Anyone here on strike tomorrow?

[DemiLion]

How did I guess that this would be another teacher bashing thread ... teachers are not the only ones on strike today *sigh*

I was discussing this last night with someone who said the same thing.

The problem is that teachers become the most visible face of joint union action because their strike affects the general public the most; kids off school, babysitting etc. Therefore the knock on effect is much greater.
Most people can't be arsed to reason that out, however, and would rather just be trendily outraged on ignorance!

 

[stokes]

I've worked as a teacher and now in the private sector so i can speak from both sides unlike a lot of you.

Teaching is harder than any job I've done in the private sector, unless you have done it, you have no idea, so your comments about cushy holidays etc are all mute - you don't know what you are talking about.

So many jobs in the public sector ask you to give more than you get out. Stop moaning just because you have a little inconvenience for one day, think about other people for once. We're talking about the people in the community who do all the kinds of jobs that keep the community going, they teach your children for god sake - don' you want them to be the best they can and have the best job satisfaction possible? After all, it's a knock on effect to your spawn!!

Good luck to all of them, and if it doesn't work? Well, at least you tried and got your message heard, rather than sitting back and letting the profession fester!

Thanks for the support and the voice of reason! Your right about it being tough. Only last week I was punched in the face, splitting my nose by a 15 year old boy in my IT class, only to have him back in my class yesterday.....

 

[norters]

I've worked as a teacher and now in the private sector so i can speak from both sides unlike a lot of you.

Teaching is harder than any job I've done in the private sector, unless you have done it, you have no idea, so your comments about cushy holidays etc are all mute - you don't know what you are talking about.

So many jobs in the public sector ask you to give more than you get out. Stop moaning just because you have a little inconvenience for one day, think about other people for once. We're talking about the people in the community who do all the kinds of jobs that keep the community going, they teach your children for god sake - don' you want them to be the best they can and have the best job satisfaction possible? After all, it's a knock on effect to your spawn!!

Good luck to all of them, and if it doesn't work? Well, at least you tried and got your message heard, rather than sitting back and letting the profession fester!

Agree 100%. Good luck to all involved today. To all the naysayers, well the right to withdraw labour is one of the most important parts of democracy. I suppose the people who are anti strike and anti teacher only like democracy when it suits them.

 

[Ian D J]

And now, that light comedy relief with the latest cartoon hot off the IDJ media press.

Okay . . . carry on.

 

[Samphire]

I was discussing this last night with someone who said the same thing.

The problem is that teachers become the most visible face of joint union action because their strike affects the general public the most; kids off school, babysitting etc. Therefore the knock on effect is much greater.
Most people can't be arsed to reason that out, however, and would rather just be trendily outraged on ignorance!

Very true

 

[nilagin]

There is a difference between inconvenience like other public sector workers and forcing parents to take days off. Why should I or many other people be penalised financially because teachers want to strike. That is not fair? Will the unions compensate those, of course not.

Couldn't really care about the rest of public sector, although I don't agree because firstly we are all suffering, be it job insecurity, pay decrease/freeze, redundancy, no or poor pension, and secondly, the majority of union members did NOT vote for a strike. No doubt someone will pipe up about the bankers again, but you know what, blaming people is going to get us nowhere. We need to knuckle down and get on with it. Even with the cuts, many public sector (especially teachers) are in a much better position than many private sector workers, I mean how many teachers are made redundant??? We have to adapt to change, with the population living longer and the 65 plus group ever increasing, we cannot keep things as they are. We need to retire later and/or put more in/take less out.

If that's the case then how can there be a strike. Surely the idea of a ballot is to go by whatever the majority decides. If people strike regardless that is illegal and the union can be sued for compensation.

 

[joescrivens]

the majority of union members did NOT vote for a strike.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/nov/17/unite-union-votes-pension-strike

of the people who voted. The majority DID vote for a strike.

if your argument is that only 30% of people actually voted, therefore the majority didn't vote to strike, then you can say it the other way round to and that the majority of people did not vote NOT to strike.

either way, your comment is incorrect.

