Emotive subject

[taff]

I'm doing my bit for population growth, I'm not having kids Dogs, love to, kids, eughhhh!

[chris]

I'm going to strike.

[zazen999]

Does anyone remember there ever having been a shop workers strike?

Perhaps you should?

[DGoulston]

I do not know where I really stand when It comes to striking, but in my line of work (IT) there is no such thing, you have to take the good with the bad. If my company does not do very well this year then I expect to take the flack or get a different job.

We had a pension talk a few years ago when I set up my personal pension, and the point was made that the current state pension was un-feasible and I just accepted that and sacrificed some of my salary to create my own pension.

My wife works in childcare and even though she gets paid crap, and has no benifit's at all, I could not imagine her striking, as she would know she is putting the parents out, forcing them to also take time off work, when it is not their fault.

It is always the customer that suffers more than the Government/Company when people strike. but that's just my opinion.

D

[chris]

I beg to differ.. I work in probably the largest IT sector (public) in the UK.. A hell of a lot of people here are striking. They're even on about forming a picket line out side the building.

[Snadger]

I am the only individual who will be sriking at my place of work out of six of us.(Rest aren't in Unions)

I don't fancy standing at the gate picketing by myself, but seem to remember that 'Flying pickets' are against the law?

[Parsleythelion]

I am not a banker sitting on a he pile of cash, just a white collar worker trying a survive in a crumbling industry. My allotment is my haven of solitude! (sorry now I have read the following back and it is longer than I thought it would be, but informative – I hope!)

Pensions are always a very emotive subject I know it is my job. The whole industry is suffering and as is reported many many private schemes are closing due to costs. There have been a number of issues in the last 20 years that have had a very negative effect on pensions.

The Robert Maxwell scandal for one, the result of this forced legislation and limitations which brought additional costs to the Final Salary Schemes, not to mention the overall bad press and scaremongering that damaged the reputation.

The abolition of dividend tax relief by the new Chancellor in 1997 (against advice) was the start of the end for a lot Final Salary Schemes as this wiped billions off the value of Schemes plunging many final salary schemes in deficit (when the scheme's liabilities - pensions in payment, existing and potential pensions due outweigh the assets - funds paid in and their investment portfolios).

Companies couldn't recover as they had certain obligations to ensure the schemes were properly funded. Added to that, people are living longer and this also has an ongoing cost to the Scheme. Companies have had to decide whether to close their scheme entirely or provide a cheaper less profitable Scheme (for the individual) or try and solve the deficit by increasing contributions (those paid by the individual and paid by the company), restricting future benefits (which allows more control for future accrual but means the pension an individual gets will be lower than had there been no changes). Most Schemes have closed and the alternatives are not great. Those that have remained open have had to change their structure and contributions to be able to survive.

The public sector on the other hand has all the same issues above but has government backing. I am not making a case for or against, just stating the facts. The Public Sector Schemes are designed the same way, members contribute and the government pays what an employer would pay. The government is only doing what any sensible employer would do is to protect it’s employees and reduce long term costs which could have a detrimental effect to it’s business (running the country!). They have to make changes to the Public Sector Schemes, I am not saying the path they have chosen is right, but something does have to be done.

A pension scheme is not a right but a benefit and gone are days of “a job for life”, things are getting harder for everyone.

We all worry about our future and pensions is another worry that is so confusing and bound in legislation that it is difficult for many to understand I hope this has given you an insight into the heady world of pensions!!!

[Potstubsdustbins]

Which is why nurses and care assistants can be screwed over without much fear of repercussions. She can still take part in the industrial action if she can get the day off or if she does like the RCN are suggesting nurses should do and only strike on their breaks

Sorry it doesn't quite work like that with SWMBO she is a very principled lady and has she was not going to strike she voted against it. Having done that she would see it as two faced to now withdraw her labour.
She is going to work for nothing as the union will get her days pay, personally I would tell them to get stuffed but not SWMBO.

Nottm City council have also sent out notice's saying that if anyone takes a day off sick they will be considered on strike and lose a days pay. Likewise no one is now allowed to book a days annual leave and this from a labour controlled council.

Colin

[baldrick]

Im a public sector worker as is my husband. Im on unpaid maternity leave but he will be striking. I make 14.5k pa before stuff is grabbed back. I chose to accept this because my job gave me security and a pension. I was qualified for better than this but chose this in order to raise a family. I made life choices based on promises as I felt the higher earnings in the private sector would not make up for job security and chances are I would have had to pay more pension contributions. I cant turn back the clock and pay in retrospectively. Existing members should keep their benefits. New intakes then have the choice to accept or decline. I find it offensive that certain big public sector figures chose to take early retirement prior to the cuts after being instrumental in helping them through...... I wont have a massive pension.It will probably be just enough to stop me getting any means tested help. Ive seen loads of people who are worse off after paying in than people who have done nothing all their lives but thats a whinge for another day! I also find it offensive that public sector heads have phenomenal wages and pensions while most of their staff struggle, many qualify for tax credits. To all those who think public sector wages and pensions are unfairly large beware beware the curse of the mean average!
Also remember these strikes are about cuts in jobs and services as well as pensions. To all of those who say the customer will suffer...yes, I can see why nurses etc are reluctant, but all the more reason for those other public workers to support the strike. Who do you think is going to suffer when there are not enough staff or resources to do the job properly exactly?????? ~Its not just private sector workers, the sick and the unemployed who are inconvenienced by strikes you know! My bin needs emptying, my kids need schooling, my street needs lighting, I own a house on a council estate, I need adjoining houses kept in safe repair. The pressure on our local council departments is unreal. The social security system is shambolic, our ambulance staff are falling sick, we have one pcso to cover 2 large areas and I havent seen the police since a neighbours car was set alight by unpoliced yobs. THE JUNIOR STAFF in all of these departments bear the verbal and physical repercussions and the pension fiasco is the final straw.

[baldrick]

in short good luck Snadger. Enjoy your day at the lottie x

[Snadger]

Hum.... my (local govt) pension will more than likely be one of those changing. I won't be striking and am not part of a union.

IMO, pensions, benefits, taxes etc cannot remain the same as they have been. The previous govt's have got us into a situation where we cannot sustain the level of funding. As annoying as it is, I don't see any way to keep pensions etc the same as they were...

The strile may or may not result in increased pension entitlements.

If it does though????.................... will the people who have crossed the picket line and went into work (unlike others who have lost a days pay) still think they should benefit from this increased offer?...................... or will they donate the difference to charity?

[baldrick]

snadger you are a very bad lad. Have a look at my snail post and behave yourself! x

[baldrick]

or bad girl!

[piskieinboots]

I'm at a client's (early) Christmas party on 20 November - so I'll not be in work either.
#justsaying

[OverWyreGrower]

The strile may or may not result in increased pension entitlements.

If it does though????.................... will the people who have crossed the picket line and went into work (unlike others who have lost a days pay) still think they should benefit from this increased offer?...................... or will they donate the difference to charity?

If pension contributions are increased, whilst I'll benefit in the long term (current estimated age of drawing a pension is 69); I certainly can't afford for my own contributions to get any higher at the moment - we're scraping through as it is.

The reason I'm not in a union etc, is because I work in HR, and I deal with 3 different TU's on a daily basis. Frankly, I find them to be self-serving, out to get 'the man' (in this case their employer) and petty. Even if I didn't have a conflict of interest, the way that the majority of them conduct themselves and their business is enough to put me off....