West Norwood news, chitter chatter and gossip

[discobastard]

Yes, but Picturehouse/Cineworld are a fucking huge, multi-national company, raking in multi-million profits so they should be leading the way - especially since they're being part financed by the council.

I was responding to your wider point not regarding Cineworld.

Happy to respond to your view regarding Cineworld taking into account the benefits package.

ETA: just to be clear (because I know how important this is) I am not supporting Cineworld here, just adding facts to the discussion

 

[shakespearegirl]

Yes, but Picturehouse/Cineworld are a fucking huge, multi-national company, raking in multi-million profits so they should be leading the way - especially since they're being part financed by the council.

Given that Lambeth became a Living Wage employer in 2012, they should be ensuring that any company they finance/give grants to/donate property to are Living Wage employers. This should be a pre-condition before they even enter into conversations with potential companies.

This is the guff from the council website during Living Wage week last year:

The London Living Wage of £9.75 per hour is now paid as the minimum wage on 99 per cent of Lambeth Council contracts, with the ambition to get full coverage coming closer.

The council first became a London Living Wage employer in 2012, and backs the rate to help reduce inequality.

Successes include getting all 30 of the council’s adult social care providers paying the wage to their 2,217 employees, three-quarters of whom live in Lambeth.

The next step will be negotiations with contractor Veolia to pay the London Living Wage rate to staff working on its environmental services contract with the council.

Word from the Cabinet
Cllr Paul McGlone, Lambeth Council’s deputy leader, said: “I want to thank all the businesses and contractors that have signed up. It is our aim to see every business and organisation in the borough pay their staff the London Living Wage.

“Since 2012 I have seen first-hand the difference receiving the London Living Wage can make. Many struggle on low incomes and better pay can make a real difference for them and their families.

“We have made huge progress over the last five-years, going from one-per-cent of our contracts being compliant to 99-per-cent, and I’m determined we will reach the wage for all our contractors.”

Since becoming an accredited London Living Wage employer in 2012 the council has also been encouraging businesses in the borough to follow suit and ensure their staff get decent pay.

 

[discobastard]

Given that Lambeth became a Living Wage employer in 2012, they should be ensuring that any company they finance/give grants to/donate property to are Living Wage employers. This should be a pre-condition before they even enter into conversations with potential companies.

This is the guff from the council website during Living Wage week last year:

The London Living Wage of £9.75 per hour is now paid as the minimum wage on 99 per cent of Lambeth Council contracts, with the ambition to get full coverage coming closer.

The council first became a London Living Wage employer in 2012, and backs the rate to help reduce inequality.

Successes include getting all 30 of the council’s adult social care providers paying the wage to their 2,217 employees, three-quarters of whom live in Lambeth.

The next step will be negotiations with contractor Veolia to pay the London Living Wage rate to staff working on its environmental services contract with the council.

Word from the Cabinet
Cllr Paul McGlone, Lambeth Council’s deputy leader, said: “I want to thank all the businesses and contractors that have signed up. It is our aim to see every business and organisation in the borough pay their staff the London Living Wage.

“Since 2012 I have seen first-hand the difference receiving the London Living Wage can make. Many struggle on low incomes and better pay can make a real difference for them and their families.

“We have made huge progress over the last five-years, going from one-per-cent of our contracts being compliant to 99-per-cent, and I’m determined we will reach the wage for all our contractors.”

Since becoming an accredited London Living Wage employer in 2012 the council has also been encouraging businesses in the borough to follow suit and ensure their staff get decent pay.

Yes, I agree they should be. But the contracts they rely on (e.g. waste disposal) can't be easily chucked out if somebody doesn't pay LLW, otherwise there would be nobody to clean the streets.

It's a mess, and fucked up that we even have to have an 'accredited' wage.

 

[editor]

But the contracts they rely on (e.g. waste disposal) can't be easily chucked out if somebody doesn't pay LLW, otherwise there would be nobody to clean the streets.

Well there would be if the bosses didn't take so much fucking money for themselves.

 

[shakespearegirl]

Yes, I agree they should be. But the contracts they rely on (e.g. waste disposal) can't be easily chucked out if somebody doesn't pay LLW, otherwise there would be nobody to clean the streets.

It's a mess, and fucked up that we even have to have an 'accredited' wage.

They’ve had 6 years to bring contracts in line. Most importantly, they are entering into new contracts with companies like Picturehouse who are very publicly refusing to pay Living Wage.

And yes, it’s totally fucked up we have to have an ‘accredited’ wage.

 

[alex_]

Well there would be if the bosses didn't take so much fucking money for themselves.

I suspect the ratio at companies like veloia of employees like refuse collectors and bosses on megabucks is about 1000/1

The difference this will make will be tiny.

