so the main event of the week was lisa's employment tribunal in cardiff on wednesday. I took the day off to go along with her and so will be the faithful witness to the events that took place as lisa is currently feeling crap after i passed on the horrible head cold that i have been suffering from the last few days. i tried not to pass it on but it was probably inevitable.
the tribunal was surprisingly formal. i think we both imagined some arbitration in a room with a desk . as it was we sat at our desks the claimant and the respondent and had to stand when the chairman came in and sat behind his big desk at the front. then lisa had to swear on the bible before she gave evidence. actually he seemed really nice and it was good to get down to the facts after all the hassle we have gone through to get this money.
lisa had her chance to say what happened and what pay she should have gotten then Mr burrows ( the boss) could cross examine her. then he spoke and lisa asked him question.
so cutting to the chase the judge summed up into a tape recorder and he basically agreed with everything lisa said. about the hourly rate (no it wasn't 'just a guideline'), about the hours worked and about the need to give notice. basically teh judge told this guy off and told him he should be thankful that lisa hadn't asked for more money as he would have probably given it. he also told him off for not giving out contracts to people.
anyway i was very proud to sit there with lisa as my wife. i don't think that cocky 'businessman' expected to be out in that sort of position where he was getting told off by a judge and lisa was the one who followed through on her promises and stood up for something when she saw that she hadn't been treated right. there wasn't a vast amount of money involved but hopefully he will think before he tries to screw over the rest of his staff now.
so yes an unequivocal victory for lisa and downtrodden worker everywhere. Viva La Revolutione!
less importantly on the side. 2 things people should get hold of this week:
firstly everyone should take a listen to the new Gruff Rhys album Candylion (gruff is the lead singer of the vastly underrated super furry animals. there's a song called 'the court of king arthur' where he details his love of archaeology. genius.
secondly, another peice of genius: Guinness Marmite.
the tribunal was surprisingly formal. i think we both imagined some arbitration in a room with a desk . as it was we sat at our desks the claimant and the respondent and had to stand when the chairman came in and sat behind his big desk at the front. then lisa had to swear on the bible before she gave evidence. actually he seemed really nice and it was good to get down to the facts after all the hassle we have gone through to get this money.
lisa had her chance to say what happened and what pay she should have gotten then Mr burrows ( the boss) could cross examine her. then he spoke and lisa asked him question.
so cutting to the chase the judge summed up into a tape recorder and he basically agreed with everything lisa said. about the hourly rate (no it wasn't 'just a guideline'), about the hours worked and about the need to give notice. basically teh judge told this guy off and told him he should be thankful that lisa hadn't asked for more money as he would have probably given it. he also told him off for not giving out contracts to people.
anyway i was very proud to sit there with lisa as my wife. i don't think that cocky 'businessman' expected to be out in that sort of position where he was getting told off by a judge and lisa was the one who followed through on her promises and stood up for something when she saw that she hadn't been treated right. there wasn't a vast amount of money involved but hopefully he will think before he tries to screw over the rest of his staff now.
so yes an unequivocal victory for lisa and downtrodden worker everywhere. Viva La Revolutione!
less importantly on the side. 2 things people should get hold of this week:
firstly everyone should take a listen to the new Gruff Rhys album Candylion (gruff is the lead singer of the vastly underrated super furry animals. there's a song called 'the court of king arthur' where he details his love of archaeology. genius.
secondly, another peice of genius: Guinness Marmite.
