Inflation is now 3.8%!!!!!

[animaleyes76]

i simply don't believe people should be given at least inflation rate payrises be it either private or public sector. There are good people and bad in both.

Whilst clearly i understand how difficult things are with prices going up, especially being in an iva i think it's unrealistic to think that everyone across the board in a company should get an inflation equalling payrise. It's just never going to happen. Some people do well, some don't . Reward the ones that do, then the ones that don't either sort it out, move jobs and seek a higher wage...

[Angleparkinn]

Yeah I`m putting in to be an MP.
Then I can tell everybody not to ask for a decent standard of living whilst claiming expenses.... marvellous.
Let me know when ELVIS lands.

[TheMatrix]

Still awaiting our ballot papers too from unison. One moment there is talk about striking next nothing as the union guy is not available and we are still no nearer to a pay settlement which is now 2 months overdue.

[kallis3]

My lot went on strike a couple of years ago, but a lot of us went into work as we simply cannot afford to take unpaid leave. I just about manage at the moment, and I don't suppose I would be allowed two days loss of pay by my IP!

We had 2 1/2% last year, this year I know it will be less. However, I don't believe that payrises should be done according to how well you have done (or not). A lot of places have annual increments until you reach the top of a certain scale. Where I used to work, if you have not reached a certain standard, you don't get that increment. I think that's fair.

[Julie]

Good to read different opinions- I've seen the affect of a striking through the miners strike, hit my immediate family with the most tragic outcome and therefore I would never support a strike.

[Emily]

500,000 on strike today...

A Union head said they are to reevaluating
the contributions to the labour party -"businesses are deregulated to do as it pleases....employees are tied up in regulations over what they can do"

The Manager of the Public sector employers said 2.45% is the final offer.BOO

[Skippy]

I work in the private sector and I wish I got a 6% pay rise! My pension is nowhere near as good as the local government ones (and I do know as I also have a frozen local government pension!). I will be lucky to get a pay rise next year, so if I do get one I'll be grateful for 2.45%!

I would say the unions will bring the country to it's knees, much as they did in the 1970s, but it's too late for that, it's already there!

[michael.t47]

my dad was a striking miner in the 80's an i supported him 100% but the striking public sector workrs brought down thelabour government of the 70's an let the witch in
look where we are now?

[sblack]

I fully support the public sector workers, my husband works in the public sector (not this particular union). I have looked at the comments made by both private and public sector workers. My husband has already been told his so called pay uplifts will be very low (below inflation) for the next 5 years at least, as they have been for the last 6 years, so the enconomy has a chance to recover.
Yes my husbands pension is a decent one, but I have one question that very few private sector workers can answer "yes" to.
My husband is expected and does work the following:
Evenings (2/3 or 4 per week)
Nights
Weekends (every other weekend)
Bank Holidays
Christmas Day
Boxing Day
New Years Day
Do you?
Indeed, every day is the same with "NO" extra pay! Yes, no time and a half or double time here.
I do understand private sector workers getting annoyed and not supporting the public sector because of the mayhem it causes when they do strike, but please remember the valuable jobs they do for you.
Comments welcome.

[Julie]

Hi Sblack - my husband works in the private sector and he too works the bank holidays weekends etc with no added benefits.....his payrise is meagre and well below inflation but he doesn't have the privilege of striking as he'll lose his job!

I would never support a strike.

Julie x

[Skippy]

I can appreciate what you're saying SBlack and I am going to comment, but please don't think for one minute that's it's aimed personally at your husband because it's not!

I don't think the councils and public sector workers help themselves. One example I read recently is that one council has told people not to fill their bins, as if the binmen cannot move the bin with 2 fingers they will not empty them as they are too heavy! I then wonder what they will actually be doing for their pay rise. And before anyone jumps on me, I'm not singling the bin men out, it's the first example that came to mind!

I know a lot of it comes from the councils, and not the people that actually do the work, and there's the problem.

[janderson]

Hi All

The issue of singling out or attacking individual workers or sectors of workers is pointless. Most of these silly stories about what this council or that council did come from the media. Tha workers who are striking have a legitimate grievance and need support not bricks.

I know I will arouse the pension too high, work too low brigade but that is my view and I WILL STICK BY THESE WORKERS THROUGH THICK AND THIN.

[Skippy]

If you read my post janderson you will see that I've said I'm NOT singling anyone out.

BTW I can assure you that when I had a run in with the council I was dealing with a genuine jobsworth and the media had nothing to do with it!!!

[kallis3]

Being a public sector worker myself, I agree that the councils should be getting more than they are, but there is no way they will get the 6% they are asking for.

As I have previously said, I would imagine I will be offered no more than 2.25% if that, O.K., I would like more, but it's not going to happen. I am just glad that I will be getting a rise.

And of course the higher the payrises, the higher inflation goes. It's a vicious circle.

[sblack]

I really don't think it matters what the issues are regarding the strike. My opinion is that rightly or wrongly public sector workers will generally support it and private sector workers generally will not.