Striking for Pensions

[Clive]

The public sector strikes are coming up where they want to defend their pensions.

The private sector have been hit really hard too, I suggest the private sector come out on strike to make the taxpayer fund the losses private funds have suffered. Without such a bailout private sector workers will have to work longer, not only to help fund public sector pensions but also to fund their own pensions...:doh:

Where's the smiley for sarcasm when I need it?

[Macca]

Yes, well said - most of us who work in the real world have absolutely no sympathy for them whatsoever. I may actually book a day off on Wednesday to go and shout abuse at their picket lines ;)

[MartinT]

I wrote back to ATL when they sent me a call to strike by e-mail:


There is NO WAY ON EARTH that I am going on strike as a result of your message. In the current economic climate it is utterly inappropriate and irresponsible of you to call this action. Shame on ATL, I thought it was a union of measured negotiation.

My private pensions will suffer as much as anyone's, but quite how the public sector feel they have a special right to whinge about it is beyond me. Then again, it would be a cold day in hell before I ever went on strike and I only belong to a union for personal protection. If you don't like your job, leave.

[worthingpagan]

yes, it's disgraceful isn't it? You don't see bank managers or chief executives moaning and striking.................I wonder why:king:

[prestonchipfryer]

yes, it's disgraceful isn't it? You don't see bank managers or chief executives moaning and striking.................I wonder why:king:

Merchant bankers on strike. Ha, bloody, ha. :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[Clive]

The other part to all of this is that those on massive salaries and bonuses need to reign them back. Shareholders need to be helping make this happen. The problem is that the shareholders are the pension funds and therefore in the finance industry.....

For sure there must be pain taken all around. I'm very far from being communist but the huge disparities existing now need to be addressed. In Victorian times when such a disparity existed there was at least some philanthropy, there is very little now. Actually there's more in the US.

[Marco]

It's at times like this that we're glad to have our pensions tied up in property (in four separate houses), which we currently own outright, so in our dotage we will be financially secure (as indeed we are now) and won't have to rely on any bugger! :)

I sussed early on in life that the only people to benefit significantly from private pension funds are those who own the companies that promote them! :rolleyes:

Marco.

[Reid Malenfant]

Jeez, the private pensions have been shot to bits for non public sector workers thanks to the way things work & a certain Mr G Brown taking his wack from them :rolleyes:

In a way I can sympathise with anyone who is having there public sector pension effectively raped, no-one signed up for it & why should you now accept alternative conditions?

But we have damn near all been raped & bu**ered so why the hell should joe average pay extra council tax to keep the public sector in comfy pensions?

Take the pain m8, it's been dished to all private sector workers :cool:


While I agree it is all wrong I'd just like to quote a saying from a certain Mr D camoron , "we are all in this together"

Except the governbent.

[Roy S]

Best reason for working in the public sector was the pension (certainly not the salary!)

[worthingpagan]

Best reason for working in the public sector was the pension (certainly not the salary!)

don't forget the cheap bacon sarnies at lunch time :lol:

[Marco]

And podgering the skanky office tarts in stock rooms! :eyebrows:

Marco.

[worthingpagan]

And podgering the skanky office tarts in stock rooms! :eyebrows:

Marco.


whoever would do such a thing? :eek:

:lolsign:

[Roy S]

we haven't got a stock room but hotels in Romford offer afternoon rates (so I'm told)

[Vinyleyes]

LONDON, Nov 28 (Reuters) (http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/11/28/britain-economy-idUSL5E7MS0TN20111128) – Britain unveiled plans on Monday to tap pension funds for the lion’s share of an investment of up to 30 billion pounds ($46.5 billion) in big building projects to help to revitalise a stagnant economy forecast to slip back into recession next year.

http://www.fedupusa.org/2011/11/uk-to-tap-pension-funds-to-help-economy/

[Clive]

As has been stated previously, it was Brown who shagged the pension funds, wasn't it something like 20% off the fund value, this gets compounded too?

Private pensions generally do suffer horrendous charges in the UK, far worse than in other European countries. Such is the worshiping of the finance industry (by those in power, all 3 parties....) that they get away with it. Often the situation is less bad with money purchase schemes run for large companies, SOME of the charges are more palatable.

Public Sector used to have good pensions to compensate for their poor pay. IF the stats are to be believed the Public Sector is now better paid than Private Sector and guess who's pensions will be better?

The Private Sector has been royally screwed and of course in hard economic times there are precious few pay rises to be be had.

As for podgering and Prescott.....what truly awful images I have in my head.

[RichB]

Everyone has right to be up in arms at what essentially is legalised theft, public sector workers are customers too... take money out of their pockets and you take customers away from businesses.

This rotten gov (and the last lot) like nothing better than a bit of divide and rule and all this public vs private stuff is being stoked by em...

Reckons were all smart enough not to fall for it likes.

[Clive]

Everyone has right to be up in arms at what essentially is legalised theft, public sector workers are customers too... take money out of their pockets and you take customers away from businesses.

This rotten gov (and the last lot) like nothing better than a bit of divide and rule and all this public vs private stuff is being stoked by em...

Reckons were all smart enough not to fall for it likes.

There is an element of theft, especially when pension funds have taxes heaped on them.

The core issue is that our world has changed, we have been sitting on a demographic time-bomb for years, no government had the balls to sort it. With all the current economic woes it's a double whammy. We can't afford to pay out pensions larger than the nation can afford with a smaller working population (due to falling birthrates; immigration hides this to an extent), plus people living longer. Italy and Greece have been over-paying..... Something has to change. Taxing bankers won't bring in enough revenue to fill the black hole.

[MartinT]

I drove into my hospital this morning for a blood test. The picket line all boo'd and hissed at me as if I was working there. When I parked up I realised that a black BMW and shirt and tie all add up to hospital middle management! Well, it made me laugh.

[worthingpagan]

There is an element of theft, especially when pension funds have taxes heaped on them.

Taxing bankers won't bring in enough revenue to fill the black hole.



Maybe not but at least we'd "all be in this together!"

[Clive]

Maybe not but at least we'd "all be in this together!"
Sure, we do need to fix the inequities (as I said in post #6) but they won't go very far to fixing the cost of pensions problem.