Market Closed by Proposed Strike

[kiteless]

I heard this on West Midlands radio this morning. The only link I can find is this:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-15...

Now, ^ that is not the whole story.

First, Walsall Council is not "controlled by the Conservatives"; it is of No Overall Control. See here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walsall_Council_elect...

Second, what is not mentioned in the BBC link is that if any stall holder dares to open for business next Wednesday, then the Council will revoke the stall holder's trading licence indefinitely. The reason? As a representative from the Council stated on the radio this morning, "for health and safety reasons".

Health and safety reasons

[Happy82]

So almost a case of "Join our strike to disrupt local lives or we'll ruin your business", how lovely

[Pesty]

No almost about it.


Nice people in that council eh.


All teh council staff do is collect fees. Stalls are erected by outside contractors and the rubish is removed by contractors as well.

Im sure the BBC Will push these stories on the national TV news and feature the traders and the hardships they face.

[Mojooo]

Well just ask yourself, if you were the ultimate staff member that took responsibility for the running of the market - would you be happy for it to go ahead knowing that if something went tits up none of your staff would be there to pick up the pieces?

As the article says, they have a duty to ensure safe running of the market and if they don't then they might find themselves in court with a big fine (worst case - if something went seirously wrong).

As to how many staff they atcually have on duty - it is unclear.

[Chrisw666]

What the hell could go wrong with a market being run by market traders?

Do the council staff wander around checking the traders are trading fairly and not tripping up their customers or nicking their purchases just after they pay?

Bloody silly small minded bureacrats clinging onto their silly non jobs for dear life. The market traders could be asked to pay rent on their space, pay for services and a privately employed caretaker/manager to look after everything, with maybe a P/T cleaner or two. It would be cheaper and if replicated around the UK would put businesses back in the hands of those that run them, not those that use them as an excuse to leech cash to keep themselves in pensions.

[SystemParanoia]

Mojooo said:

As to how many staff they atcually have on duty - it is unclear.

one... for the district

[SpeedMattersNot]

I'm impartial here, but when I was younger and used to visit Bovingdon Market (shudders..) I would see a "fight" there 2/3 times...maybe even 1/2 the times visited. They seemed to have a security there, don't think they were public employee's but still - markets do tend to attract some awful customers!

Health and Safety exists, is only as strict as it is, because of insurance companies!

[Mr Sparkle]

SpeedMattersNot said:

I'm impartial here, but when I was younger and used to visit Bovingdon Market (shudders..) I would see a "fight" there 2/3 times...maybe even 1/2 the times visited. They seemed to have a security there, don't think they were public employee's but still - markets do tend to attract some awful customers!

Health and Safety exists, is only as strict as it is, because of insurance companies!

Are the police also on strike then?

[SpeedMattersNot]

Sorry, you're being cryptic. The police were never present at bovingdon.

[0a]

SpeedMattersNot said:

I'm impartial here, but when I was younger and used to visit Bovingdon Market (shudders..) I would see a "fight" there 2/3 times...maybe even 1/2 the times visited. They seemed to have a security there, don't think they were public employee's but still - markets do tend to attract some awful customers!

Health and Safety exists, is only as strict as it is, because of insurance companies!

I'm also "impartial". My parents live in one of the largest market towns in the midlands (god help them!) and not once have they seen any disturbance let alone a fight.

So we can't trade without public supervision now, as has been done for 500+++ years on the same geographic spot without incident?

God knows how we manage to tie our own shoelaces. Or even operate Velcro.

Oh wait, perhaps it's an attempt to drag the private sector into a dispute between the state and its lazy babies.

Edit: I have. I idea how i managed to post this without public sector supervision. I do hope PH is closing down next Wednesday, in recognition of the vital public sector work that makes the site able to run.

Edited by 0a on Saturday 26th November 10:14

[Mr Sparkle]

SpeedMattersNot said:

Sorry, you're being cryptic. The police were never present at bovingdon.

I meant that I would have thought police should be dealing with any problems relating to public order so it should be irrelevant that the council workers are on strike.

[anonymous-user]

SpeedMattersNot said:

Health and Safety exists, is only as strict as it is, because of insurance companies!

bks!!!!!!1

Health and safety exists because of the HSE and nanny states. F all to do with the insurers.

Why do so many countries, including others in the EU, manage so well without an HSE and without the petty, pathetic laws we have to put up with, and with very comparable safety records?

[Mojooo]

0a said:

So we can't trade without public supervision now, as has been done for 500+++ years on the same geographic spot without incident?

You been to the market every time or something?

I would imagine they have to provide soemsort of First Aid cover to. I have been to a couple of privatley run (bigger markets) and they have what seems like ambulances there as first aid cover.

[Mojooo]

REALIST123 said:

bks!!!!!!1

Health and safety exists because of the HSE and nanny states. F all to do with the insurers.

Why do so many countries, including others in the EU, manage so well without an HSE and without the petty, pathetic laws we have to put up with, and with very comparable safety records?

I thin kthe difference is that we have a brilliant legal system with brilliant lawyers waiting to pounce on any negligence...

[CoopR]

Mojooo said:

You been to the market every time or something?

I would imagine they have to provide soemsort of First Aid cover to. I have been to a couple of privatley run (bigger markets) and they have what seems like ambulances there as first aid cover.

Normally they are St johns... http://www.sja.org.uk/sja/default.aspx

[Oakey]

SpeedMattersNot said:

Sorry, you're being cryptic. The police were never present at bovingdon.

And what authority do these rent-a-cops have exactly? So a fight between two strangers will become a fight with two strangers and some wannabe police?

[Mojooo]

I think its generally accepted that security will break people up and hold them til the Police arrive if necessary. Or if not, just eject them from the grounds.