Todays strikes.

[grth2004]

I say to all those people moaning about your pensions just go out and get pissed more , smoke more , do more dangerous things in your life and hopefully youll be dead before you have to worry about it

[Narborough_fox]

Personally I think 1 day won't make a different and only a few days will show people what they really want.

[ousefox]

We need to start taking a more Thatcher like approach towards trade unions again.

fuck off

thought this was very interesting..

[cambridgefox]

I've not had a pay rise for 3 years, I don't throw my dummy out because I've seen a lot of people lose their jobs and I know my company cannot afford to pay any more out than it currently is. I'm just happy to have a steady wage and I cut back my own expenditure to help with rising costs. If I don't like it, I can always leave can't I.

I don't get a company pension either and to get anything like the public sector I would have to pay in a ridiculous amount into a scheme I'm not even guaranteed to get anything from when I'm allowed to retire at 98 years old.

So boo ****ing hoo, cry me a river with your annual pay rises, early retirements and guaranteed pensions. The country is your employer and we can't afford it, so take the hit like most other average Joes in the private sector. We're not all bankers on £1m bonuses, most of us get wages a lot lower than most of you.

And don't give me "our wages aren't that good". I know a bloody primary school teacher on 32k a year... she shows kids how to count ****ing apples and stick pasta and shells to coloured paper for a living.

Oh and the bus was full of sodding kids today, so get back to work because they piss me off.

Agreed,although i think i am well paid(for what i do) i work for a small company with no pension scheme,everything i put into a pension, i have to put in 100%.They have had it so good for so long and have not known it any different so feel hard done by.When in fact they are lucky,Teachers do work 24/7. 24 days 7 months a year!!!

[cambridgefox]

Personally I think 1 day won't make a different and only a few days will show people what they really want.

Im sending my childminders bill to the schools my kids go to(which they wont pay) so the coonts better not keep doing it £100 a throw.

[ronnup]

I've not had a pay rise for 3 years, I don't throw my dummy out because I've seen a lot of people lose their jobs and I know my company cannot afford to pay any more out than it currently is. I'm just happy to have a steady wage and I cut back my own expenditure to help with rising costs. If I don't like it, I can always leave can't I.

I don't get a company pension either and to get anything like the public sector I would have to pay in a ridiculous amount into a scheme I'm not even guaranteed to get anything from when I'm allowed to retire at 98 years old.

So boo ****ing hoo, cry me a river with your annual pay rises, early retirements and guaranteed pensions. The country is your employer and we can't afford it, so take the hit like most other average Joes in the private sector. We're not all bankers on £1m bonuses, most of us get wages a lot lower than most of you.

And don't give me "our wages aren't that good". I know a bloody primary school teacher on 32k a year... she shows kids how to count ****ing apples and stick pasta and shells to coloured paper for a living.

Oh and the bus was full of sodding kids today, so get back to work because they piss me off.

Sadly, you're a classic example of how cleverly the ruling class has ****ed everyone over and turned the public against the very people that teach their children, drive their ambulances and care for the sick. It depresses me.

[ronnup]

Im sending my childminders bill to the schools my kids go to(which they wont pay) so the coonts better not keep doing it £100 a throw.

Yes. It's a bastard when they aren't available to teach, help raise an baby sit YOUR kids isn't it. But hey, **** the greedy bastards. God some opinions on here are so depressing.

[z-layrex]

Yes. It's a bastard when they aren't available to teach, help raise an baby sit YOUR kids isn't it. But hey, **** the greedy bastards. God some opinions on here are so depressing.

But his little darlings missed one day of school.

[leicsmac]

Could I suggest you start talking to YOUR MPs about foriegn aid and the increase to the EU budget. Perhaps if there were not so many EU residents taking money back to there own country and not spending it in the UK every year and forcing unemployment figures up this country may not have been in the mess it is today. :ph34r:

I'm currently working in a foreign country and I'm bringing money back to the UK. Lots of it, in fact. So am I as bad as those who come to the UK, work and then 'send money home'? I guess I am.

That aside, like people have said this is such a polarising issue. I don't think many people see both sides here. My main problem is, as I've said earlier, that both sectors - private and public - are being shafted because of mistakes neither of them (apart from an elite few) made, and while tightening the belt is needed, EVERYONE should be doing it. But as far as the City is concerned, now they've got their bailout it's business as usual - bonuses galore. Essentially, now times are hard, rather than helping out they've retreated into their ivory towers, pulled up the drawbridge and left us all to swim and fend off the sharks.

And they've paid their media buddies to play one side against the other too, as is obvious from some of the comments here.

[Jace]

Yes. It's a bastard when they aren't available to teach, help raise an baby sit YOUR kids isn't it. But hey, **** the greedy bastards. God some opinions on here are so depressing.

Well said, if I was in charge of the country I would bring in a law where people would be responsible for their own kids and not expect the state to pay £100 a day to look after them.

[Ilkeston_Fox]

Darren Ambrose's strike was a beaut.....Oh sorry, back to topic

[lcfcadam]

Darren Ambrose's strike was a beaut.....Oh sorry, back to topic

Bastard! Had just popped on to this inevitably awful topic to do that and you got there before me

[AoWW]

This intrigues me... why did those who think that public sector workers 'have it so good' choose to work in the private sector rather than getting a job working for their local council, NHS trust, etc?

