Poor wages in Cornwall

[NM]

In West Cornwall I am offered 6 pounds an hour for temporary work, no
minimum guaranteed, although they expect 14 or 15 hour shifts, for the
same job in London it's 13 per hour, guaranteed 10 hour shifts, job and
finish, usually 6 to 8 hours actual work, guess who will be driving to
london at 0500 each monday morning, less than 50 pounds fuel round trip
5 and a half hours each way plus cheap lodgings in the smoke and the
landlady let's me shag her occasionally. That'll do me for the winter.

Why are the wages so poor down here?

[Adam Lipscombe]

I suspect its to do geographic remoteness, collapse of traditional industries such as fishing and
mining. Also historically they have always been bad.

Lots of folk move to Cornwall looking for the "lifestyle" and are chasing too few jobs.
Hence employers can pay the minimum and still get enough applicants. Supply and demand.

Fishing 'n Minings scat as they say, so IMO the best hope is to try and encourage more hi-tech
industries. Maybe the new university will help.

IMO Objective 1 has largely been wasted apart from broadband availability.


Still, the beaches are lovely, hey? I would rather be here than London Town any day.


Adam

Post by NM
In West Cornwall I am offered 6 pounds an hour for temporary work, no
minimum guaranteed, although they expect 14 or 15 hour shifts, for the
same job in London it's 13 per hour, guaranteed 10 hour shifts, job and
finish, usually 6 to 8 hours actual work, guess who will be driving to
london at 0500 each monday morning, less than 50 pounds fuel round trip
5 and a half hours each way plus cheap lodgings in the smoke and the
landlady let's me shag her occasionally. That'll do me for the winter.
Why are the wages so poor down here?

[Joe M.]

Maybe you guys should take the Duchy income from Cornwall back from
Prince Charles and vote for Mebyon Kernow and Cornish independence.
Small independent states are very succesfull in Europe and when was the
last time Tony Blair showed any interest in Cornwall?

Scotland and Wales are likely to vote for independence from the British
state soon. Cornwall could do the same and you could have your own
Government responsible to your own people. Modern nationalism isn't
just about language and tradition it is also about bringing government
closer to home and improving local democracy for everyone who lives
there.

Post by Adam Lipscombe
I suspect its to do geographic remoteness, collapse of traditional industries such as fishing and
mining. Also historically they have always been bad.
Lots of folk move to Cornwall looking for the "lifestyle" and are chasing too few jobs.
Hence employers can pay the minimum and still get enough applicants. Supply and demand.
Fishing 'n Minings scat as they say, so IMO the best hope is to try and encourage more hi-tech
industries. Maybe the new university will help.
IMO Objective 1 has largely been wasted apart from broadband availability.
Still, the beaches are lovely, hey? I would rather be here than London Town any day.
Adam

Post by NM
In West Cornwall I am offered 6 pounds an hour for temporary work, no
minimum guaranteed, although they expect 14 or 15 hour shifts, for the
same job in London it's 13 per hour, guaranteed 10 hour shifts, job and
finish, usually 6 to 8 hours actual work, guess who will be driving to
london at 0500 each monday morning, less than 50 pounds fuel round trip
5 and a half hours each way plus cheap lodgings in the smoke and the
landlady let's me shag her occasionally. That'll do me for the winter.
Why are the wages so poor down here?