 

[stokes]

I just had a chuckle. Listening to radio 1 a mum was complaining that she had short notice of strike action. If I remember correctly November 30th was set as the possible strike day back in July. Okay maybe she didn't have confirmation that her child's school would be closed until late, but it was always on the cards.

 

[nilagin]

I don't believe in strike action.
1. You lose money which is never regained in the future.
2. You just make yourself unpopular with the customers who rely on whatever service you provide and depending on whatever field you work, they could possibly go elsewhere to spend their money and you lose out more.
Much better to do something that has a more direct impact on the employer than on other people.

 

[johnb]

How did I guess that this would be another teacher bashing thread ... teachers are not the only ones on strike today *sigh*

Totally agree

Should my daughter who is a Teacher & proud to be so have her job title changed to "Baby Sitter" to stop all the moaning going on here?

 

[nilagin]

I just had a chuckle. Listening to radio 1 a mum was complaining that she had short notice of strike action. If I remember correctly November 30th was set as the possible strike day back in July. Okay maybe she didn't have confirmation that her child's school would be closed until late, but it was always on the cards.

1st I'd heard of it was on Monday.

 

[norters]

Well my mother who works for the nhs has her placard and vuvuzela (!) and is just heading out on the march. I am going along with her. Her reasons for striking are twofold. Firstly the issue of pensions and secondly, well no politics allowed so i won't say.

Good luck all.

 

[neil_g]

strikes seem to be just another way of inconviniencing the rest of the working UK population and alienating yourself.

and dont talk to me about hard times about pensions, ive had to stare down the barrel of potential redundancy twice this year and the OH is currently out of work for effectively the last 4 months while in and out of short term work.

unions and strikes should be abolished if you ask me.

/rant.

 

[Lynton]

NHS (you know, that point of entry free care you get and don't have to have insurance for like in many other euro countrys),

NOt really free is it? NI contributions and all that....

 

[joescrivens]

strikes seem to be just another way of inconviniencing the rest of the working UK population and alienating yourself.

and dont talk to me about hard times about pensions, ive had to stare down the barrel of potential redundancy twice this year and the OH is currently out of work for effectively the last 4 months while in and out of short term work.

unions and strikes should be abolished if you ask me.

/rant.

unions should be abolished?

so if a teacher gets wrongly accused of rape by a student and doesn't belong to a union, where do they get their protection from exactly?

 

[stokes]

strikes seem to be just another way of inconviniencing the rest of the working UK population and alienating yourself.

and dont talk to me about hard times about pensions, ive had to stare down the barrel of potential redundancy twice this year and the OH is currently out of work for effectively the last 4 months while in and out of short term work.

unions and strikes should be abolished if you ask me.

/rant.

Not to suggest I'm hard done by, but our school had to cut 7 teachers last September, 3 in January and we are now all of us are facing redundancy due to the government selling our school off to the "private" sector...

Top that off with parents that do not believe their child can do wrong, government targets forcing us to get students that dont even attend school to pass 5 A*-C. Violent attacks on staff by both students and parents.....


Its not as rosy as you think in the public sector!

 

[neil_g]

unions should be abolished?

so if a teacher gets wrongly accused of rape by a student and doesn't belong to a union, where do they get their protection from exactly?

same place as everyone else accused of rape.

Not to suggest I'm hard done by, but our school had to cut 7 teachers last September, 3 in January and we are now all of us are facing redundancy due to the government selling our school off to the "private" sector...

Top that off with parents that do not believe their child can do wrong, government targets forcing us to get students that dont even attend school to pass 5 A*-C. Violent attacks on staff by both students and parents.....


Its not as rosy as you think in the public sector!

not saying its rosy, im saying striking isnt magically going to make things better. as i said its only going to alienate and inconvinence the rest of us that dont have the luxury of downing tools to make a point.

 

[Disphotic]

I'm striking in solidarity...from my job as a freelancer...

In honesty I haven't got any work on today so I'm going to go along for the march and take some photos. I agree with the point being made by the strikes, even if the effect on some uninvolved people is regrettable, but it is only for one day.

NOt really free is it? NI contributions and all that....

