Jim McGovern Welcomes Joint Economic Study for Improved Transport Links

Jim McGovern Welcomes Joint Economic Study for Improved Transport Links

25 May 2012

Dundee West MP Jim McGovern has welcomed the news that a joint economic study, which could result in better transport infrastructure for Dundee, is to be undertaken as a matter of urgency.
Jim McGovern said;
“This study is long overdue.
“I have been campaigning since my election in 2005 for better transport links for Dundee.
“As the city becomes a prime tourist destination, with the waterfront improvement and the opening of the V&A, it is imperative that transport links to and from the city are first class to meet the expectations of the people of Dundee and visitors to the city.
“This is why I have continually pressed for major improvements to the Railway Station and increased air services at Dundee Airport.”
Mr McGovern concluded,
“If the impact study kick-starts the process of improvement to our transport infrastructure then this has to be a move in the right direction.
“I shall continue to campaign for first-class transport connections to the city.”

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Employment Rights Stop Employment Wrongs

Employment Rights Stop Employment Wrongs

Councillor Richard McCready

3 June 2012

I am happy to support the campaign launched by the TUC to defend employee rights.
The Tory-led Government recently published the Beecroft report.
This report suggested that there should be cuts in the protections given to workers.
The TUC have pointed out that employment rights actually aid the economy.
I just cannot see how removing rights for workers is the way forward for the UK economy.
You can find out more about the campaign and sign the petition in support of the TUC Campaign
The videos below give an idea about the campaign and about the proposals.

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Jenny Marra demands clarity over tuition fees for Northern Irish students coming to Dundee

Jenny Marra demands clarity over tuition fees for Northern Irish students coming to Dundee

Jenny Marra has criticised the Scottish Government’s tuition fee policy after an education source revealed around 20% of applicants from Northern Ireland have indicated they will claim Republic of Ireland citizenship to avoid fees of up to £9000.

This situation is a result of the fee system introduced by the SNP Government last year, and is evidence that Scotland’s complicated university fees structure could be set to unravel.

Jenny Marra said,

“Twenty per cent of current Northern Irish applicants to Dundee are trying to get in with their Irish passports to avoid the fees.

“The SNP's fees arrangement for the rest of the UK is fast becoming a farce as predicted.

“Mike Russell can't bury his head in the sand any longer. He needs to give the universities clarity so they know what they should do in this situation.

“Northern Irish students are too important to the universities in Dundee and to our city for this uncertainty to continue.'”

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Work-related street is a major social problem

Work-related stress is a major social problem
Marlyn Glen
25 May 2012
The Chief Inspector of Ofsted in England , Michael Wilshaw, recently described how teachers in schools should be treated :
“If anyone says to you that staff morale is at an all-time low, you know you are doing something right.”
In the NHS, in one year in the last decade, the Department of Health in England estimated that “£96 million was spent on replacing staff who have left their jobs due to bullying”
Scotland is not immune from the confrontational macho style of relations at work either.
UNISON Scotland reported earlier this year that almost one in three of their members in Scotland have either have been bullied, or have witnessed bullying in a six month period..
The websites of unions in education such as the EIS, SSTA and UCU, all carry detailed information on how to deal with bullying.
What should be of major concern is that bullying is occurring in the public sector.
The spirit of the public sector is supposedly one of dialogue, co-operation, dignity at work , and benefit for the common good.
Instead, we see all too often light-touch scrutiny of those at the top, while top-heavy micro-management of those at work.
With the banks now in partial public ownership, the consequences of failure are a bonus for those in command, but P45s for its employees
The higher echelons can accept the rewards that high salaries and secure jobs bring, but they can refuse to accept responsibility or culpability when things go wrong.
The buck stops somewhere else down the line.
Common sense assumptions that the hazardous consequences of stress for health is mainly the fate of the high-powered in authority who have to take make-or-break decisions are contrary not just to academic research but daily workplace experience.
Those who suffer stress-related illnesses such as anxiety and depression tend to be those in the lower grades upon whom demands are highest and where control over one’s work is lowest.
Stress also comes with a financial cost to the organisation affected through long term absence, reduced production , and increases in statutory sick pay.
With the public sector still to face much greater cuts in spending than have been made so far, women face added pressure from job losses, since they make up the majority of most public sector organisations.
The 2010 British Academy study “ Stress at work” reported :
“Work stress has increased since 1992, especially for women. In the past year these levels have risen at an alarming rate and there are no effective measures in place to prevent the situation worsening.”
This was its “disturbing finding” - a 25 per cent increase in the number of women suffering from job strain over the 14 year period between 1992 and 2006. ( Link : Stress at work )
The latest TUC survey of union safety reps indicates that stress is by far in the most quoted problem for health and safety at work with longer hours, heavier workloads, less staff and unrealistic targets at its root.
The TUC itself declared that “ stress is most often found in the public than in the private sector” ( link )
Meanwhile, the Labour Force Survey found that last year 77,000 people suffered from work-related illness in Scotland , and that the sectors in which stress had been most prevalent in the UK were health, social work, education and public administration
Much more work-related stress seems almost inevitable unless tackling attitudes and behaviour towards preventing stress from taking its toll on the workforce is made a priority.
There are Management Standards produced by the Health and Safety Executive on how employers should deal with work-related stress.
The TUC says that such standards “, based on the risk assessment approach, are seen as the most useful method of tackling stress in the workplace”, but that is only because of “ the absence of specific legislation “
The British Academy study emphasises this point by asking,
“With no legislation in the UK specifically on this issue, the report questions the effectiveness of the current voluntary code of practice that is meant to guide employers in matters of work stress. “
Work-related stress is major social problem.