Alex

 

[alcopop]

That’s

I'm not going to get into an argument about this, and I'm not saying I don't support the Living Wage. But it's fair to add the benefits which many other businesses locally won't pay. The membership bonus isn't made clear but this is a really decent package. If people take advantage of some of the benefits here (like food and free coffee and nighttime allowance etc) then they can be effectively paid more than the London Living Wage. That isn't me saying that it's OK - you might not want free unlimited cinema tickets and you might not eat popcorn or drink coffee or soft drinks, but this is a pretty decent benefits package.

*Membership bonus adding between 10 and 25p to each hour worked (excludes Ritzy) [No idea why Ritzy isn't included but we're not talking about the Ritzy here]
*Paid breaks. So staff working an 8 hour shift, are paid for 8 hours but only work 7.5
*Membership to The Forum - an official, recognised staff union with bargaining rights
*Statutory paternity, pension, sick and holiday pay
*Unlimited Cineworld and Picturehouse Cinema tickets (subject to availability)
*Two tickets per week for guests
*Free eye tests (for those using screens)
*Cycle to work scheme
*Free popcorn, soft drinks and hot drinks
*30% off all food and beverages
*Late night working allowance

Lambeth Council's apparent double standards is another matter. I don't know enough about that so i won't comment. But West Norwood now at least has a library, and a community room, none of which we have had for a very long time. Oh, and a cinema.

I'm adding this to the thread merely for context, not in support of Cineworld.

that’s not bad is it.

Paid breaks alone bumps up the hourly wage considerably

 

[alex_]

Given that Lambeth became a Living Wage employer in 2012, they should be ensuring that any company they finance/give grants to/donate property to are Living Wage employers. This should be a pre-condition before they even enter into conversations with potential companies.

This is the guff from the council website during Living Wage week last year:

The London Living Wage of £9.75 per hour is now paid as the minimum wage on 99 per cent of Lambeth Council contracts, with the ambition to get full coverage coming closer.

The council first became a London Living Wage employer in 2012, and backs the rate to help reduce inequality.

Successes include getting all 30 of the council’s adult social care providers paying the wage to their 2,217 employees, three-quarters of whom live in Lambeth.

The next step will be negotiations with contractor Veolia to pay the London Living Wage rate to staff working on its environmental services contract with the council.

Word from the Cabinet
Cllr Paul McGlone, Lambeth Council’s deputy leader, said: “I want to thank all the businesses and contractors that have signed up. It is our aim to see every business and organisation in the borough pay their staff the London Living Wage.

“Since 2012 I have seen first-hand the difference receiving the London Living Wage can make. Many struggle on low incomes and better pay can make a real difference for them and their families.

“We have made huge progress over the last five-years, going from one-per-cent of our contracts being compliant to 99-per-cent, and I’m determined we will reach the wage for all our contractors.”

Since becoming an accredited London Living Wage employer in 2012 the council has also been encouraging businesses in the borough to follow suit and ensure their staff get decent pay.

Considering that about half of London councils aren’t llw employers - beating Lambeth up because only 99% of their suppliers are also llw employers is focussing on the wrong problem.

Alex

 

[Smick]

I suspect the ratio at companies like veloia of employees like refuse collectors and bosses on megabucks is about 1000/1

The difference this will make will be tiny.

Alex

When the councils employed people providing essential services directly, they earned a decent wage as well as having meaningful benefits. Nowadays they aren’t afforded that dignity and the councils are lining the pockets of overseas corporations with overpaid bosses.

 

[editor]

Considering that about half of London councils aren’t llw employers - beating Lambeth up because only 99% of their suppliers are also llw employers is focussing on the wrong problem.

Alex

Wait, so you're saying we shouldn't demand that Lambeth honour their promises? Why not? And this isn't just one of their suppliers. This is a flagship project they've sunk £3 million of pubic funds into.

 

[alex_]

Wait, so you're saying we shouldn't demand that Lambeth honour their promises? Why not? And this isn't just one of their suppliers. This is a flagship project they've sunk £3 million of pubic funds into.

They will lose their accreditation if they don’t sort this out

FAQs | Living Wage Foundation

“Demanding” won’t make any difference.

Are you saying Lambeth should pay to exit contracts early in order to sort this out ?

Alex

 

[editor]

They will lose their accreditation if they don’t sort this out

FAQs | Living Wage Foundation

“Demanding” won’t make any difference.

Are you saying Lambeth should pay to exit contracts early in order to sort this out ?

Alex

No, I'm saying that they should ensure that the businesses they partner up with - and invest millions in - should pay the living wage, just like they pledged.

Demanding that people stick to their promises and publicising their shortcomings can make a difference if enough people can be bothered. What's your alternative ideas?

 

[alex_]

No, I'm saying that they should ensure that the businesses they partner up with - and invest millions in - should pay the living wage, just like they pledged.

Demanding that people stick to their promises and publicising their shortcomings can make a difference if enough people can be bothered. What's your alternative ideas?

Are you saying they are in breach of their llw obligations ?

Alex

 

[shakespearegirl]

They will lose their accreditation if they don’t sort this out

FAQs | Living Wage Foundation

“Demanding” won’t make any difference.

