Public sector strikes

[Papas1982]

Is it true that the same minister that are telling them to go back to work and help out with the debt have given themselves a 11% pay rise ?

Wasnt that raise ordered by an independent review? With many refusing it?
im not defending the actions of members of parliaments, but many with their educational background could work in the private sector on far more than they currently earn.

re the strikes, I have a few teachers in the family and have regular heated debates on this subject. Whilst I don't suggest they have a cushy working week with many working extra. I don't know of any that work more hours in the year than the average. 40 hour a week worker. They are paid well above national average with much better benefits than most.

the idea of fining them would be wrong also, as schools now (at least the ones of know of) don't control the funds. Heads actually face penalties agaisnt funding for poor attendance so have to use the fine system to try and keep kids in school.

Although I'm not sure why it's always teachers that are blamed as many other unions are off today. Uk customs are currently sat outside my window at work laughing and joking at all the lorries parked up with nowhere to go.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

No it is not true.

Which bit ? The amount of the rise or them getting it ?

 

[Deleted member 18588]

Which bit ? The amount of the rise or them getting it ?

The figure of 11% was recommended by IPSA (an independent body) as a rise for ALL MP's. It has not yet been implemented.

This report was criticised by all three party leaders and my understanding is that Ministers are currently subject to a "pay freeze".

 

[Deleted member 15344]

The figure of 11% was recommended by IPSA (an independent body) as a rise for ALL MP's. It has not yet been implemented.

This report was criticised by all three party leaders and my understanding is that Ministers are currently subject to a "pay freeze".

Ok cheers - just heard a striker on the radio using them to justify the strikes.

 

[MegaSteve]

Is it true that the same minister that are telling them to go back to work and help out with the debt have given themselves a 11% pay rise ?

No it is not true.

I'd like to know though when 'they' intend to start making their benefactors, in business, start doing their bit to "help out with the debt"... Seemingly 'they' are good at talking the talk but fail when it comes to walking the walking... At least I haven't heard that total lie "we are all in this together" lately...

 

[Hacker Khan]

Wasnt that raise ordered by an independent review? With many refusing it?
im not defending the actions of members of parliaments, but many with their educational background could work in the private sector on far more than they currently earn.

re the strikes, I have a few teachers in the family and have regular heated debates on this subject. Whilst I don't suggest they have a cushy working week with many working extra. I don't know of any that work more hours in the year than the average. 40 hour a week worker. They are paid well above national average with much better benefits than most.

the idea of fining them would be wrong also, as schools now (at least the ones of know of) don't control the funds. Heads actually face penalties agaisnt funding for poor attendance so have to use the fine system to try and keep kids in school.

Although I'm not sure why it's always teachers that are blamed as many other unions are off today. Uk customs are currently sat outside my window at work laughing and joking at all the lorries parked up with nowhere to go.

Not sure if teachers are being blamed, but some of it may be the perception that they have an easy life (wrong in my opinion as a lot work extremely hard) and also get long holidays (but hard to argue against that). Plus the public on average will have much more contact with teachers than they do say UK Customs, so they notice the effects more when they go on strike.

 

[Papas1982]

Not sure if teachers are being blamed, but some of it may be the perception that they have an easy life (wrong in my opinion as a lot work extremely hard) and also get long holidays (but hard to argue against that). Plus the public on average will have much more contact with teachers than they do say UK Customs, so they notice the effects more w
hen they go on strike.

fair point.

I agree that they're given grief about hours etc, at whilst I don't think teaching is as easy as some like to think. I'm not sure they have it as hard as they make out on occasion.

either way, I believe unions now aren't used for what they were originally intended.

 

[Hacker Khan]

Not sure if teachers are being blamed, but some of it may be the perception that they have an easy life (wrong in my opinion as a lot work extremely hard) and also get long holidays (but hard to argue against that). Plus the public on average will have much more contact with teachers than they do say UK Customs, so they notice the effects more w
hen they go on strike.[/QUOTE

fair point.

I agree that they're given grief about hours etc, at whilst I don't think teaching is as easy as some like to think. I'm not sure they have it as hard as they make out on occasion.

either way, I believe unions now aren't used for what they were originally intended.

I think being a good teacher is a bloody hard job, a lot harder a job than most people do. But being a poor teacher is not that difficult.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

I haven't noticed recently that going on strike ever actually precipitated a wage increase - if it did then maybe that wage increase was clearly affordable. And I have little sympathy with those complaining about how it disrupts their life - when they'll have known the date for some time. An awful lot of folks seem to find it not that difficult to take a day off for sickness, holiday, watching the TDF etc etc and to take their kids out of school for the day. So let's not get too het up about how disruptive such one-day strikes are. Tomorrow and tomorrow after will arrive, and life will go on for most folks as if nothing had happened.

 

[AuburnWarrior]

I haven't noticed recently that going on strike ever actually precipitated a wage increase - if it did then maybe that wage increase was clearly affordable.

The strikes of late have been pension related. Everyone knows that pensions today are pretty much worthless thanks to Gordon Brown. We'll all be working until we drop thanks to that clown.

