Public Sector Workers to Strike?

[Dymetrie]

source

So what do you all think of this?

I am a member of Unison, but due to my office being in an obscure location I never get any Unison vote stuff in time to actually vote. As such then I didn't have a chance to vote for strike action.

But what would I have voted?

I honestly don't know. I disagree with the pathetic cost of living increase we're being offered (and have accepted in the past), but I disagree with the over inflated demands Unison are asking for. I would be happy for the cost of living increase to be matched to the current level of inflation (you know, an increase that makes sense...).

As for the strike action... Being a member of Unison, will I go on strike?

The simple answer is no. The more complicated answer is because I am the only person who does what I do (in the entire Council), so if I go on strike then not only do I lose money, I also just increase my workload for when I return to work (much like when I have time off... Or over the weekend).

Despite this then I support others who wish to go on strike, but unfortunately I feel it will have little to no effect and public sector workers will once again be awarded a pathetic cost of living rise this year which will effectively be a pay cut.

[Dymetrie]

Originally Posted by Kitten

I've not got a cost of living rise at all this year. Nor last year.

But is it unreasonable to want/expect one?

Have you had any other kind of rises (performance, incremental, etc)?

[Dymetrie]

Originally Posted by Kitten

For every person who does more, there's one who does less. So why should everyone get the same?

This is, unfortunately, true for everywhere though. Yet people get paid the same.

I think your situation is absolutely horrendous, although after two and a half years I have only just started being paid for what I actually do (see that thread you mentioned for the current situation with that :/).

Public Sector jobs are protected by pay deals to ensure that cost of living increases are included. And something you're forgetting is that a lot of these jobs are key worker positions (things like teachers etc). Would you prefer that people stopped doing these jobs because they take a pay cut every year?

I'm not saying that the demands of the union are right, or that public sector workers are more deserving than other workers (trust me, I know a good few people who are worthless ****s and don't deserve their jobs anyway), but the fact is that the protection is there and central government is taking the piss with their pay offer. Especially when the politicians behind it (most of whom have other incredibly overpaid jobs) are the ones who are awarding themselves ridiculous pay rises.

[Feek]

I'll know in a few days what I get and shall report back, this is the first time we've done proper performance related pay so it's a bit of an eye opener.

[Dymetrie]

Originally Posted by Kitten

And no, I don't think they should be taking cuts, but should they be getting more?

I didn't state they should be getting more. I support a cost of living increase in line with inflation, which is not a pay rise, but more importantly is not a pay cut. I don't think anyone should have a pay cut because of inflation.

Originally Posted by Kitten

But you asked me do I think they should strike. And I said no.

Sorry, I seem to have missed where you said this.

[Dymetrie]

Originally Posted by Kitten

Neither do I but plenty of people will. And plenty of people won't get a rise at all.

But is this my fault? Or the fault of all the other public sector workers in the UK?

No.

Originally Posted by Kitten

In black and white, it's a pay rise. Not a cut, and in reality, not a rise either.

Have you contradicted yourself here?

Originally Posted by Kitten

But are they breaking the contract or the pay deal? Wouldn't seem so. So how can a strike be valid?

Unfortunately I don't have the literature and result of the pay deal from last year about this. It could well be a breach from last year's agreement.

And in terms of a strike then it's not as ridiculous, or as disruptive, as some other strikes. RMT strikes which cripple the entire capital, NUT strikes which disrupt the learning of children, the damn lorry drivers strike... Just a few examples there.

Originally Posted by Kitten

Not demanding one = not striking.

Apologies, I misread that.

[Mark]

My view is that striking because the employer is abusing the trust of the workforce (e.g. breaking agreements, or breaking the law) is fine (though I reserve the right to complain bitterly if it impacts my daily life), but striking purely over pay just isn't on.

Why should the public sector be any different to the private? In the private sector, if a company isn't doing well and needs to tighten the purse strings, then pay rises just don't happen (real or otherwise), indeed pay cuts may happen.

In the case of the public sector, it's the economy stupid. Thanks to what at the time may have seemed like prudence but is now clearly overspending, the Govt's purse strings are stretched so tight they're liable to snap.

By all means request a pay rise, but striking because you don't get one, or don't get enough, is tantamount to holding the employer to ransom - cough up or else. No-one has the right to expect a pay rise unless the law (minimum wage) requires it.

PS - Yes, I have had at least one year where I've had no pay rise at all (i.e. a real terms pay cut). The company was spending too high a percentage of revenue and it had to stop. No problem with that.

[Dymetrie]

Originally Posted by Mark

In the case of the public sector, it's the economy stupid. Thanks to what at the time may have seemed like prudence but is now clearly overspending, the Govt's purse strings are stretched so tight they're liable to snap.

Slight difference...

If a private company abuses its workers and they all walk out then the company folds... What does that matter...?

Now think about the same situation if it happened in the public sector...

And no, the government's purse strings are not stretched by the staff who do the menial day to day tasks to maintain the country (nearly wrote cuntry there ), it's stretched by the stupid decisions which the government make.

[Flibster]

Whats a pay rise?

[Dymetrie]

Originally Posted by Flibster

Whats a pay rise?

A new job it seems.