Strikes again...................?

Question

i see that there are strikes again today and tommorow and the reason for these strikes is that the public sector dont get enough wages to cover the rising costs of living...neither do i, me and my family are finding it extremely hard AND when they strike we dont get a let up on our council tax or a deduction.

I am all for people getting fair wages but for today and tommorow i will have to pay nearly 60 pound in child care out of an already stretched budget...which makes it hard for me to support such things

Answer 1

This is how the system works.  As a country, we go for a few years living beyond our means.  We have used our buying muscle to get cheap food and cheap goods, and the cost of petrol has lagged behind inflation.  Then suddenly we get a correction.  The rest of the world wants to catch up and food and fuel costs rise.  As soon as there's a shortage, those with the biggest snouts get the most swill.

There are people working for local authorities who get paid very little.  However, the majority of those going on strike are greedy rather than poor.  I just hope the local authorities have the guts to sack them and give their jobs to people who would love to work for their current pay.

Answer 2

I think we should allstrike - from paying MP's 'expenses'..

Answer 3

This is not just one year of below inflation pay rises, it is the 5th consecutive year and to call it a pay rise is therefore misleading. It is 5 years of pay cuts. Why should anyone tolerate that.

It isnt about greed! By striking council workers will lose more money in lost wages than they will gain in bargaining. It is about principle.

People shouldn't resent council workers for this. If other workers could strike they would do. The local government has the most transparant wage structure in the country which makes it possible to take action.

Answer 4

I agree they are stating the obvious aren't they, we are all in the same boat  and are struggling but the majority of us don't hold our customers to ransom.



If i refused to honour customers at work i would be sacked and so should they, they are taking our money and providing nothing in return this should be done behind closed doors if need be and not in the public domain :)

Answer 5

Earning a living is like trying to ascend on the down escalator.When you are fit and the economy is bowling along sweetly, you feel you are getting somewhere, until the escalator picks up a bit of speed and you start to lose ground , becoming disgruntled with your lot. That`s when strikes start to look attractive, but if your stand still you soon finish back where you started.

It is a fact of life that people in dispensable jobs earn a good salary and get big pay rises ,but those in more essential jobs and "vocations" are lower paid ,getting smaller rises.

Answer 6

Did you know that Labour are currently drafting an "agreement" saying that if a private company is to be awarded a contract from a Public Service it must promote unions within its business.

Hello 1960s and 70s again!!!

Answer 7

I think that we should all give up, and go back to nature.

Answer 8

Having seen the News, I just wonder why some strikers can be seen smiling as though they were on a day out.

Answer 9

Inthe current climate most people are struggling.  If you are lucky enough to work for the council you are guaranteed a wage rise every year  I work in voluntary sector doing the same job as social care workers, I am on a fraction oftheir salary although I work alongside them doing exactly the same job.  I have not had a pay rise for 2 years.  Along with every one else I am struggling to keep head above water.  I think the council workers continually striking is costing the economy too much money and is damaging it further. I am running out of sympathy.... especially as I have to continually cross picket lines to do the work that the council are striking from.

Answer 10

Plus the teachers who complain about being on 25k a year never mention that they only work 36 weeks a year so if you work out their `hourly rate`.. they`re on a fantastic wage.

Answer 11

ime on yourside exellent question

Answer 12

It's been a long time since the unions flexed their muscles.

The argument is simple; the pay rise on offer is less than inflation, so if they take it they are working for less in real terms. That is a reason to strike.

Trouble is it's a vicious circle; the private sector simply charges more for the same product or service to keep their income in line with spiralling costs. The public sector either grin and bare it or strike till they get "what they see", as a fair wage.

This is only the beginning a 40% rise in fuel bills is a crippling rise and we can expect a winter of discontent across the public sector.

It might be the short term fix, but reducing the tax on diesel would have a knock on effect for the positive.

Answer 13

No, it isn't a laughing matter, but the pay increases are awful. Our cost of living raises in private sector were huge compared to working for the council.

"I just hope the local authorities have the guts to sack them and give their jobs to people who would love to work for their current pay."

They can not sack you for striking.

I did not go on strike today and I am not on strike tomorrow, the simple reason is that I can not afford to lose the money. You are not paid to be on strike, you are in breach of your contract and under those terms, the council will not pay you.

Answer 14

they have enough paid time off and lots of holidays, when they strike it cost the parents extra money but they wont think that far from themselves. selfish is a word i could use and a few more besides.

Answer 15

my husband works extremely hard every day and has done for 12 years since we met and has always had a below inflation pay rise.

It really does make me angry because as you say we need to pay for child care in an already tight climate, my support for these strikes is nil, how hard is it for us to live with public services now anyway?..not taking bins if they are a few inches open..having to take time off work so a man could rush to his sons school so he could take out a splinter that his teachers wouldn't do, if you ask me its us that need to strike against these over inflated people