cunt" and there was a seriously hard looking fellow lying under a blanket in the corner of the tent. all i could say was "whoops sorry guv" and scarper.

 

[paolo]

Well, I've been told by someone who was actually at the after pick that only some people ahd proper gloves. You seem very reluctant to believe the first hand accounts apolo. why is that?

I've said I don't think it's likely that noone had gloves. Which you've just confirmed. So I don't think there's any dispute, is there?

 

[madzone]

I've said I don't think it's likely that noone had gloves. Which you've just confirmed. So I don't think there's any dispute, is there?

All of them should have the proper equipment, not just some.

 

[paolo]

All of them should have the proper equipment, not just some.

Completely agree. They should only take people on that they have equipment for, the rest should be refused.

 

[jontz01]

Yeah, until you gave me your tent I often upgraded. This year I walked away with a collapsible wheelbarrow, two good quality camping blankets, a new heavy duty fluoro jacket, and eve, meems, the rev and I all had as much booze as we could fit into out bags and arms. I was still drinking tatted booze two days later. And that was just from me alone tatting one field in two circuits. Glasto wombling tat ftw.

Although I did make a tit of myself as I entered a semi collapsed tent, found some fucking top notch boots and said outloud something along the lines of "kinell, who'd leave these behind" when a voice said "no cunt" and there was a seriously hard looking fellow lying under a blanket in the corner of the tent. all i could say was "whoops sorry guv" and scarper.

I was drinking tatted glasto booze all day yesterday! We found 3 boxes of Country Manor, sealed and untouched. At first I thought it was just really shit white wine, turns out it's just really shit perry.

Works a treat mixed with shit white rum though.

Value low quality booze cocktails ftw.

 

[newbie]

Well, I've been told by someone who was actually at the after pick that only some people ahd proper gloves. You seem very reluctant to believe the first hand accounts apolo. why is that?

unless I've missed it this thread hasn't had any first hand accounts

 

[madzone]

unless I've missed it this thread hasn't had any first hand accounts

And?

 

[newbie]

and I'm not sure which first hand accounts are supposed to be believed

 

[madzone]

and I'm not sure which first hand accounts are supposed to be believed

Ever heard of PM's?

 

[disco_dave_2000]

Here are some of my photographs from Glastonbury 2009

 

[William of Walworth]

Newbie, and tarannau too if you want and that's OK, I can PM you the link to the main efests first hand account (thanks to madz for sending me that link last week).

It's one of several similar accounts floating about this year, the overall tenor which I'm prepared to believe sadly. Even making allowances for (understandably!) emotive feelings, anger, etc., there's just too much substantive detail for it to be nothing but exaggeration ...

Oksi (sometime Urban poster) was on the afterpick as well this year, if I see him again this summer I'll ask him for his view, he's been very experienced at them over the years.

If dwenfish is right and one of the established supervisors/bosses is notorious for being a bastard, then that's particularly out of order and should be reported in no uncertain terms. It sort of contradicts a bit what I've heard in previous years from other pickers/posters who were more of the 'hard work but fair treatment' school, but I guess differences may be down to where you worked and who supervised you??

I've had enough disagreements on here in the past with kenny g about other stuff but he's bang on the money in his post above IMO.

 

[William of Walworth]

that attitude along with the water/breaks issue was what stopped us volunteer picking when they changed the organising company 10 years or so ago. it was a really hot year and we were getting all kinds of shit (most memorably being told - word for word - that we were the scum of the earth) and it just wasn't worth our while (we went on to info pointing which was muuuch more civilised). but even then we noticed that the paid pickers were getting it in the neck much worse than we were. i wonder if it's still the same company. i do remember a glowing article in the guardian afterwards interviewing the head guy, saying something along the lines of "some might say these people are the scum of the earth but they're not" oh how we lolled

Innit , you still doing that bob?

We should meet up next year as we'd be part of the same team.