Will industrial unrest and cost of living crisis lead to a 'Christmas of Discontent?'

ON Facebook and Twitter we are asking if this will this be the 'Christmas of Discontent?' following the announcement of strike action by so many groups, including:- Royal Mail staff, UCU College and University members and the rail workers, along with the announcement that nurses and the Ambulance Service are now also due to take strike action. Often it is not just the pay that is in question, but the very way staff are treated, for example the 1,400 Royal Mail staff who are holding a strikes in long-running series of disputes over pay and conditions, including the company's modernization plans... This action has also highlighted the shocking differences between small businesses and large firms. Often small businesses have to follow the same rules and big businesses, but the 'big boys' can use a huge range of cost cutting methods that small businesses can not. This puts small businesses within the UK at a huge disadvantage to firms that are owned by large international conglomerates. So why is this and the push for better wages an issue? Pushing up wages on the face of it is good, but in reality, this puts small firms at even more of a disadvantage, as the higher the wages go, the harder it is fir them to continue to trade. If they go under, often we don't spot it, as they do not carry the publicity with them that larger firms do. Yet, they are the very firms who pay into the local economy, where as many international firms take out money, not only from the local economy, but from the UK as a whole. Also, larger firms can often take the huge knocks and force workers to work longer and longer hours, for what is effectively less and less pay, even when wages increases. What we need to do, as a nation, is to wake up and start supporting out local businesses more than ever. The fact the UK Government and large firms have lead us into such a mess that we are now seeing huge issues should be not just a wake up call, but a call for action. We must not let American employment systems take over here, but we must also help to protect small businesses, who are the backbone and the future of our economy. Our push for a gig economy might work for large firms, but it is seriously impacting not only workers, but also small businesses across the nation. We want to hear your ideas on how the UK Government can help to protect UK jobs and also UK small businesses, and also take on the astonishing and often overwhelming pressures being brought on by international issues that is now hitting our job market. Small businesses are often very keen to keep staff happy, and most have a long history of good retention of staff, yet large firms, who have gig style employment do not have the same loyalty of staff. Also, this push to same money with gig style employment forces up wages, as we see now, and that only force up prices, so workers do not benefit. Many small businesses we have spoken to are paying more to staff than the owners are getting in, yet they are expected to follow the same rules as large firms, pay staff the same amounts, yet owners of small businesses now have very little rights themselves or protections should the go under. We would love to hear your thoughts on this topic... So please send us an email to our Newsroom at:- News24@SouthportReporter.Com or send us a message on:- Facebook or Twitter and do let us know.

Southport MP Warns of Energy Scammers Targeting Town's Residents

LOCAL MP Damien Moore has asked Southport residents to remain vigilant, following several reports of scam messages being sent to the Town's residents purporting to be from the Government.

The Government's Energy Bill Support Scheme will see households across Southport receive £400 to help with rising energy costs, which will be paid across six monthly instalments. The 1st £66 was paid in October, followed by £66 in November, with £67 in each of December, January, February, and March scheduled to be paid.

Scammers are seeking to capitalise on this, and are in many cases asking people to fill in online forms:- "in order to claim the grant." Local MP Damien Moore has made clear that the support payments will be made automatically, and there is no need to fill in online forms. Any such form will likely be a scam.

The Energy Bill Support Scheme is 1 of many measures the Government is taking to protect people against rising bills this winter. The Government has frozen energy bills until at least April 2023, and the previously announced support measures will go ahead as planned; a £300 Winter Fuel Allowance top up payment for pensioners, a £150 payment for those with disabilities, and the 2nd half of the £650 payment for those on low incomes.

The Government has also confirmed that the triple lock on pensions will be maintained, ensuring that pensioners across Southport will receive a sizable uplift to their pensions to assist with the cost of living.

Mr Moore has asked any residents who are concerned about a text, email, or phone call they have received concerning the Energy Support Scheme; especially those asking for personal details; to consider whether they may be scammers.

Damien Moore, Member of Parliament for Southport, said:- "From speaking with my constituents, I have been made aware of numerous attempts by scammers to target Southport residents, purportedly in order to register them for the £400 Energy Bill Support Scheme. Residents have been told by these scammers; by:- text, email, or phone call; that they must pass over personal and financial details in order to qualify for the financial support package. This is absolutely not the case. I want to be clear that households will automatically receive £400, split over six instalments between October and March. You will never be asked to fill out online forms to assess your eligibility. I urge all my constituents to be vigilant with such correspondence, and to err on the side of caution if nervous. Contact your electricity provider directly if you would like further information on your payments. Anybody concerned can raise a report with Action Fraud. If you are unsure how, please contact my office, who will help direct you to the right place."