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yes

14 (30.4%)

no

29 (63%)

undecided

3 (6.5%)

Total Members Voted: 38

Voting closed: 29 November 2011, 19:36:51

[albitz]

Nah,night off tonight Steve.Will be logged in for 15 hours tomorrow night though,Im sure you will be pleased to know.

That's even better than a public sector job. Get paid to spout shite for 15 hours.

Oh I dunno,teachers also get paid to spout shite. Never seen one do a 15 hour shift though.

Yours obviously did. Where was that exactly? Ballykissarsehole?

At least it wasnt Scouseland.The only thing they taught you there was to nick hubcaps and achieve an A grade in gobshitery.

[TheBoy]

Did the people who work in the private sector and are now bleating about the value of public sector pensions ever think about changing sectors? Course not they were too happy with their companies TGIF incentives.

Do those in the public sector think about changing sectors. Course no they were too happy with their (even under these proposals) pensions.

[TheBoy]

I resolved some of pension issues, by increasing my contributions 

Me too. Its the only answer, either that or study the horses further

So I'm having to increase my contributions, and even then end up with a smaller pension than I'd planned and hoped.

Sound familiar?

[STMO123]

I resolved some of pension issues, by increasing my contributions 

Me too. Its the only answer, either that or study the horses further

So I'm having to increase my contributions, and even then end up with a smaller pension than I'd planned and hoped.

Sound familiar?

 
Dolly parton? Jonny Cash?

[LJay]

I'd be glad of the day off, 'cept my kids are off too!

[STMO123]

I'd be glad of the day off, 'cept my kids are off too!

No consideration for your kids eh? Now we're getting there.

[hoofing it]

Sack the strikers.

I'm afraid that many in the public sector have had it so good for so long (on pensions) that they find it very difficult to accept what most of those in the private sector have had to tolerate in the last 15yrs.

So I do feel for them, but do believe they need to understand that the current pension arrangements are unsustainable. To be honest, even the proposed arrangements, that the strike is over, is unsustainable, and still represents an excellent pension scheme.


Despite me (and my company) paying in several thousand pounds this year, my pension pot is 2 grand less than it was this time last year  . Thats a reality check, maybe our public sector need that

I'm a public sector worker and your wright  we got a better pension until that wa*kstain clegg got his hands on it to pay for roads and railways (£20 billion)
The public sector were paid less than private  sector workers doing the same or similar jobs but we(public sector) got a better pension than the private to compensate.
So before all you do-gooders jump on the band wagon slating us what if your pension company said 'screw you' were cutting your pension Oh and you'll pay more what would YOU do.
Ive not had a pay rise in the last three years but the cheif execs/councilers in most councils gave themselves a 12% rise

 

[albitz]

Sack the strikers.

I'm afraid that many in the public sector have had it so good for so long (on pensions) that they find it very difficult to accept what most of those in the private sector have had to tolerate in the last 15yrs.

So I do feel for them, but do believe they need to understand that the current pension arrangements are unsustainable. To be honest, even the proposed arrangements, that the strike is over, is unsustainable, and still represents an excellent pension scheme.


Despite me (and my company) paying in several thousand pounds this year, my pension pot is 2 grand less than it was this time last year  . Thats a reality check, maybe our public sector need that

I'm a public sector worker and your wright  we got a better pension until that wa*kstain clegg got his hands on it to pay for roads and railways (£20 billion)
The public sector were paid less than private  sector workers doing the same or similar jobs but we(public sector) got a better pension than the private to compensate.
So before all you do-gooders jump on the band wagon slating us what if your pension company said 'screw you' were cutting your pension Oh and you'll pay more what would YOU do.Ive not had a pay rise in the last three years but the cheif execs/councilers in most councils gave themselves a 12% rise

I well remember the ltter from my employer several years ago when the govt wrecked private pension schemes. "The company pension scheme has been closed with immediate effect.your accrued pension entitlement will be transferred to a personal pension plan of your choice.The company will be glad to offer advice if required". Thats how it works in the real world Im afraid.
Pay rise - whats one of those ?
Bottom line - you need to make the connection between what you hope to recieve and where the money will come from.The country is in deep financial trouble, the private sector (whose taxes pay for the public sector) has shrunk drastically,the public sector has grown dramatically, and retired people are living longer than they used to.
I know its hard to swallow if your directly affected,but thats the reality were living in unfortunately.

[Vamps]

Some interesting, if not rather one sided views here, and as I don't do political arguments I just want to make a couple of comments, as a public sector worker.....I am NOT trying to score or even make a point, just a ramble, you have been warned......

I have worked both sides of the fence, worked in, Military, sales and industrial and even done some driving, HGV and PSV over the years.
Moved into the public sector in 1987 going from Private company, private medical treatment, non contributory pension, company car and expenses, earning £9k basic up to about £12k with commission   I got fed up with sales, I earned more than the sales manager and had to work harder each year to stand still, nothing wrong with that but, found myself working all hours, as indeed many people do today....

In 1987, out of the blue an opportunity came my way to work in a 'vocational' way but meant a drop of everything and a salary of £5k I was lucky enough to be able to do this, taking on driving work to help pay the bills. Over the years I have developed, trained and went to University aged 39 to get the qualifications for the Job I now do.......I recently got a promotion which gave me an extra £800 per year, other than this I was getting paid the same in 2004 as I was to a few months ago, we have also seen a £1200 net pay cut over the last 3 years, in stages ending in march next year.......... There are few private sector Job that carry the same responsibilities and risk balancing that I do on a daily basis, those that are available, pay considerably more, I could walk into one of these Jobs tomorrow, I choose not to because of the security and benefits I have as a public sector worker.

