Celtic Banter Archive November 13 2013

13 Nov 2013 19:49:21
Why Celtic Should Become A Living Wage Employer - by Jeanette Findlay

November 13, 2013 in TCN Articles by Wullie Broon

Why Celtic Should Become A Living Wage Employer.

With the AGM approaching we asked Jeanette Findlay of the Celtic Trust to put the case for Celtic becoming a 'Living Wage' employer. We are delighted that Jeanette, who works tirelessly on behalf of the trust and Celtic fans in general submitted the following piece.

Celtic FC, the first football club in the UK to be a Living Wage Employer . sounds good doesn't it? Sadly, unless they have a change of heart between now and Friday it isn't going to happen. It sounded a great idea when we first came up with the proposal to take to Celtic - doing something right and good and doing something which will generate good publicity and doing something which makes good business sense, reduces turnover, improves staff moral, increases productivity and results in happier 'customers'! What's not to like in that?

This month the Living Wage was uprated (as it is every November) to the princely sum of £7.60 per hour which is all of £1.29 above the National Minimum Wage. It is a sum calculated so that individuals and families can have an 'acceptable standard of living' ie not just be condemned to a life of piecing together two or more low paid jobs to keep body and soul together. If we refuse to pay wages at that level to our own workers ie those employed by the company which we shareholders own, then in what way are we truly 'more than just a club'? Is our social ethos and morality now just a marketing gimmick?

The Living Wage is supported by hundreds of employers - some of them leading companies in their sector, some of them extremely large public sector employers - and it is supported by government, local and national and north and south of the border. It is not some whacky, revolutionary idea from those mad-cap scamps the Celtic Trust who everybody knows are just doing this to annoy the rich people on the Board - we actually thought it was a serious proposition which they would grab! How foolish where we.well, maybe not. The Celtic PLC Board has a long history (as long as we have existed) of defeating our resolutions at AGMs and then adopting them sometimes very shortly thereafter. If that is what they are doing this time then I think we can just about live with that.

This is not an academic publication so I am not going to bore you with the statistics on the continuing rise in-work poverty, the evidence on the productivity impact of paying better wages. an argument some people have no trouble with at the higher end of the wage scale but seem to have trouble with at the bottom end. According to them the people at the top of the salary scales need more money to work harder and those at the bottom need less to produce the same effect! I will simply leave you with the words of that well known extremist John Swinney, the Finance Secretary of the Scottish Government:

"This Government fully supports the Living Wage Week campaign and the principles of a living wage, which can make a real difference to people's lives. We are firmly of the view that employers should reward their staff fairly, which is why all public sector staff under our direct control receive at least the Scottish Living Wage rate and will do for the duration of this parliament. It is good news that more than 400 companies and organisations across the UK are now officially accredited Living Wage Employers and by supporting the accreditation project, we are encouraging all public, private and third sector organisations in Scotland to do likewise."

This is an idea whose time has truly come and we as a club which has a proud history of firsts (we all know what they are) should add this first to our continuing history and record. Celtic Football Club, the UK's first football club to be a Living Wage Employer.

Jeanette

We must do this for one simple reason, IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. Among our support are fans who have to make changes in all aspects of their lives to follow Celtic.In most of these cases money is the problem. The Celtic Family have done some amazing work, but that's us, the fans. Time for the board to sanction this ASAP.

13 Nov 2013 20:20:52
@Jeanette I fully support this worthwhile cause and urge all Celtic fans to ask our board to support it also.
Jeannette or ED007 is there an email address us fans can send our support for Celtic to adopt the Living Wage. Timalloy (with my serious head on) {Ed007's Note - {Ed007's Note - Probably the best way to get in touch is through the Celtic Trust:

www.celtictrust.net (Twatter @TheCelticTrust)

or even through:

www.thecelticnetwork.com

Jeanette Findlay (the author) is a Trustee of the Celtic Trust and can be contacted personally on Tw@tter at @JeanFind or on Facebook at:

www.facebook.com/pages/The-Celtic-Trust/132541933456571

{Ed007's Note - I contacted the Trust for a contact e-mail address and you can get in touch through here as well.

celtictrust@hotmail.com

13 Nov 2013 17:23:06
who else thinks nl is missing a trick not playing emilo as a left winger instead of left back as he has a far better end product than samaras, an put mulgrew back to left back!

Mulgrew doesn't have the pace for left back he is a journey a player who's only asset is his delivery from dead balls. He was good at centre half and but vvd and Effie are doing very well there. As for izzy I'd get rid of him altogether.

Done no bad to get player of the year playing in a number of positions. Seems to be doing no to bad for club and country playing in midfield .

If Charlie is used cleverly and not left exposed one on one, he can do a job defensively surely? There is better out there but not with us at this moment. I think young Fraser might have been pushing this season before his injury and that might have been competition for Charlie.

13 Nov 2013 16:20:15
Folks, I need your help, and apologies if this question has been asked before but living in Ireland and have looked high up and low down for the track top Lennon wore last year with the tricolour on the neck in shops here etc but can't get one. Online shop seemingly don't have them either. Are they a squad only edition perhaps or can they be bought.
Galway hoop {Ed007's Note - I have that top mate, they were on general sale but I don't know if they are still available. JB is the man on here to help you out, he works in the retail department.}

Maithu mo chara (thanks mate), appreciate your help. How do I get in touch with in can you tell me etc. Made my day knowing they are available for retail. {Ed007's Note - I have e-mailed JB about it for you. To be honest I think they might have been limited edition for the 125th Anniversary.}

13 Nov 2013 21:12:29
while I was over in glasgow not long ago I went in to a celtic shop along the sauchiehall street. they had the tops in there but was only a few out so i'm guessing that's all there was. picked one up myself so that was one less, sorry m8 lol could ring that store and try maybe? hope this helps

I have a brand new still in the wrapper green with white trim in the collar and large Celtic on the back nike 125 year anniversary track top. Its xLarge. If you are interested let me know I will be glad to help. Sopotcelt

13 Nov 2013 08:40:17
Morining Bhoys

Sorry if this has been asked before.

What was on the Ajax banner?

Hi Mate it was the typical slogan from the oranges. F****n B******s, It's the best those nethanderal knuckle draggers can come up with.

HH ShottsBhoy