My husband works for the NHS and waited months for his new banding. He was told he would receive a substantial arrears of pay and eventually get around £2000.
However, he was then told overtime that was paid should not have been so they deducted £1800, leaving him just £200.
He has been with the NHS for over 20 years and yet other people have been given more to do the same job.
This “agenda for change” looks like a way for the NHS to recover money from their workers to pay their debts. — G. M.
No job
I read letters to the Tele from readers angry that it is hard to find apprenticeships.
I have a similar problem and find it frustrating that nobody wants to offer me employment.
I recently graduated from Dundee University with an upper second-class MA degree and have applied to over 60 companies since April throughout the UK.
I am not shy of hard work and don’t mind starting at the bottom.
Employers want experience but nobody is willing to give you the chance to get any.
It seems the only help the Government offers is to those who don’t want it. No wonder people settle to a life of signing on. — H. Simpson.
Monifieth school mayhem
The scene outside Grange Primary
O refer to recent correspondence about parking outside schools.
In Monifieth, outside Grange and Seaview primaries the parking is absolutely ridiculous.
The people who deliver and pick up children are mostly mothers and are loathe to walk even 20 yards.
Victoria Street is a nightmare to travel on as people park indiscriminately.
This street is also a bus route and sometimes it is almost impossible for traffic to move due to the number of parked cars.
Grange Road is equally bad. As far as mothers stating they are concerned about the safety of the children, why do they not walk their children to school? It would be better for the children and no doubt for the adults also.
Laziness is a big part of the problem.
Hopefully the authorities will continue to issue tickets to these selfish inconsiderate drivers then maybe we can get the streets clear of indiscriminate parking.
In Victoria Street there is an ambulance depot and sometimes the ambulances have great difficulty getting down the street due to these thoughtless and lazy people. — B. C. Monifieth.
Close to living in a police state
When did criticising a politician become a police affair? The story headed “Apology to former Dundee soldier” could almost be used as an example as to how close we have come to living in a police state.
Surely it is right and proper to make one’s displeasure known to the Lord Provost, particularly as that position is not filled through a direct ballot of the electorate.
Although I do not agree with Mr Reid’s assessment of John Letford, I feel the Lord Provost has done himself immeasurable damage by passing the ex-soldier’s comments on to the police. — Bill Dower, Dundee.
Protect freedom of speech
What is Dundee coming to? Send a couple of emails to the Lord Provost, and the police are at your front door.
Poor Jake Reid. This man fought for his country and helped keep freedom alive in parts of an increasingly dictatorial world.
Freedom of speech is basic to any democracy. If you are in the public eye, someone, some time, will take a pop at you.
The police force is here to serve the people, not any official who complains.
Meanwhile, a man is savagely beaten with a golf club, old ladies are mugged, folk are slashed at cashpoints and animals are sadistically maimed. — Dundee Reader.
Ran off with daughter’s shirt
My nine-year-old daughter was playing with her big sister on Saturday, September 22 in the park behind Asda Kirkton, Dundee.
A boy of around the same age ran off with her new sweatshirt.
This is very distinctive black-hooded sweatshirt by an Italian designer.
It has the words “I have nothing to wear” in gold letters on the front.
The thief surely went home with this.
What kind of parents would allow their children to keep something that quite clearly doesn’t belong to them? — Mrs A. Isles, Prieston Road, Dundee.
Rats
I nominate as rats the person or persons who stole my 10-year-old son’s bike and scooter on Saturday, September 22.
If any parent notices that their son/daughter suddenly has a new bike/scooter can they please return them.
They were taken from the second floor of a close on Clepington Road, Dundee. — Very Angry Mum.
Pub’s link to Martin’s Stane
With reference to the letter which gave the story behind Martin’s Stane.
The Nine Maidens pub, Laird Street, Dundee, is named after the farmers’ nine daughters who were killed by the dragon.
The last time I was in the hostelry, the story was depicted on one of the walls in the lounge. — T. Maxwell, Kirriemuir.
Dragon’s tale
I read in the Tele about Martin’s Stane. It reminded me of a saying when I was a child at Brackens Primary School.
It went:-
Tempted at Pittempton
Buggled at Baldragon
Stricken at Strathmartine
And killed at Martin’s Stane
The dragon’s tale is also the reason the Nine Maidens pub got its name. — One Who Remembers.
[The mural at the Nine Maidens was presented to Brackens Primary.
Unfortunately, it cannot be seen at the moment as the school has been decanted.]
Leaflet laugh
It was with much amusement that I saw the latest leaflet by the Liberal Democrats in Dundee.
Their candidate for the Lochee by-election has done their usual — finding potholes and broken fences, etc. and been very critical of the planning and transportation department.
The convener of that department is the group leader of the … Liberal Democrats! Do they speak to each other? — Political Connoisseur.
Hull phones
I point out to Hilltown Hawk that BT does not own the whole British phone network. Hull has famously always had its own independent, though integrated, network. — D. Martin.
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