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Richard McCready : Dundee City Council Statutory Meeting

Councillor Richard McCready

23 May 2012

Monday evening saw the first meeting of Dundee City Council since the election at the start of the month.

The result of the election across the city was a disappointment to me, although there were some highlights for Labour in Dundee.

The highlights were the increase in the number of Scottish Labour councillors in Dundee and the fact that 40% of Labour councillors in Dundee are now female.

The percentage for the City Council as a whole is 20% female councillors.

The headline grabbing appointment from last night was the election of Councillor Bob Duncan as Lord Provost of the City of Dundee.

In my five years as a councillor I have worked closely with Bob as Opposition Spokesperson and Convener and vice versa.

I think that Bob will serve the people of Dundee well as Lord Provost and I wish him all the best for his term of office.

The new Lord Provost made a good speech in which he highlighted that he wanted to work with everyone in the city and be inclusive, which are fine words.

The Administration believe that the representation on outside bodies should be accommodated by a proportion of 4 to 1 in favour of the SNP.

As ever I think that we can judge people by their actions rather than their words.

I was disappointed that the council did not see fit to mark Councillor Ian Borthwick's near fifty years of service to the people of Dundee by at least allowing him to continue in the post of Depute Lord Provost.

I do hope that Bailie Borthwick's 50 years of service is marked appropriately when it comes.

Jim McGovern welcomes Prime Minister’s apparent u-turn on the Black Watch

23 May 2012

Dundee West MP Jim McGovern today questioned the Prime Minister over the future of The Black Watch during a debate on the recent G8 meeting.

The Prime Minister committed the government the protecting the historic Scottish battalions, in an apparent u-turn.

This is an alteration to the government’s initial plan, announced by Defence Secretary Philip Hammond MP last week, which would have seen historic battalions axed outright, and personnel amalgamated into new, smaller, units.

Questions have been raised however that the Prime Minister’s commitment today is at odds with his government’s plans to cut the army by 82,000 service personnel, which the government have conceded will mean fewer army battalions in operation after the next tranche of army restructuring.

Jim McGovern said;

“I welcome the progress we have made in forcing the government to commit to keeping the traditional identities of the remaining battalions.

"We haven’t won yet, but we are in the final furlong. While there is no room for complacency we do have grounds for optimism.”

“The government must now reconcile their commitment to protecting the historic regiments with their aim of cutting 82,000 service personnel from the army. As their own minister admitted today, that will inevitably mean that some battalions will be axed.”

Mr McGovern concluded,

“What we need from the government is clarity on their actual plans for the Scottish battalions, and we need to see a new approach to defence spending.

"Cutting front line personnel and shedding historic battalions is no way to equip the United Kingdom with world class armed forces.”

Jim McGovern meets with Black Watch Association members in Dundee

21 May 2012

Dundee West MP Jim McGovern has met today with Mr Roland Rose and Mr Willie Barr, senior members of the Black Watch Association.

The government’s recent announcement, and then apparent u-turn, to scrap the historic identity and red hackle of the Black Watch was discussed.

Mr Rose and Mr Barr agreed that Mr McGovern’s efforts, and his support for the Black Watch in regards to the public petition and associated media coverage was greatly welcomed by both current service personnel, Black Watch veterans and the wider public.

Notwithstanding the government’s latest decision to protect the identity of the Black Watch, which would seem to indicate a sudden u-turn, Mr Rose and Mr Barr said they would be delighted if Mr McGovern would continue his campaign in support of the Black Watch.

Concerns remain that as army personnel numbers are cut some historic battalions will be selected for closure, with the remaining battalions keeping their historic identities.

Jim McGovern said;

“I am very grateful to Mr Rose and Mr Barr for coming to my office today. We had a very full discussion, and the prevailing view was that until we have a definitive statement from the government that there will always be a Black Watch our campaign will continue.”

Mr McGovern concluded,

“I am particularly delighted that the Black Watch Association has contacted me personally to indicate their support for my efforts, and both the association and I have committed to communicate and liaise in our future work to protect the Black Watch.”