It’s time for our leaders to outlaw these contracts
IFEEL for all the staff who lost their jobs after being treated so badly in recent months – but what I was astounded to hear was that 29 out of 32 staff were on zero-hours contracts (Glasgow’s The Art School staff sacked as bar goes into liquidation, January 14).
It’s high time the Scottish Government outlawed this practice so that dedicated staff who lose their jobs at least have some proper recourse with their “employer” – if you can use the word in this case! – and shame on the School of Art trustees allowing workers to be treated in such a manner.
Joe Hewitt
THE old Glasgow motto:
Here is the bird that never flew Here is the tree that never grew
Tory policies have increased suicides, food banks, poverty, homelessness...
Here is the bell that never rang Here is the fish that never swam
The new Glasgow motto:
Here are the streets that are never swept
Here are the potholes that are never filled
Here is the litter that’s never lifted
Here are the drains that are never cleared
The new motto could go on and on, but I’m sticking to the original format.
Jim McGregor
WELL, well, well according to Councillor Euan Blockley’s article in the Glasgow Times, the Tories have been offended by sweary banners on last Saturday’s independence march.
I am not saying I agree with this swearing on the banners, but they are only words and they won’t kill people – unlike the vile Tory policies which have increased suicides, increased food banks, increased homelessness and put more bairns into poverty.
The Tories obviously don’t like it when people express their frustrations. Well, tough. Suck it up, Tories. This is just a wee taste of the disrespect you hold towards the Scottish electorate, and their elected representatives in Westminster and Holyrood.
It seems it’s OK for Tory MPs and MSPs to spout homophobic comments etc online, though.
Euan, people in glass houses should not throw stones.
Roll on independence, and I hope an end to the Tories in Scotland for good.
Anne Smart
ALEX Orr is fond of highlighting Nationalist complaints on a second referendum, without any regard to the facts (Letters, January 14).
Although the SNP won 78% of the seats at the last election, they only received about 45% of the overall votes. This is similar to the UK-wide Conservative vote. Most people concede this election was about Brexit, not independence, and indeed most SNP candidates went out of their way to avoid the independence argument.
In the last four elections, the SNP have received an average of about 1.15 million votes, peaking at 1.45 million in 2015, and the lowest was 887,000 in 2016. In the actual once-in-ageneration referendum the No votes were more than two million, in a record turnout of 87%. For the benefit of Mr Orr and other Nationalists, this in
my view constitutes a decisive result.
Scotland decided in 2014 to remain in the UK in a record vote in a record turnout, and all Nationalists should accept that this was democracy at work. John Rankin
IN support of your reader who asked “Why has the SNP Government not done anything to save the Caley Rail Works?” (Letters, January 15)
The answer is simple:
It is NOT in the West End.
It is NOT in the Merchant City. It is Not in George Square. And it is definitely NOT in Edinburgh, so who cares?
Certainly not the independence fanatics in government.
FMK
IT is apparent that the OAP bully in the White House, Trump, along with his regime, are intent on undermining the Scottish economy, with their draconian tariffs on Scotch whisky and knitwear exports to America – the biggest importers of these goods.
There is also the continuing decline in the demand for oil and other fossil fuels. Therefore, how would an independent Scotland support itself in such a scenario, without lowering the living standards of the Scottish people, as it would not receive any support from an uncompromising Tory government?
RSD
MY wife loves this show and I hate it (Antiques Road Trip returns to TV screens, January 16). Why don’t they employ some real ‘antique experts” instead of the “clowns in fancy dress” who never seem to be able to make a profit on what they buy?
Tony Huggins
I’M not surprised readers are moaning about potholes in Glasgow. A stretch of road that annoys me is on Robroyston Road on the way to Bishopbriggs. It’s a nightmare. Potholes everywhere. Marie Lescott