It's free at the point of delivery, no one asks to see what NI contributions you've made when you turn up at A&E with a screwdriver stuck in your arm, not like in other countries where they'd only be interested in your credit rating.

 

[joescrivens]

same place as everyone else accused of rape.

you fail to realise that many people working in the public sector are more at risk to these kinds of allegations than those working in the private sector.

My wife is a social work assistant and has to deal daily with families who are violent and criminals. She's at a high risk of harassment and danger, much more than you are sat at your desk.

Your comment shows you are ignorant to much of what the public sectors working conditions are all about.

 

[nilagin]

Violent attacks on staff by both students and parents.....


Its not as rosy as you think in the public sector!

You are protected by the law just the same as anyone else. Use it.:shrug:

 

[neil_g]

you fail to realise that many people working in the public sector are more at risk to these kinds of allegations than those working in the private sector.

My wife is a social work assistant and has to deal daily with families who are violent and criminals. She's at a high risk of harassment and danger, much more than you are sat at your desk.

Your comment shows you are ignorant to much of what the public sectors working conditions are all about.

so a union offers magically better protection through the justice system to someone accused of rape than joe public?

id like to know more how that works?

 

[joescrivens]

You are protected by the law just the same as anyone else. Use it.:shrug:

as I stated above. the public sector working carries much higher risks of violence, abuse and harassment from those you are serving

 

[joescrivens]

so a union offers magically better protection through the justice system to someone accused of rape than joe public?

id like to know more how that works?

well, go through the google engine and read up then.

it's nothing to do with the justice system, that will take it's own path, it's to do with the working conditions once the allegation has occurred. A union representative will assist the accused with all aspects of their job, if they need time off, when and where, they'll liase with the school to find solutions for other classes that teacher could take instead so as not to come into contact with the accused. They consult about legal advice and where to get it etc etc

I'm surprised that you don't have an understanding of what a union is actually there for - it's not all about organising strikes. They are also there to support the worker when challenging situations occur that need conflict resolution. As stated above, there is a lot more risk for these kinds of situations arising from the public sector

 

[nilagin]

as I stated above. the public sector working carries much higher risks of violence, abuse and harassment from those you are serving

You're employer is duty bound to provide you with a safe enviroment to work. They fail you, you sue them simple, short of providing you with a free solicitor, the union need do no more. It's all I'd use my union for.

 

[joescrivens]

You're employee is duty bound to provide you with a safe enviroment to work. They fail you, you sue them simple, short of providing you with a free solicitor, the union need do no more. It's all I'd use my union for.

what is your job and are you in a union?

 

[Slimbert]

There's so many ill-informed opinions in this thread.....:shake:

Anyway, can't sit around and argue.....I've got a strike day to enjoy.....might even get out of bed soon!!

 

[stokes]

*Borrowed from a friend of mines blog

Public sector workers contribute between 3.5% and 11% of their salary to their pension schemes.

The scheme itself is in surplus, as identified (and buried) by the Hutton Report on public sector pensions. The government continue to refuse to audit the pension fund to demonstrate the need for reform.

Public sector workers are being asked to double their contributions for longer to receive at least a quarter less pension. That is on top of the 15% reduction to level of pension already decided.

Our extra contributions will go to the treasury and not the pension fund.
That is why we are striking.

After only 6 years in Parliament Danny Alexander's pension is £26,404pa and a pot of £440,942. The average public sector worker would have to work TWO lifetimes to accrue that pension. Still they'd have to work THREE lifetimes to earn Maude's.

Osborne's pension is £43,828pa and a pot of £731,883; Lansley's pension is £39,557pa and a pot of £660,557. Still we'd only have to work TEN lifetimes on average to earn that. And they say our pensions are unaffordable??

 

[stokes]

You're employee is duty bound to provide you with a safe enviroment to work. They fail you, you sue them simple, short of providing you with a free solicitor, the union need do no more. It's all I'd use my union for.

you obviously haven't been to many secondary schools in the past 5 years then!

 

[puggie]

You're employee is duty bound to provide you with a safe enviroment to work. They fail you, you sue them simple, short of providing you with a free solicitor, the union need do no more. It's all I'd use my union for.

