Nov 30th strike

[kazzafunk]

In my personal circs, I joined 28 years ago being told we are paid lower than private sector because of the pension in later years.

I agree that things do have to change, however after 28 years I am a manager on £22,000, no payrise for 3 years now and can't see one in the future.

The job is no longer secure, this pension change is the last straw for me. I agree with you foggy - it should have been bought in initially for new entrants.

[:(][:(][:(]

[Julie]

I can't see there being much sympathy for those who strike. There are a lot of parents who are forced to pay extra childcare or try and take time off work due to teachers striking...not fair in my book.

[louiseh]

I don't think it matters what sector you work in these days, there is no job security. I certinly haven't had any for the past 8 years. I can see things getting a whole lot worse before they get better if the rest of europe is anything to go by.

[kazzafunk]

No you are right there Louise.

I think I wrote that in the wrong way - what I meant was I stayed in a lower paid job because of the job security.

We certainly are in a bad way in the country. We can only hope for a lottery win!!!

[plasticdaft]

font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica">quote:<hr height="1" noshade>Originally posted by MerlinL14

I am by far not a socialist, but would never contemplate crossing a picket line. The reasons for joining a union are so you have moral/bi-lateral support in times that you need them. To be in a union, take the benefits, and then say you will not support that establishment when they ask is unjustified no matter how you wrap up your excuses. I completed 24 years in the Army and my pension is two thirds that of a comparable graded teacher who also does 24 years before retirement, there the comparison ends as I was 'asked' during 9 different engagements to put my life on the line, the worst a teacher suffers could be a paper cut! If you want the support of your union then stand up when asked and be counted. The struggle of the loss of a days pay pales into nothing when compared with the struggle a serving soldier in Afghanistan will endure next Wednesday.

you didnt contribute to the army pension though so its different.

Paul

[oskiee6]

Apologies if my initial post has caused argument but I have changed my mind. I am going on strike. I will join the march into town with citizen Smith and the Tooting liberation front "POWER TO THE PEOPLE" (showing my age), Well they are all going to the pub for the rest of the day. Still dont think its going to change the direction this governments going in.

[kazzafunk]

font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica">quote:<hr height="1" noshade>Originally posted by oskiee6

Apologies if my initial post has caused argument but I have changed my mind. I am going on strike. I will join the march into town with citizen Smith and the Tooting liberation front "POWER TO THE PEOPLE" (showing my age), Well they are all going to the pub for the rest of the day. Still dont think its going to change the direction this governments going in.

Well done! Just finished now til Thursday. Felt guilty leaving the pile of work but at least I feel I've had my say about the changes by staying out.

[kazzafunk]

Oh well that's just great. After no payrise for 3 years it's just been announced we get a 1% cap for the next 2 years!

They are having a laugh! Even my OH has had a payrise each year but me, oh no. I suppose the only good thing is my IVA payment won't go up!

[Foggy]

Don't forget to factor in 5% cost of living inflation and 3% added to pension contributions, so we'll only be down 7% istead of 8 !!! Bargain [:(!]

[kazzafunk]

font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica">quote:<hr height="1" noshade>Originally posted by Foggy

Don't forget to factor in 5% cost of living inflation and 3% added to pension contributions, so we'll only be down 7% istead of 8 !!! Bargain [:(!]

Grrrrrrrrrrrr[V]

[Foggy]

How come when the government decides we can have a day off for the royal wedding it doesn't damage the economy.But when public workers decide to strike for a day it costs the UK economy half a billion!!!

[lem]

Well I worked in the private sector for 6 years and the pension I had there was slightly less than I get now I am back in the NHS but my pay and other benefits were significantly more than what I had in the NHS, since going back into the NHS a year ago, my last 6 years business management experience has meant nada and I have had to restart right at the bottom of the lowest scale for a qualified nurse, there is no way they would put me on a higher point of the band despite all my experience. One of the reasons I came back was for job security and the pension and now they want more off me?, my own mother died of breast cancer at 64 and they are expecting me to work until I am 67 before they will pay me a pension that I will have paid into for nigh on 47 years????? I may aswell come out of the scheme altogether and just sponge off the state when and if I ever reach pension age

[Broke of London]

Everyone loves a bank holiday! People don't support strikes because they cause inconvenience. I don't believe in unions anyway so I'm not getting involved in this particular debate!!!

[Broke of London]

Aah Lem...they don't live long in my family either. It's 25:75 on whether I'll reach retirement before cancer sees me off with the balance in favour of the big C! Gotta laugh really!!

[lem]

such a depressive aren't I Bol? well if these pension changes go ahead, I'm coming out of it when my IVA is over and will spend the money while I am healthy enough to have the benefit