Unpaid "Matchday Heroes" furore...

[The Bedlington Terrier]

I believe that the Olympic Greeters argument is very valid. We spent billions on the Olympics and could easily afforded to employ paid labour to do the job. Luckily there was no faux rage about getting people to work for nothing - and the event was a very joyous occasion.

I have just returned from an uplifting evening in which local volunteers were honoured for their work in the area. I nominated one chap who picked up an award.

Another award went to the local Blood Bikers who voluntarily use their own motor bikes, pay for the fuel and work around the clock to move blood from hospital to hospital. They told us that they have saved the NHS around £3 million by doing this.
Should they be considered to be "scabs" because they are putting many workers, who need to put food on the table, out of a job - in a similar way to firefighters who wished to work overtime?

Scabs the lot of them. No other word for them. Let the bloody Tories pay people to do the job we pay our taxes for. Send the funds and profits to the Caymans and let idiots work for nowt, I can now clearly see why the Lib Dems jumped in bed with the austerity brigade. Get real please?

[1959_60]

Scabs the lot of them. No other word for them. Let the bloody Tories pay people to do the job we pay our taxes for. Send the funds and profits to the Caymans and let idiots work for nowt, I can now clearly see why the Lib Dems jumped in bed with the austerity brigade. Get real please?

BT, if you start calling Blood Bikers "scabs" then don't expect much support in your political adventures - except your ultra left buddies.

These people are rightly lauded as heroes - it was VERY evident tonight.

http://www.bloodbikes.org.uk/

[The Bedlington Terrier]

BT, if you start calling Blood Bikers "scabs" then don't expect much support in your political adventures - except your ultra left buddies.

These people are rightly lauded as heroes - it was VERY evident tonight.

http://www.bloodbikes.org.uk/

Why on earth can't the NHS pay for their own despatch riders? These daft sods are playing right into the Tory Party/Lib Dem Alliance "back to serfdom" plans.

You know the mantra, "Club together, don't rely on the State to provide the basics, look after your own and please die early then we don't have to provide you with a pension!" That philosophy comes straight out of the Theresa May Handbook. The Tories have taken the Lib/Dems out of the loop but you can't take the Lib/Dems out of the Tory Party.

[1959_60]

BT, you obviously don't realise (and neither did I) that the Blood Bikers have been operated for 50 years. Their organisation was formalised in 2008 - during a Labour Government.

It says on their website, "With its roots going back over half a century, the concept of a rapid response motorcycle based charity, run by unpaid volunteers has an impressive track record. More than one of the current NABB member groups can proudly demonstrate in excess of three decades of continual service to the NHS and the wider community.

Since its inception as an umbrella organisation in 2008, NABB has successfully promoted and been actively involved in the start up of numerous independent Blood Bike groups across the UK and the Republic of Ireland."

[The Bedlington Terrier]

Perhaps we can all volunteer as "Westminster Heroes" and get the useless phuckers currently operating out of there, a free bus pass to anywhere but the Houses of Parliament?

[Supersub6]

Why on earth can't the NHS pay for their own despatch riders? These daft sods are playing right into the Tory Party/Lib Dem Alliance "back to serfdom" plans.

You know the mantra, "Club together, don't rely on the State to provide the basics, look after your own and please die early then we don't have to provide you with a pension!" That philosophy comes straight out of the Theresa May Handbook. The Tories have taken the Lib/Dems out of the loop but you can't take the Lib/Dems out of the Tory Party.

The NHS won't pay for their own despatch riders, in fact, the London Ambulance Service is even thinking of getting rid of its Motor Cycle Unit which responds faster than anyone to emergencies on the streets of London because they are able to get through the traffic easier than anything. This unit comprises senior paramedics who are extremely competent and have saved many, many lives and who enjoy their particular type of service, however, morale is being affected and rather than face the prospect of going back on the 'wagons' many are considering leaving a service which, because of mismanagement, has lost a lot of staff during the past couple of years and has even tried recruiting in Australia, promising any newcomers some ridiculous benefits.

More power to the Blood bikers ---they do a brilliant job and, like so many of us who carry out voluntary work, they are happy to do it without any recognition at all. Scabs indeed!! Well put me in that group as well because I help soldiers, sailors and airmen and their families who, sometimes, desperately need help so I suppose that I am taking the place of a social worker except that many have been kicked into touch already through the social services!

[1959_60]

Well said Supersub. And thank you for the work you do for our servicemen and women.

[The Bedlington Terrier]

Well said Supersub. And thank you for the work you do for our servicemen and women.

I'm at a loss, I really am. The NHS are so desperate they have even tried recruiting in Australia, promising any newcomers some ridiculous benefits to perform a job that these volunteers are doing for nothing?

So if this lot of Bikers went back to their proper fully paid jobs, there would be how many people leaving the Job Centres to become NHS despatch riders?

[Supersub6]

I'm at a loss, I really am. The NHS are so desperate they have even tried recruiting in Australia, promising any newcomers some ridiculous benefits to perform a job that these volunteers are doing for nothing?

So if this lot of Bikers went back to their proper fully paid jobs, there would be how many people leaving the Job Centres to become NHS despatch riders?

Wrong BT!! The NHS were recruiting Paramedics and Ambulance Personnel to replace the vast numbers that were leaving the London Ambulance Service in droves because of mismanagement. The fact that experienced people were leaving and being replaced by overseas people coming in and getting all sorts of benefits has cost the NHS more money than if they had been able to manage the brilliant people that were in situ and doing a great job.
The voluntary blood transportation service would never be paid for by the NHS, perhaps the Labour Party, as and when they get into government, can pay the bikers for the work they do voluntarily and they could then call it a job ---a working wage will have to be paid but that should be no problem with all the money which will become available with Brexit.

Have a word, over a pint, with your two MP friends and tell them that you think that the bikers should be paid so that they aren't taking anyone elses' jobs.

I love politics!

[alfinyalcabo]

well said supersub. And thank you for the work you do for our servicemen and women.

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