"THIS is why we're striking!"

[frank_begbie]

Just thought people should take a look at this.

 

 

 

 

 

Its not just about pensions.

[citizenB]

Sorry, I might have seen it through, but the language is appalling.

[seanamarts]

Sorry, I might have seen it through, but the language is appalling.

 

I applaud the cause, but the language is really not necessary.

[borisbeaver]

He's very excitable, isn't here. Loved the opening comment saying he was going to try not to swear - FAIL!

[Surfer01]

I have no time for these people who are striking when many others do not even have employment. My pension was changed to a stakeholders pension thanks to Mr Brown. Why can't theri be changed to a stakeholders pension. Why should I fund their pension pot when my pension payments depend pn the stock market? No sympathy from me whatsoever.

[frank_begbie]

I have no time for these people who are striking when many others do not even have employment. My pension was changed to a stakeholders pension thanks to Mr Brown. Why can't theri be changed to a stakeholders pension. Why should I fund their pension pot when my pension payments depend pn the stock market? No sympathy from me whatsoever.

 

You should be complaining about government policy, not people striking for their rights.

[honeybee13]

Surfer01 has a point. Public sector pensions are funded by the rest of us, and I've read that a significant percentage of our community charge goes on pension contributions for local authority and police pensions. For reasons to do with mortality and investment conditions, this cost can only go up, as I see it.

 

The majority of people in private sector pension schemes have already been through the pain and lost their final salary schemes, being moved to the type of scheme Surfer mentions and dependent on investment returns to provide a pension, with very few guarantees. They would say that unfortunately, life has changed and they have already had to change with it.

 

My best, HB

[frank_begbie]

Surfer01 has a point. Public sector pensions are funded by the rest of us, and I've read that a significant percentage of our community charge goes on pension contributions for local authority and police pensions. For reasons to do with mortality and investment conditions, this cost can only go up, as I see it.

 

The majority of people in private sector pension schemes have already been through the pain and lost their final salary schemes, being moved to the type of scheme Surfer mentions and dependent on investment returns to provide a pension, with very few guarantees. They would say that unfortunately, life has changed and they have already had to change with it.

 

My best, HB

 

If all the MPs and the Lords took a cut in their pensions I might have some sympathy.

[davuck]

good on the guy putting it so well.

[Surfer01]

You should be complaining about government policy, not people striking for their rights.

Why should I complain about a government that is doing the right thing for the good of all the people as the government realises that the taxpayer cannot continue to fund a bottomless pot! Most public sector workers earn better money than those in the private sector doing exactly the same job?

[katsayce]

Our pensions are being messed with but us nurses would never strike, there would be outcry! lucky those of you who have such a flexible lifestyle as to be able to strike whenever u feel like with zero regard for us hard working nurses who struggle enough as it is to juggle shift work with family life witbout having to now find arrangrments to accomodate your strikes

[honeybee13]

Good points, katsayce. No wonder nurses are so popular.

 

My best, HB

[Surfer01]

Our pensions are being messed with but us nurses would never strike, there would be outcry! lucky those of you who have such a flexible lifestyle as to be able to strike whenever u feel like with zero regard for us hard working nurses who struggle enough as it is to juggle shift work with family life without having to now find arrangements to accommodate your strikes

Excellent post!

[katsayce]

Thank you It is a subject I feel very passionate about. Nurses are always forgotten when every other public sector worker goes on strike, but we are affected by the changes too

[RachelMD]

Our pensions are being messed with but us nurses would never strike, there would be outcry! lucky those of you who have such a flexible lifestyle as to be able to strike whenever u feel like with zero regard for us hard working nurses who struggle enough as it is to juggle shift work with family life witbout having to now find arrangrments to accomodate your strikes

Exactly.

It won't get better if you picket.

[frank_begbie]

Our pensions are being messed with but us nurses would never strike, there would be outcry! lucky those of you who have such a flexible lifestyle as to be able to strike whenever u feel like with zero regard for us hard working nurses who struggle enough as it is to juggle shift work with family life witbout having to now find arrangrments to accomodate your strikes

 

They're striking on most peoples behalf, nurses, fire fighters, police, soldiers. All the people that have to suffer in silence.

[numbers666]

Totally respect the sentiment of katsayce, thank you for doing what you do....

 

I know a 'train friend', someone who always sits next to you and ****es you off every morning!

 

He works for HMRC.... is paid well (less qualified than me in the private sector with a 10k diff in salary), has a 22% pension contribution. Has been offered a payoff from march 2012 if he leaves, which is equivelent to 9 month pay - he has worked there for 4 years!!! Nice to see our tax £'s put to good use.

 

I have no time for the strikers. Us in private have had our pensions raped by previous government, static or minimal ie less than 1.8% salary increase since 2008, with RPI at 5.8% this year.

I dont have 6 months sick leave. We have shred workers, increased our workload 30% - 50% for what ???

 

My season ticket is rising by 6.8%..... Petrol...... Council Tax......Energy.....Insurance.....Food.......all going up....

 

So, to those that work in medical / police / teaching / armed forces - hats of to you....you are priceless in what you do for this country.

 

All the other public sector workers, i have little sympathy. The WHOLE country is suffering.....some have suffered more....some will suffer more....

 

Times are hard, EVERYONE needs to shoulder some of it, not just the private sector..... oh, and if you have any sensible solutions, im sure the government will listen.

 

 

 

 

S

[Sidewinder]

Arguments on both sides, but the clincher for me was when I saw an illustration the other day for a married couple, same age, same lengths of employment and both pay an almost identical amount in pension contributions. One is public sector, and the other private sector and despite all of the similarities of their circumstances, one is predicted a pension of just over £3000 per year at retirement, and the other around £25000 per year.

 

I would certainly be extremely unhappy if I was told that I wouldn't earn as much from a pension in later life as I had previously been told (oh - hang on, I was told that - twice!), but equally the system simply cannot support such a massive difference in the value of pensions subsidised by the taxpayer. The private sector have had their pension schemes fiddled about with by successive governments whist the public sector have largely been unaffected. The cost has to be spread more equally.