[Jace]

This intrigues me... why did those who think that public sector workers 'have it so good' choose to work in the private sector rather than getting a job working for their local council, NHS trust, etc?

Why are public sector workers not working in the private sector then if these pension reforms are the life of luxury?

[cambridgefox]

But his little darlings missed one day of school.

That cost me £100!i agree the industry you are in should be paid more,thats not my argument,when my dad died of cancer in April the help from nurses,physio etc was 2nd to none.i really do not care about teachers pay they do a good job of which i could never do or cope with and probably work harder than me,but ive been on both sides regarding pensions having had a hugely subsidised pension scheme by my previous employer to 100% paid by myself.so i do realise how lucky i had it and how good i had it. and would of never ever dreamed of striking .so dont start giving the sarcastic line trying to take the piss out of my kids .

[Babylon]

Sadly, you're a classic example of how cleverly the ruling class has ****ed everyone over and turned the public against the very people that teach their children, drive their ambulances and care for the sick. It depresses me.

No nothing to do with "the ruling class", more to do with people I know bitching and moaning about their pay and pensions when they get a much better deal than I probably ever will in the private sector.

If I don't like the deal my company offers the only option I have is to leave. I don't have a union to bully me a nice wage rise and pension.

[Ilkeston_Fox]

Bastard! Had just popped on to this inevitably awful topic to do that and you got there before me

Tee hee.....early bird and all that

[z-layrex]

That cost me £100!i agree the industry you are in should be paid more,thats not my argument,when my dad died of cancer in April the help from nurses,physio etc was 2nd to none.i really do not care about teachers pay they do a good job of which i could never do or cope with and probably work harder than me,but ive been on both sides regarding pensions having had a hugely subsidised pension scheme by my previous employer to 100% paid by myself.so i do realise how lucky i had it and how good i had it. and would of never ever dreamed of striking .so dont start giving the sarcastic line trying to take the piss out of my kids .

What I said was well rude actually looking back, I apologise.

I actually don't think nurses should be paid more. I'm 23 and earning over 22k a year, over 25k if I worked in London. I really think that's fair for the job I do.

[FoxyPV]

1) Everyone has the right to strike so don't get fucking precious when people use it

2) The govt is raiding pension funds for whatever reasons they so choose. The problem with this is that they are forcing new terms on a pre-agreed agreement.

3) The new pension payment is effectively like being on strike once as a month as it's the equivalent of losing a day's pay.

4) The public / private sector dispute (for want of a better term) has been fostered by successive govts to divide and conquer all workers. We're all getting shafted. All pensions should similar to those of the public - may not be feasible but at least it should be a starting point.

5) The need for cuts is due to most of us and the state living beyond iour means and was rounded off by the property bubble bursting. It is not solely the fault of the bankers but never let the truth get in the way of rhetoric.

6) Today will more than likely change very little but at least it demonstrated how pissed off people are. Groups were out on strike that have rarely, if ever been out on strike - nursing unions and headteachers - just two examples, which just shows how this is affecting all parts of society.

[cambridgefox]

What I said was well rude actually looking back, I apologise.

I actually don't think nurses should be paid more. I'm 23 and earning over 22k a year, over 25k if I worked in London. I really think that's fair for the job I do.

Thanks for that and accepted,remind me when im pissed off not to go on a forum.so i apologise back(blows kiss at screen) ive had a bad day at work and very rarely get pissed off but today has been a mare.i know im much older but i really dont deserve a lot more than you,as im sure you work harder than me and get more stress,at least im honest that i have an easy (normally)stress free job

[Babylon]

1) Everyone has the right to strike so don't get fucking precious when people use it

Oh aye, would love to see people in small companies rock up to their bosses tomorrow and tell them they are going on strike until they get what they want.

[FoxyPV]

Oh aye, would love to see people in small companies rock up to their bosses tomorrow and tell them they are going on strike until they get what they want.

The private sector, in my experience, does not advocate nor foster a collective spirit, but if it did this may be an option.

You also have the ability to negotiate your pay etc on a one to one basis which is not possible in the public sector, hence the need for collective discussions.

[21st Century Fox]

"You've got to begin from kindergarten and explain what it means to have a class struggle and to fight against oppression and to work together with others. That's been lost. And not by accident...."

--Noam Chomsky, _Chronicles of Dissent_, p. 324

[Nationwider]

I went on strike today. I'll be a hefty six-figure amount worse off if the tabled pensions proposals go through (assuming I live to an average life expectancy). Logically, if you were in my position, you'd do the same. I defy anyone to be sanctimonious enough to differ.

[Guest MattP]

The private sector, in my experience, does not advocate nor foster a collective spirit, but if it did this may be an option.

You also have the ability to negotiate your pay etc on a one to one basis which is not possible in the public sector, hence the need for collective discussions.

Probably because it doesnt all effectively come under the wing of one political party that tends to increase action when another certain government is in power.

Plus if we went on strike in the private sector, tax doesnt get paid, then the country actually shuts down.