Saturday, January 02, 2010

Gray Family Recession Watch


This is all very unscientific and not at all representative. However, I thought that after the Crimbo and New Year family get-togethers, I would have a look at how the immediate Gray family “kith and kin” are coping with the recession. This will also involve seeing if there are any green shoots of recovery about.

Firstly North Wales. Spouse of bossy big sister is a self employed plumber who specialises in fitting insulation to heating systems. Most of his work involves newly built or refurbished buildings such as schools and hospitals. Work was a little tight for a month or so last year but so far he has plenty of orders for this year. Maybe he is benefiting from the “Green Agenda”? Bossy big sister is a self-employed Gymnastic coach who runs her own club and so far has seen no drop off in membership or income. Good news was that my niece’s partner who is a construction labourer and had been laid off for nearly a year has just found a local job on a new site with up to 2 years work available.

Next Lincolnshire. Good news again. Spouse of bossy little sister is a very experienced aircraft engineer. For the first time in over 20 years he’s been unemployed for nearly 3 months. He was forced to work for an agency doing night shifts loading delivery lorries at minimum wage rates. (Shame on big companies who employ seasonal workers on minimum wages). He’s now got a contract working in the same aircraft factory that my Dad use to work at many years ago (he was also the local Electricians Union Assistant Branch Secretary). Bossy little sister works in local government (an UNISON member of course) as an assistant social worker and is busy, busy. Nephew works as an “on call” Electrician for a company that manufactures, installs and maintains equipment for warehouse distribution centres. These “just in time” 24/7 depots are highly dependent on skilled electrical and mechanical workers to keep things flowing. He admits that the company was worried about work last year but he is being kept really, really busy with loads of overtime. I wonder if they are so busy because the recession is encouraging firms to invest in mechanisation in order to cut distribution costs (jobs?).

I’ve yet to meet up with the Ipswich branch of the clan so will report back on this visit another time. But so far good news for the Gray’s (touch wood). I know things are really tough for many people at the moment but I hope other families will find the New Year as promising.

(Picture of modern day Gotham City from Wanstead flats)

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