One Out, All Out!

In the true spirit of fighting for workers rights I called a meeting.

For too long the basic and fundamental entitlements of the working class have been eroded in an insidious and downright sneaky way by the Government, Employers and pressure just to stay in employment and not rock the boat, This is more than accentuated in today's fast paced and ruthless business world where there is little sentiment for such things as loyalty, dedication or even a bit of flexibility when there are pressing family and personal issues that are seen as disruption and diversion to the Capitalist bosses and not the crises that they actually can be.

I was always promised a working life where I could retire in my 50's with a decent pension and in the preceding years enjoy many, many hours of leisure time what with the harnessing of computer power to work smarter and even the prospect of a job share with a robot or android.

In reality the working hours daily and cumulatively weekly and monthly have increased significantly. I knew from the start that my line of work, Surveying, would not be a strictly 9 to 5 job but that stands to reason in that the source of my work is property and that has to be visited rather than expecting it to come to me.

In the treadmill of my typical workload I am out and about all of the daylight hours apart from the brief calling in at my office to drop off completed paperwork and pick up the next assignments. In order to keep up to date with targets and client expectations I find myself squeezing in a couple of hours of preparation from 6am every day and often work late to clear my mind in readiness for another batch of Surveys.

Technology has helped a little and indeed if I did not have a digital dictation system, access to remote typing services and the internet with all of its practical functions I could see myself having to increase further my timesheet hours.

I am, in the context of a Professional. on a salaried basis. The recession from late 2008 imposed a pay reduction in order to help keep the company afloat. When the firms car came up for change I took on one of the existing pool cars which had been freed up when one of my surveying colleagues was made redundant. In real terms my income decreased by 30% and the little perks of seats at the football stadium, Health Club subscription, contribution towards incidental expenses and any prospect of a performance related bonus evaporated as I, as they say, "took one for the team".

Savings had to be made in my working day. McDonalds profits in their UK operation dipped. Starbucks opted not to pay any UK tax. Tesco meal deals just went mouldy on the shelf, Pork Pie manufacturers put staff on reduced hours and the General Stores in many a rural village reported hard times.

I am a bit scruffy in appearance because ascending into loft spaces or crawling into sub floor areas takes its toll on my business suit but unlike those sectors who can claim for a uniform or specialist attire I am on my own. A suit is my identity card and upholds the image of the profession for the public.

The above and many other issues contibuting to the catalogue of grievances, annoyances and petty mindedness culminated in my calling a meeting. There was a 100% turn out and words were said by way of a strategy to deal with the plight of the workforce. Policies were formulated and I was deemed to be the most appropriate person to act. There would definitely be changes or there would be trouble.

The downside is that I am self employed..................................