Might stir up a sh*tstorm with this one but here goes....

We do indeed, unfortunately that is at least matched, by things we should be angry about

 

Yes. our forefathers for gaining workers rights through hardship. We are going backwards not forwards. The rights of workers challenged further than ever. Some folk need to wake up. Smell the coffee.
And some still vote Tory. FFS.

 

That is the main problem, 100%

 

Divide and conquer.

 

Unions always want more for their members and Tories always look after their mates. A crisis for them is an opportunity for profit and unions “hold the country to ransom. Until we get a government that is of the people, for the people and by the people nothing will change. (I’ve never seen this in practice by the way). It seems to me though that a ruling class that delivers two out of the last three PMs from the same class from the same privileged school is none of my people’s government.

 

Correct mate. I've had a few instances where we had to "work to rule" i.e. no overtime, no meetings outside work location etc. Then see the people not in the union raking in the overtime when we were working to rule. Then they get the benefits of what the union were fighting for. Then they wondered why they were ostracized. Not worth it in my eyes, to be a snake against fellow colleagues

 

Lot of angry people on here this morning!

 

Reason. ? If tha comes out with “it just doesn’t feel right.” Don’t bother.

 

The main problem with strikes at the NHS is that the trust get ready well in advance. They use management to cover band 2 reception desks and cancel out patients appointments well in advance. Before I joined the union I worked through the 4 day strike. It was a ghost town. I came into work one morning and there was an Orthopaedic administrator from a completely different trust at my desk on the off chance I was on strike. She was delighted that I'd turned up because it meant she could go back to her office and do some paperwork.

 

The public sector have been hammered for years.

But nothing gets mentioned when people in private sector are getting pay rises whilst public stay under restriction.

Given that the average local authority has much reduced capacity, and most of the work is still required, it isnt something that I'm against.

I used to work for the public sector, and as soon as the tories got in, i got out knowing exactly what was going to happen.

Last couple of strikes, I didnt participate, and crossed the line. Very dangerous in this part of the country I know.

But I wrote to my union and said its everyone or none. This providing cover lark only served to cause unpaid days for those who did strike and saving the authority money. Meanwhile, the authority laughed because they covered essential services. (Essential being a very loose word indeed)

So, let's not drag up yet another public v private sector argument. It serves no purpose other than to fall into tory hands of divide and conquer. They are the masters of it.

It's about time everyone supported each other and if some get a pay rise, they should be applauded.

The private v public argument only come up when the private sector is facing difficulties.

And like I said, I'm in the private sector.

Having seen so much hard work in local authorities, much unpaid, I dont begrudge them more than the usual crappy 1% or nothing. Which is exactly more or less what they have had for the last 10 years.

 

What gets me is that people buy into the press (and therefore Gov agenda) of castigating public sector for their cushy jobs, gold plated pensions etc. They aren't screaming to be levelled up, they want other workers to be less well off. As a civil servant I accept that in boom times people in the private sector tend to earn more. In recessions, my pay stays at the same level. That's a lifestyle choice I made. I also felt that my pension (if I ever get to claim it) was part of my remuneration but I also pay for it. The Police and fire brigade in particular seem to have faired badly in recent times and are now paying 15% of their pay into pension contributions. Most private sector workers don't do that
What the Gov could and should be doing-especially as we can now make our own tax rules up, is to stop big companies "off-shoring" their profits. The EU lets Luxembourg tax company profits at 6.5% hence they all have european headquarters there and a subsidiary company in the UK pays them for the intellectual rights to use the name/branding etc.an amount similar to their UK profit so they don't pay tax. If I were chancellor I would make it that any company not paying realistic tax on UK profits would face a punitive levy of 30% of UK turnover instead. In 2010 UK Uncut reckoned £120 billion was walking out of the chancellor's coffers through this and its only got worse since then

 

That's what they try and do mate yes. That's why it's essential to have a good number in the union

 

Eloquently put

 

My thoughts exactly

 

I'm going to use Tekkytyke's argument strategy in my next appraisal -

"Can we discuss my pay rise, and please - can we save the arguments about me turning up to work late and hungover every day and falling asleep at my desk for another time?"

 

Is there talk of strike action in Italy?

 

I think public sector pay rises should be in line with MP's pay rises.

 

The tab will be picked up by taxpayers. Once furlough has finished, those who were furloughed will be taxpayers.

 

I should have worded it differently I don't think those that have worked through should be taxed at the same rate.

 

If everyone had this stance we’d still be sending women and kids down mines .
Sounds like you’ve had a very fortunate life not needing a Union , all these strikes you were hearing about unfortunately have a story of people struggling etc .
Obviously if you’d read the papers or watch the news at the time the Unions are always the bad guys and the owners the good guys .
When you’re on your own and stand to lose everything for yourself and your family unfairly you may just need a body like the union or spin offs like citizens advice etc maybe then your opinion might change .