Unfortunately, with so many sectors striking, public sympathy and support starts to wane. We're starting to resemble the French - and that's never good.

 

[Jack_bfc]

sounds a bit like the German workers council model

Bring back Maggie.

Smash the unions....

 

[Pin-seeker]

We get a fine for taking our Kids out of school to go on holiday,but it's ok when they want to strike.
Wonder if schools are willing to pay for child care during the strikes.

 

[Jack_bfc]

Not sure if teachers are being blamed, but some of it may be the perception that they have an easy life (wrong in my opinion as a lot work extremely hard) and also get long holidays (but hard to argue against that). Plus the public on average will have much more contact with teachers than they do say UK Customs, so they notice the effects more when they go on strike.

My daughters teacher stood at the door of the class and announced, 'I hope the weather is nice on Thursday as I have the day off'.

So, we as parents, got 2 days notice to organize childcare for one of 2 children as the more responsible teacher of my eldest isn't striking......

 

[Papas1982]

I haven't noticed recently that going on strike ever actually precipitated a wage increase - if it did then maybe that wage increase was clearly affordable. And I have little sympathy with those complaining about how it disrupts their life - when they'll have known the date for some time. An awful lot of folks seem to find it not that difficult to take a day off for sickness, holiday, watching the TDF etc etc and to take their kids out of school for the day. So let's not get too het up about how disruptive such one-day strikes are. Tomorrow and tomorrow after will arrive, and life will go on for most folks as if nothing had happened.

I don't see why people having access to time off for holiday should mean it should be used to accommodate others on strike.

If people want to take days of for tdf. That's their choice as it's their holiday. They don't need it dictated to them when to the it. At my work we have to request holiday 2months in advance to guarantee it due to small staff numbers. And if one shift member off rest can't have it. We have approx 40% parents so how do we all get it off?

 

[hovis]

I just wonder where the unions think the extra money for pay rises will come from. This country is practically bankrupt (due to Labour and their dreadful spending for fourteen years) so if all the public service workers get a rise, where's the money coming from?

The same place that mp's got there 11% pay rise from

 

[Ethan]

Unions have a lot to do with improving living conditions for ordinary workers, and the economy benefits gently because working class and lower middle class people spend their money which recirculates many times in the economy. They don't stick it all in trusts in Luxembourg for little Jocasta and Gideon's future.

The Govt trot out this line about 'all being in it together'. What a load of nonsense. Cameron, his Chipping Sodbury set, and the bankers aren't in it at all. Welfare seekers and ordinary public sector workers are bearing the brunt of the austerity and will continue to do so.

Gove was a union activist for the NUJ some years ago. I guess he has now revised his position. His type do well as MPs and Ministers, with a decent salary. well padded expanses and a few directorships, but they work heard to feather a nice nest for later when they can really cash in on their connections and network. It has been joked that being an MP is really an intern position for your real career after. Hypocrites and crooks, one and all, if you ask me. The real disappointment now is that they are now so much the same it really makes no difference which lot (of the main 3) you vote in. Six of one ...

 

[hovis]

As a public sector worker with a two day old child i can say that i absolutely hate striking and simply can't afford it. what you lot need to know as tax payers is that unions fight hard to keep what you folk take for granted. I speak for the fire brigade union in saying that without their efforts your family would be at a much greater risk if they weren't here. The fire station in your town would be a transit van with two staff and a back pack of water if the government got there way (and i ent kidding) they're called tactical response vehicles "TRV'S"

 

[Papas1982]

The same place that mp's got there 11% pay rise from

They havent received any pay rises yet.
Im not sure about everyone else here, but I don't know of anyone getting more than a 2% pay rise. If I'd received ZERO I certainly wouldnt of considered striking for effectively less than £15 a week. I believe there are issues with pensions also, albeit they have better ones than most people. I just think unions are now not set up to protect the work force, but more to guarantee optimum working conditions.

 

[Papas1982]

As a public sector worker with a two day old child i can say that i absolutely hate striking and simply can't afford it. what you lot need to know as tax payers is that unions fight hard to keep what you folk take for granted. I speak for the fire brigade union in saying that without their efforts your family would be at a much greater risk if you tjey weren't here. The fire station in your town would be a transit van with two staff and a back pack of water if the government got there way (and i ent kidding) they're called tactical response vehicles "TRV'S"

That maybe the case with the firebrigade. But whilst teachers provide an invaluable function society, they still do so with better benefits than most! One of the major issues were target based earnings. My sis in law has recently relocated back to Kent, and to get an extra 3k a year she now has to hit targets or get sacked, prior to the changes. She was given the extra 3k as an extra pay rise for staying on at the school. So effectively 3k extra for no extra responsibilities. There are obviously cases both ways, but I belive in the past the public sector has had too many 3 perks and now they're being reigned in.

 

[hovis]

I belive in the past the public sector has had too many perks and now they're being reigned in.

Thats fine, we're all in this together. But when a mp claims £35 a day for breakfast i get a tad annoyed