New measures will be introduced to improve and maintain tenement flats across Scotland, the Scottish Government says.
Legislative changes being considered include, compulsory owners’ associations, building inspections every five years and a national reserve fund for repairs. Continue reading Maintaining our tenements
Miles Briggs MSP recently met representatives from the Marie Curie Hospice in Edinburgh to hear about the care offered locally to people living with a terminal illness and their loved ones. Continue reading Briggs: “Marie Curie is an incredible charity”
With the weather getting ever colder, many people will be cranking up the central heating. And while this is a comfort for us humans to keep us cosy in winter, heating can sometimes be a bit much for dogs. Continue reading Dog feeling ‘ruff’? Could be the central heating …
The Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) successfully delivered its major digital transformation programme in 2018/2019. This included several new and upgraded systems alongside new IT equipment during 2019, at the same time as a 35% increase in applications to the Register as the 2020 date for mandatory registration of support workers in care at home and housing support services approaches.
These are just two of the highlights from the 2018/19 Annual Report and Accounts published yesterday.
Continue reading Scottish Social Services Council – Annual Report published
Construction work has halted on the Trams to Newhaven project until 7am on Monday 6 January. Continue reading Tram works halt for holidays
Millions of older and disabled people across the UK stand to benefit from more time to cross at traffic lights, thanks to new government guidance. Continue reading Time to Cross: Pedestrians given the gift of time this Christmas
Plans to develop a free debt advice system have been published by the Scottish Government. Continue reading Scottish Government sets out national vision for debt advice
Usdaw survey finds 98% call for shops to close
Shopworkers’ trade union Usdaw has launched a petition on the Scottish Parliament website that calls on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to launch a consultation on implementing legislation already in place to ban most large shops from opening on New Year’s Day.
Sign the petition at: www.parliament.scot/GettingInvolved/Petitions/newyearsday
The Christmas Day and New Year’s Day Trading Act (Scotland) Act 2007 prohibits trading in most large shops on Christmas Day and gave powers to the Scottish Government to stop the opening of those shops on New Year’s Day as well, which has never been enacted.
An extensive Usdaw survey of over 1,000 Scottish retail staff, found that:
The full survey results can be viewed at: www.usdaw.org.uk/NYDSurvey
Stewart Forrest, Usdaw’s Scottish Divisional Officer, said: “Usdaw’s survey clearly demonstrates the strength of feeling among our members, so we are calling on them, along with all shopworkers and the public, to support this petition for a decent break at New Year after the busy Christmas period.
“Retail staff work incredibly hard all year round, but it is particularly busy and stressful throughout December. So they deserve to be able to spend time with family and friends, only 4% of Scottish retail workers are happy to work on New Year’s Day.”
Paddy Lillis, Usdaw General Secretary, said: “Hogmanay and New Year is a special holiday in Scotland, but this is not reflected in the experience of many retail workers.
“Under the Christmas Day and New Year’s Day Trading (Scotland) Act 2007, Scottish Ministers may, by statutory instrument, ban large shops from opening on New Year’s Day, subject to consultation.
“On behalf of Scotland’s retail workers, we are urging the Scottish Government to open that consultation and for MSPs to listen to shopworkers concerns about their work/life balance.”
What shopworkers say:
You’re tired from working and don’t really relax or enjoy the limited time you get with them. Then you start all over again working New Year’s Day too!!!
If, like myself, you have to work Boxing Day and New Year’s Day – it should be paid at least time and half.
As a store manager I have had to work Christmas and New Year. A lot of hard work goes into the weeks leading up. By Christmas Day you are exhausted and then back to work on Boxing Day. This year I also have to work New Year’s Eve, New Years Day and on the second.
I am not happy working till 1930 on both Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. By 4pm our store was fairly empty.
Finishing times on Christmas Eve and Hogmanay are creeping up later, which has a severe impact on family life for retail workers.
