To ask a question about conservative policy

[Moremoneynow]

Okay. Here goes - this is not a bunfight.

I earn just above minimum wage at present. This, as you all know, will go up to £7.20 in April. This will make a significant difference to my weekly pay packet. I will also be much better off because of the 30 hours childcare and there's a law come in relating to travel which means I will be on more money still.

AIBU to think maybe the conservatives do value low paid people?

I'm not a politician, I just know I'm going to be better off. And that's not a bad thing ...

[Birdsgottafly]

A great deal depends on your housing situation.

Also, if you need to access services, many are now none existent, others have had to tighten their criteria, so even elderly and disabled people are being left without support.

Just hope that you or your DD never need to access MH services.

[Moremoneynow]

Go on - why does it depend on your housing situation?

MH services have never been great IME.

[GoblinLittleOwl]

Thank you to the OP who is commenting favourably on something good that is happening to her, based on fact and evidence, not supposition.

[ilovesooty]

Well let's hope you never end up on ESA WRAG.

I'm struggling to imagine how anyone really believes the Tories care about the poor.

[MaidOfStars]

Forbes' explanation for why a minimum wage leaves poor people poorer

My summary:
Take a company like Walmart, who employ people on minimum wage and sell to shoppers on minimum wage. If you increase the minimum wage of the employees, the prices go up, but the minimum wage shoppers can afford those few pennies extra, because they themselves have had a small increase in wages. As a closed system, the overall effect is neutral, but it looks good and people feel good.

However, it is not a closed system. Many minimum wage workers don't shop at Walmart because, despite being in a minimum wage job, they are not poor. There are plenty of second wage earners, student children etc who earn minimum wage but don't need to shop at Walmart. Their money is being taken from the "closed" system above and being shifted into a richer environment.

This shifting of money from the poorer to the more wealthy in society is a classic conservative strategy.

[Catphrase]

These things are happening you just haven't noticed as it's creeping in.

Of course it's a good thing wages are going up, but with tax credits coming down which in the long run will mean certain groups are poorer (I can't remember the exact amounts now). There is also talk that the higher wage will bring more migrants in making work harder to come by keeping wages at the minimum instead of slowly creeping up.

[Moremoneynow]

Ilovesooty, I'm very genuinely trying to understand. I'm not a politician and I'm not an economist. All I know is I'm going to have more money going in (needless to say I am worth that, or rather what I do is - I care for the elderly and the ill and the disabled) and can work more hours due to childcare.

So some people seem to be saying I should be kept at less than £7 an hour because prices will go up, really? In that case that should apply to everyone shouldn't it? But it doesn't, so why me?

[Moremoneynow]

But I'd rather earn my money myself than have tax credits personally, maybe some disagree, I don't know.

[Birdsgottafly]

""Go on - why does it depend on your housing situation?""

Because earning more can take you over the HB/CT threasehold and mean that you get less, but still don't earn enough to make up the difference.

Tesco is cutting the Sunday/Bank holiday rates to make up the difference, so many will not earn any more than they were.

Boots and other retailers are cutting staff. Many are looking to fill gaps with under 25's, rather than pay a decent wage.

Other firms are putting up prices.

[Moremoneynow]

So how should it be done?

[molyholy]

The tories are doing a wonderful job. They are managing to make the working clas not give a flying fuck about one another. 'I'm going to be better off under the tories and that's all that matters. I will vote for them'. Meanwhile they have created a system whereby disabled and vulnerable people are absolutely fucked over and nobody is willing to help 'cos they're alright'. Social housing and tenants rights eradicated but hey who cares 'I'm better off'. NHS getting privatised left right and centre but it hasn't affected the 'I'm better off' lot.

Divide and conquer.

[Moremoneynow]

So I shouldn't be pleased I'm on more money?

Posting on here has made me realise that actually people don't want me to be on more money as their weekly shop might be higher.

You've not really given me much to go off in that post, you know.

[rollonthesummer]

I will also be much better off because of the 30 hours childcare

Do you have a childcare provider in place that offers this?

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

hi George

[Moremoneynow]

If only Fanjo! I certainly wouldn't be all 'yay' about 30 extra pence an hour if I was George Osborne BUT it will make a real difference to my weekly pay.

Roll, our area (NW) has introduced it, I don't know about other areas. Like I say, I want to understand but just saying 'ooh this might happen' doesn't really compare to someone saying 'your pay WILL go up', you know?

[DisappointedOne]

Disappointed, it won't affect you. Trust me makes a big difference to me though.

Are you sure it's a law? I tend to keep track of those, especially where they affect the advice I may give employers (HR consultant).

[SmoresCheesecake]

What is the rule about travel that will give you more money?

[ilovesooty]

I want the government to ensure that companies pay proper taxes and try to address inequality and unwarranted privilege not to con the lower paid into believing they're being done a favour.

[DisappointedOne]

I suspect the OP works in the care sector. ;)

[Moremoneynow]

That we are paid for travel time between clients.

Ok ilovesooty, so genuine question, do you not think my pay should have gone up?

If yes, well then that's a start isn't it?
If no,my hats not addressing inequality is it?

[Moremoneynow]

I do yes, definitely not George Osborne

[ilovesooty]

I think carers are horribly underpaid but I can't answer that with a simple yes or no. It's more complex than that.

[jonesthegirl]

I am no 'particular' fan of OSBORNE OR CAMERON !

BUT WHAT THE FUCK WOULD LABOUR DO TO MAKE THE SITUATION ANY BETTER.

MCDONNEL CORBYN ABBOTT et al are the most imcompetent people ever to be in politics.

Labour FUCKED THE LOW SKILLED /UNSKILLED WORKING CLASSES FOR 13 YEARS WITHOUT ANY OF THE MEDIA OR UNIONS COMMENTING ! The only thing the minimum wage has done is reduce wages ie bringing down £10-12 Per hour jobs and make them £6.70 PER HOUR JOBS.

The minimum wage has been the biggest enemy to the working classes ever devised , yet what a 'con' trick making people believe it was to save them from 'slavery'.

Anyone who believes

[Moremoneynow]

Not when you're the one caring, it isn't.

[ilovesooty]

jones Surely you don't need to shout to get your point over.