Kestevan
Last of the Summer Winos
- Location
- Holmfirth.
Strangely enough I'm working. Can't afford to take a day off, as I have to find extra for childcare cos a bunch of greedy, workshy communists have decided to go on strike today. 
What are you up to tomorrow then?
- Thread starter Piemaster
- Start date
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swampyseifer
Well-Known Member
- Location
- Milton Keynes. UK
I'm in the office, had to argue my way past the union reps outside though.
As always though lots of people striking, but only 4 workers from the building actually care enough to come out and picket...knocks my faith in peoples belief that theyre fighting for a difference and not just nabbing a day off when its available!
As always though lots of people striking, but only 4 workers from the building actually care enough to come out and picket...knocks my faith in peoples belief that theyre fighting for a difference and not just nabbing a day off when its available!
XmisterIS
Purveyor of fine nonsense
Seems to me the only leeches making money out of our currently dismal economic situation are those who are already very rich.
Plenty of big, faceless corporations taking advantage of the lack of job opportunities by forcing people to work harder for less money, while the fat cats at the top give themselves pay rises.
And the argument "so what, it's human nature" doesn't wash with me, I'm afraid. We are sentient beings, put on this planet with a purpose (so I believe), and yes, we do have a moral obligation to help those less fortunate than ourselves. "Thou art thy brother's (and sister's) keeper". We are not mindless animals, we should not just be out for No. 1.
Plenty of big, faceless corporations taking advantage of the lack of job opportunities by forcing people to work harder for less money, while the fat cats at the top give themselves pay rises.
And the argument "so what, it's human nature" doesn't wash with me, I'm afraid. We are sentient beings, put on this planet with a purpose (so I believe), and yes, we do have a moral obligation to help those less fortunate than ourselves. "Thou art thy brother's (and sister's) keeper". We are not mindless animals, we should not just be out for No. 1.
martint235
Dog on a bike
- Location
- Welling
I'm trying to find a link but I'm sure someone told me recently that there is now a limit to the number of people you can have on an official picket line. (I could have dreamt the conversation though)
Kirstie
Über Member
I would be striking but I'm on medical leave as I'm recovering from major surgery. When I'm not dozing off from the after effects of general anaesthetic, I weakly raise my fist and say 'down with something or other...' before going back to sleep! But seriously, yes I support the strike and the pension cuts are affecting me directly. No cycling for me until the new year ZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
brokenflipflop
Veteran
- Location
- Worsley
I'll be driving past picket lines shouting "lazy *******" on account of me working in the private sector and paying for their golden/retire early pensions whilst I'm expected to climb telegraph poles until I'm 67 without going on strike and seeking tea and sympathy from all and sundry. Tossers !
NormanD
Lunatic Asylum Escapee
- Location
- Heworth the other side of life!
I'll let you know when tomorrow comes
brokenflipflop
Veteran
- Location
- Worsley
Knowing a few public sector "workers" they've probably had more "employees" turn up for the pickets today than turn up for work of a Monday or Friday morning !
martint235
Dog on a bike
- Location
- Welling
If our life in the public sector is so easy/well paid, you could always have joined us??? Oh paid more in the private sector did it?
brokenflipflop
Veteran
- Location
- Worsley
No, I get £23k for climbing 15 metre telegraph poles in the wind and rain on my own. So if you're a fireman who plays snooker all day and occasionally attends a car fire with all your mates and then retires at 50 or a teacher who has 14 weeks holiday and every weekend off then consider yourself lucky. Us buggars in the real world would get flirted should we show a tenth of the dessent shown by public sector whingers. And yes I did try and get on the band waggon in the fire service which must have terrible pay and conditions judging by the thousands that applied for the 30 jobs on offer when I applied! I don't think I had what they wanted, my highest break is only 9.
martint235
Dog on a bike
- Location
- Welling
Ah so it's bitterness that the fire brigade didn't judge you acceptable then rather than any real comment about the nature of a Govt breaking promises to long serving employees. So long as we know.
brokenflipflop
Veteran
- Location
- Worsley
Not really but nice spin. I'm assuming that as I passed all the tests but ultimately didn't get offered a job I put it down to the numbers and probability. As for bitterness you are probably right. I am bitter that I've got to work until I'm 67 in a one man manual/physical private sector job to pay the pension of a couple of mates who will be able to retire 17 years before me on a full pension. Add to that all their paid snooker practice and the public sympathy they get for being fireman and yes, I've missed the boat haven't I ? As for breaking promises, the company I work for have broken their promises year on year since I started. Complain about it? there's the door, close it on the way out. I think public sector "workers" need 6 months in the private sector just to see what they've got. Especially teachers, many of which have never ever left the education environment - how can they prepare children for work when many have never left school ? I've had to teach my apprentice manners before teaching him the job and I'm forever telling him to stop playing with his i-phone and do some work. Our education system really is shoot.
cyberknight
As long as I breathe, I attack.
- Location
- Land of confusion
Working night shift so i will be sleeping .
Wife taking kid christmas shopping with grandma .
I will not be drawn into the debate over right or wrong of the strike , we all have our own feelings and the debate tends to be a them and us response.
All i know is everyone is having their pensions reduced and a lot of us have had pay freezes and even pay cuts over the last few years , asked to work harder for the same money etc etc.
Untill the public and private sector compare what they both have lost and gained then no fair comparison can be made.
Wife taking kid christmas shopping with grandma .
I will not be drawn into the debate over right or wrong of the strike , we all have our own feelings and the debate tends to be a them and us response.
All i know is everyone is having their pensions reduced and a lot of us have had pay freezes and even pay cuts over the last few years , asked to work harder for the same money etc etc.
Untill the public and private sector compare what they both have lost and gained then no fair comparison can be made.
martint235
Dog on a bike
- Location
- Welling
It is I agree. I do think there are some good teachers out there but they are unfortunately outnumbered by the bad ones. Once they are outnumbered, demoralisation sets in and before too long they are no longer as good as they once were.
If it's any consolation (although I doubt it is hopefully), I'll have to work till I'm 67 too. As for employers breaking promises, you genuinely have my sympathy. I know employment out in the private sector can be shoot at times but it doesn't mean we should drag the public sector down to that level.
I've been a civil servant for 23 years. It's too late now for the Govt to start telling me it didn't save enough during the good times to pay my pension (rather than giving tax breaks to rich people).During the said good times, I thought long and hard about using my marketable IT skills in the private sector but the idea of not having to worry about my pension kept me here. Will I be compensated for the money I could have earnt?
As I've been flippant for most of this so far, I'll return to flippancy and say that under successive Govts I have to give up having any opinion of my own in favour of what some imbecile (Michael Gove anyone?) says, that must be worth a pension?
