Francis Maude..might be a Cabinet office minister but he is also.....

..."a bear of very little brain".

In one sentence he says that unions strinking over pensions are "jumping the gun as negotiations are still ongoing" but IN THE SAME STATEMENT, goes on to say the recent "generous, improved offer..... is as good as it gets". So no more negotiation then?? He also says that if they strike the offer may be withdrawn and a deal imposed.

Mr Maude, playing 'mind games' is one thing but you are not offering much competition when all you have between your ears is empty space!

 

hello mr t tyke,

i concur with your thoughts......... the mans a moron.

 

The fact that Civil Service Mandarins Unions have voted to strike, says it all

There are unions who have either never been on strike, or haven't been on strike in decades, have voted overwhelmingly to Strike.

Then lies, myths etc. about the Public pensions that have been put about since the recession are coming back to bite them.
maude is a t0sser, and I hope they actually keep him in office, coz he aint got a clue.

 

Re: The fact that Civil Service Mandarins Unions have voted to strike, says it all

In my view, I would return to the public sector what they have paid in, and let them find their own pension schemes. They would find out that they will be screwed by of Gordon Brown, the insurance companies etc. Why the hell, as a pensioner should I worry about public sector pensions, that are not earned. Let's face it, when I was a young trainee manager in 1962, my salary was £700 a year. The equivalent in the public sector (LGO) was £400 per year. No-one complained about the pension system then, but unfortunately, for the private sector, the public sector overtook the salaries of the private sector, and now a government have had the foresight to relate pensions to what is paid into them.

 

Re: The fact that Civil Service Mandarins Unions have voted to strike, says it all

I think "right" in this case depends on who you listen to. People are always going to make the 'evidence' fit their viewpoint, and while the government can point to independent research to validate their argument, so can the unions, and both arguments are highly contradictory. The governent claims the pensions are unaffordable, the unions say that's not true. The actual truth probably lies somewhere inbetween both arguments.

For instance, the government always tell us that the public sector earn more than the private sector, but how's that worked out? The roles aren't comparable on all but minimal crossover areas of work, so it can't be just on the minimal amount of like for like jobs, surely? Qualifications wise, if you've got better than A levels, you're more likely to get the better pay in the private sector. So, are we talking about bin men versus call centre operatives or something?

Essentially, whilever it's an 'us versus them' argument, there'll be a lifetime's worth of bull**** and selective use of 'facts' flying about, and I wouldn't really trust the all-encompassing argument of either side.

 

Re: The fact that Civil Service Mandarins Unions have voted to strike, says it all

because it was inserted into their employment contracts when they were hired.
you try taking something off an mp or company executive when its been written into their contract
writs would be out left right and centre.
maude also said the unions hadn't got a mandate because a low percentage of workers voted.
ha, ffs how many voted for them and how democratic is getting limousine craving lib dems to prop em up'

 

Re: The fact that Civil Service Mandarins Unions have voted to strike, says it all

he is a ***** ANYONE having there pensions eroded should go on strike.

the government is morally obliged to give back the money the brown stole, I dont dont care wqhat oter cuts have to be made. Nurses etc should not have been shafted and we should find the money to ensure that they a protected. Maggie found the money to beat the miners(worngly)

Cameroon needs to do the right thing a rerun the stolen money

 

Re: The fact that Civil Service Mandarins Unions have voted to strike, says it all

thing is the b@strds in westminster (all party's) think that the private sector employees will say we've had our pensions stolen so so should you,i don't think many will think like that persnally (i don't) but you can be sure as hell the media will big the ones that do up and ram it in their faces. the rich have lost nothing in thois recession. a national and international disgrace.

 

Re: The fact that Civil Service Mandarins Unions have voted to strike, says it all

yet the working class voted em in ,

 

Re: The fact that Civil Service Mandarins Unions have voted to strike, says it all

Brown stole the money Cammeron Has amoral right to return it

 

Re: The fact that Civil Service Mandarins Unions have voted to strike, says it all

no lib dems got em in.

 

The problem is the use of the term 'Public Sector Pensions' ....

It is NOT one big scheme which many of the people in the private sector complain about (rightly if it were true) as being unfairly superior to Private sector. For example, the Teachers Pension Fund, several years ago altered its scheme as it was aware that it was likely to become 'unsustainable' as the Government put it. They therefore changed the terms and the fund is now in surplus and sustainable well in to the future.

Two facts here to explode the myths...

Statistically, Teachers life expectancy post retirement is still very low and has barely, if at all increased (in contrast to the propaganda -"we are all living longer" put out by the Govt and Right wing press)

Tax payers do NOT subsidise the pensions of most public sector pension schemes. The Govt (employer) contribution is basically the same as ANY Private sector company employee pension scheme where the employer makes a contribution ( higher than the employee contribution).. Teachers, for example, pay over 6% currently into the pot (and don't forget they are also taxpayers). The difference is the Govt cloud the issue by not 'ring fencing' the pension funds and the money disappears into the Treasury 'black hole' and the Govt, in effect, simply underwrites/supplements the fund from tax revenues - hence the idea that the general taxpayer foots the bill.

The latter is one of the main sticking points in the negotiations since, without proper auditable accounts to show the exact value of the Pension pot, the Fund managers can only estimate the value of the fund from contributions and this give the Govt an opportunity in 3 or 4 years time even after the employee contributions have been increased by 2,3 or even 4% (which is what the Govt are insisting on) to turn round and say again, the pensions are unsustainable and will have to be revised again. It is that and the fact they are not prepared to treat each fund as individual cases which is the main reason for unions who have never been on strike to do so now.

 

P.S........

A male teacher who works full time as a Head of Department or lower and retires at retirement age and not early has an average life expectancy after retirement of a glorious 18 months

(Actuarial statistics)

There are a number of reports and studies that indicate people in stressful/high pressure jobs live proportionately longer the earlier retire. So whilst the Govt say we are all living longer now, that will NOT be the case when people start working to 68 (specifically those in stressful/high pressure jobs.

 

Re: The fact that Civil Service Mandarins Unions have voted to strike, says it all

Quite frankly you haven't a clue.

 

Re: The fact that Civil Service Mandarins Unions have voted to strike, says it all

Maybe everybody in the private sector should all strike until we get an equal pension deal regardless of who has to foot the bill. The private sector had to swallow a massive dose of reality years ago and the public sector cannot be exempt from pension reform however unpopular they are.