There are times when I want to have a moan and a groan, feel over worked and put upon by management, but I remember having those complaints in the private sector.......

On the whole do I love my Job, despite being shat upon at times.....YES

Am I on strike? NO

Our bins will not be emptied tomorrow, I can live with that, what is forgotten on here, unless there is a nice juicy story is, the less obvious, but essential, work that is done by public service workers to provide essential services that some on oof would complain about if they were not available, and that my friends is fact....

[TheBoy]

The public sector were paid less than private  sector workers doing the same or similar jobs

Dont really agree, maybe true for senior mgrs and execs

So before all you do-gooders jump on the band wagon slating us what if your pension company said 'screw you' were cutting your pension Oh and you'll pay more what would YOU do.

Welcome to the real world, many private sector workers, Mrs TheBoy and I included, have been through this already, which is probably why there is so much anger towards the public sector workers moaning on this.

Ive not had a pay rise in the last three years

I'm jealous. For some of us, its been much longer

[millwall]

Ive not had a pay rise in the last three years


aww shame  try running your own business many a week when i cant even take a wage

[TheBoy]

I should also add, the default retirement age for my pension plan is set to 75

The company pension scheme envisages that for people my age, the retirement age will be 75.  So retiring at 67, that sounds like a bargain

Naturally, being a DC pension (unlike the DB schemes for public sector), I can choose my retirement, but starting my pension early will hurt it, despite the huge amount of ACs I put in every month.

[albitz]

Some interesting, in not rather one sided views here, and as I don't do political arguments I just want to make a couple of comments, as a public sector worker.....I am NOT trying to score or even make a point, just a ramble, you have been warned......

I have worked both sides of the fence, worked in, Military, sales and industrial and even done some driving, HGV and PSV over the years.
Moved into the public sector in 1987 going from Private company, private medical treatment, non contributory pension, company car and expenses, earning £9k basic up to about £12k with commission   I got fed up with sales, I earned more than the sales manager and had to work harder each year to stand still, nothing wrong with that but, found myself working all hours, as indeed many people do today....

In 1987, out of the blue an opportunity came my way to work in a 'vocational' way but meant a drop of everything and a salary of £5k I was lucky enough to be able to do this, taking on driving work to help pay the bills. Over the years I have developed, trained and went to University aged 39 to get the qualifications for the Job I now do.......I recently got a promotion which gave me an extra £800 per year, other than this I was getting paid the same in 2004 as I was to a few months ago, we have also seen a £1200 net pay cut over the last 3 years, in stages ending in march next year.......... There are few private sector Job that carry the same responsibilities and risk balancing that I do on a daily basis, those that are available, pay considerably more, I could walk into one of these Jobs tomorrow, I choose not to because of the security and benefits I have as a public sector worker.

There are times when I want to have a moan and a groan, feel over worked and put upon by management, but I remember having those complaints in the private sector.......

On the whole do I love my Job, despite being shat upon at times.....YES

Am I on strike? NO

Our bins will not be emptied tomorrow, I can live with that, what is forgotten on here, unless there is a nice juicy story is, the less obvious, but essential, work that is done by public service workers to provide essential services that some on oof would complain about if they were not available, and that my friends is fact....

A well balanced post Vamps. .............Imo very few people would argue with the fact that we need a public sector. Of course we do,although I am convinced it should be much smaller than it is. We need public services,quite a few of them are vital to enable the country to function. I also think its apparent to many that certain aspects of the public sector have got completely silly in recent years and need to be brought back to reality in 2011.
I fear that people will allow themselves to be used as pawns in a political game - wreck this govt asap and get a union friendly/ funded govt back in power.

[Vamps]

I should also add, the default retirement age for my pension plan is set to 75

The company pension scheme envisages that for people my age, the retirement age will be 75.  So retiring at 67, that sounds like a bargain

Naturally, being a DC pension (unlike the DB schemes for public sector), I can choose my retirement, but starting my pension early will hurt it, despite the huge amount of ACs I put in every month.

In public sector I was told, following a mass meeting where a huge number of people were informed if they had a secure future or not, I spoke with a pensions chap, taking early pension is a no no as I would loose 5% for every year early and was also told not old enough to go for early retirement anyway plus I was not being made redundant.....

[TheBoy]

I should also add, the default retirement age for my pension plan is set to 75

The company pension scheme envisages that for people my age, the retirement age will be 75.  So retiring at 67, that sounds like a bargain

Naturally, being a DC pension (unlike the DB schemes for public sector), I can choose my retirement, but starting my pension early will hurt it, despite the huge amount of ACs I put in every month.

In public sector I was told, following a mass meeting where a huge number of people were informed if they had a secure future or not, I spoke with a pensions chap, taking early pension is a no no as I would loose 5% for every year early and was also told not old enough to go for early retirement anyway plus I was not being made redundant.....

Yeah, taking it early is always bad.  I have little desire to work until 75 though, thus the big AVCs I'm throwing into mine. Which with the current state of investment funds is basically not doing much good