And the private sector claim the public sector have their head in the clouds

play that one to the letter and your firefighters, medical staff and most teachers would probably never bother turning up to work as its 'not a safe environment'.

 

[Splog]

And the private sector claim the public sector have their head in the clouds

play that one to the letter and your firefighters, medical staff and most teachers would probably never bother turning up to work as its 'not a safe environment'.

Why is it not safe?

 

[realspeed]

What these strikers don't realise there are lots of people out of work and would just love to take over these jobs. Something to think about!!!!!


Realspeed

 

[puggie]

well, being spat at punched and kicked, shoved down flights of stairs having stones etc thrown at you and the like. Is that a safe working environment? do you deal with it and get on with your job or say 'its not a safe environment' and sue your employer at every verse end.

 

[realspeed]

well, being spat at punched and kicked, shoved down flights of stairs having stones etc thrown at you and the like. Is that a safe working environment? do you deal with it and get on with your job or say 'its not a safe environment' and sue your employer at every verse end.

My answer is if you don't like your job leave, no one is making you stay in it.

Realspeed

 

[stokes]

well, being spat at punched and kicked, shoved down flights of stairs having stones etc thrown at you and the like. Is that a safe working environment? do you deal with it and get on with your job or say 'its not a safe environment' and sue your employer at every verse end.

PLUS 1!

 

[joescrivens]

My answer is if you don't like your job leave.

Realspeed

this is the worst kind of ignorance.

what you are saying is that someone who takes a job should either accept all the conditions and live with it, even if those conditions are poor. Or simply not work and not do that job.

If everyone thought that way, working conditions in this country for all jobs would be terrible. Thankfully people have more intelligence than that and try to work towards job conditions improving in all areas. Not to mention the fact that when some people began working in a particular job things were not as bad for that job as they become. so by your theory everyone who's job begins to decrease in quality should not try and change the conditions, but should instead leave.

If after reading that paragraph you don't see the error in your comment then I have no hope for you.

 

[Splog]

this is the worst kind of ignorance.

what you are saying is that someone who takes a job should either accept all the conditions and live with it, even if those conditions are poor. Or simply not work and not do that job.

If everyone thought that way, working conditions in this country for all jobs would be terrible. Thankfully people have more intelligence than that and try to work towards job conditions improving in all areas. Not to mention the fact that when some people began working in a particular job things were not as bad for that job as they become. so by your theory everyone who's job begins to decrease in quality should not try and change the conditions, but should instead leave.

Doesn't sound like they have to me. If conditions have got worse? then they haven't done much to improve things, have they Joe? :shrug:

 

[joescrivens]

Doesn't sound like they have to me. If conditions have got worse? then they haven't done much to improve things, have they Joe? :shrug:

is your question:

"Have people been trying to improve their working conditions?"

or is it

"Have the attempts of people to improve working conditions not been successful?"

 

[tiler65]

Joe, is there anything you or your family haven't been involved with regarding current affairs?

You appear to have a holier than thou righteousness that only your view can be correct. Please let others have a bash at putting their points across instead of shouting 'WRONG WRONG WRONG' and 'You must be stupid if you don't have my view'.

 

[puggie]

My answer is if you don't like your job leave, no one is making you stay in it.

Realspeed

That is the thing though, you sure as hell don't become a nurse or teacher for the money. People do it because they love the job, they don't want to leave. the money is not great (we need part time teaching staff, you would think just over £20p/h you wouldn't struggle to fill positions at the moment:shrug but you say well I get a fat pension at the end so I can live with that, I don't need to save now as my pension might be 1/3 my final salary and I'll have paid the morgage off so I can live on that quite well.

 

[joescrivens]

You appear to have a holier than thou righteousness that only your view can be correct. Please let others have a bash at putting their points across instead of shouting 'WRONG WRONG WRONG' and 'You must be stupid if you don't have my view'.

how ironic

there are plenty of opinions in this thread that are each to their own. If I feel something is incorrect I will put my reason across as to why. If that reason still doesn't explain why I disagree then we move onto to the next topic. No drama.