Are you saying Lambeth should pay to exit contracts early in order to sort this out ?

Alex

Not saying they should leave contracts early but every time they enter a new contract - especially one they are investing our money or property into - they should be ensuring Living Wage is paid

 

[alex_]

Not saying they should leave contracts early but every time they enter a new contract - especially one they are investing our money or property into - they should be ensuring Living Wage is paid

If they aren’t doing this they shouldn’t be llw accredited.

Alex

 

[editor]

Are you saying they are in breach of their llw obligations ?

Alex

Can you not work that one out for yourself?

 

[shakespearegirl]

If they aren’t doing this they shouldn’t be llw accredited.

Alex

Well they don’t seem to be doing this in the instance of Picturehouse.

It’s also their support of such a high profile dodger of Living Wage that is shit!

I have a start up business and one of the first things we agreed was paying Living Wage. The least you can do when you are profiting off someone else is ensure they can afford to live!

 

[Me76]

I'm really grumpy about this. This cinema is almost literally on my doorstep, like 7 minutes walk from my house.

I like going to the cinema but as the nearest two are both at least 30 mins walk or 20 mins on a bus I don't very often.

I really want to take advantage and see films but feel I can't ethically

 

[colacubes]

I'm really grumpy about this. This cinema is almost literally on my doorstep, like 7 minutes walk from my house.

I like going to the cinema but as the nearest two are both at least 30 mins walk or 20 mins on a bus I don't very often.

I really want to take advantage and see films but feel I can't ethically

This. I’ll keep boycotting till they sort it out but really irritating as it’s so close to my house. I cancelled my Ritzy membership when it all started and would get a membership here if they just sorted it LLW

 

[Gramsci]

Quotes problem again.

 

[Gramsci]

They will lose their accreditation if they don’t sort this out

FAQs | Living Wage Foundation

“Demanding” won’t make any difference.

Are you saying Lambeth should pay to exit contracts early in order to sort this out ?

Alex

GLL/ Better who run Brixton Rec and the other leisure centres are now paying LLW in Lambeth due to pressure from the Council.

One might think a social enterprise like GLL would do this anyway.

Another thing GLL have done is bring cleaning back in house. The cleaning staff will also get LLW.

WhatI I am not totally clear about is position of other suppliers. Lambeth has contracts with one supplier ( GLL) who then contract out services to another.

I think that Lambeth would expect major contractor to ensure those it contracts with to pay LLW. So down the chain everyone gets it.

This of course might adversly affect some small business as big contractor might see bringing staff back in house as better option.

In reality the subcontracting to small businesses was about cutting costs. So large public bodies like Councils ensuring Living Wage in new contracts is imo likely to mean some small contactors losing business possibly closing.

 

[Gramsci]

I find it hard to take that posters criticising Lambeth for supporting LLW.

For once Lambeth are trying to stick up for the workers. This is a Labour Council.

They might not be doing enough but its a start.

 

[friendofdorothy]

I heard from a lovely young man at the RVT that there is a Norwood LGBT group that meet up in places like Knowles of Norwood. I think he said there is a facebook group - but I cant find anything about it - has anyone heard of it?

 

[discobastard]

Well there would be if the bosses didn't take so much fucking money for themselves.

I agree

 

[discobastard]

I heard from a lovely young man at the RVT that there is a Norwood LGBT group that meet up in places like Knowles of Norwood. I think he said there is a facebook group - but I cant find anything about it - has anyone heard of it?

I know about it vaguely and it was mentioned at a Feast meeting. I’ll try dig out details for you.

 

[discobastard]

I heard from a lovely young man at the RVT that there is a Norwood LGBT group that meet up in places like Knowles of Norwood. I think he said there is a facebook group - but I cant find anything about it - has anyone heard of it?

friendofdorothy They announce meetups on the West Norwood Local Facebook group. It's a closed group so you will need to drop a note to the moderators to join.

West Norwood Local



Hope you're well - haven't seen you in ages!

 

[alex_]

Well they don’t seem to be doing this in the instance of Picturehouse.

It’s also their support of such a high profile dodger of Living Wage that is shit!

I have a start up business and one of the first things we agreed was paying Living Wage. The least you can do when you are profiting off someone else is ensure they can afford to live!

Is it worth an email to whoever accredits the llw to say - bearing in mind x, how are they accredited ?

I suspect the get out is that Picturehouse are a tenant of the council not a supplier.

Alex

 

[friendofdorothy]

friendofdorothy They announce meetups on the West Norwood Local Facebook group. It's a closed group so you will need to drop a note to the moderators to join.

West Norwood Local

View attachment 150230

Hope you're well - haven't seen you in ages!

ah well never mind - i'm not on facebook

 

[editor]

From FB:

I was just in the Geranium charity shop in West Norwood and my phone was stolen while I was looking around. The staff there said it was the second theft they'd had today so be extra cautious if you're browsing in there.

 

[discobastard]

Received this today: