to ask if you agree with the teacher's strike upcoming

[AuntiePickleBottom]

i am on the fence about it, due to not understanding pensions.

[HidinginaHardHat]

I don't agree with it and don't agree with strike action in general but feel i am in the significant minority on this one!

[Tortu]

Yes. My school are going out on strike and will be marching.

Don't like striking, but feel that it's a better option than working for several years later, paying more and getting less back. It probably won't work, but know I'd regret it if I didn't go!

[Peachy]

no strike here (well, only one class) but would back them if they had gone out. And whilst nobody would probably think to ask would galdly ahve taken a few children to help the WOHMs out as well.

[meditrina]

I don't agree with it, but I respect it.

[oliandjoesmum]

Totally agree with the principle, but maybe being unreasonable to have asked for a little more notice?? I am a working single Mum with 3 children in 3 different schools. I have already had to contend with 3 different 'royal family' bank holidays and a childminder who has been on holiday for the last 2 weeks. Must admit I cried for 5 minutes when opened the book bags this evening. I know I sound selfish but next week was the first in ages I haven't had to call in all my favours with friends or relatives, or have to beg my boss that I can work from home. I only work part time, must be really tough on women working full time. The fact eldest DS is autistic so cannot go to ad-hoc childcare does not help at all.
Sorry, I know there are bigger things at stake here than my personal arrangements, but sure I am not the only one in this boat....

[RobF]

I don't agree with it at all. The teachers need to realise we live in 2011, not 1971. They know they have an unreasonable deal, hence all the squealing - they know they wouldn't stand a chance in the private sector, they'd be working for minimum wage, and that's if they could get a job at all.

[feckwit]

Hmm. I agree if there is support from the group balloted but given how few voted, I assume the majority of teachers did not really care that much! But strike actions are important, people should be able to show their dissatisfaction at issues.

Wish we knew what was happening with our schools though. It makes things really hard not knowing and I think that will put people against the teachers when presumably they need general public support?

[DontCallMePeanut]

Can someone fill me in a little on details please? When and why are they striking?

I'm a bit out of the loop, atm

[madhattershouse]

I agree with it. Public sector workers are hard working and not well paid they should not be made to pay for the mistakes of others. Sadly local school don't agree...none of the teachers are striking and the school will be open as usual!

[trixymalixy]

I respect their right to strike, and if I was a teacher I would be up in arms about it all too.

However they have to be realistic about the increased costs of these pension schemes due to people living longer, and the gross imbalance between private and public sector pensions provision.

I don't think they will achieve anything apart from reducing respect for teachers even further in the eyes of the general public.

[Riveninside]

It would be nice if our school let us loody know. Its a week, we need to book a carer if dd isnt at school.
I dont see the problem in working longer. We all have too.

[AuntiePickleBottom]

the 30th June is when they plan to stike

[BoattoBolivia]

Can I suggest you move over here. otherwise we will have to keep repeating ourselves. Explains about the reasons for the strike and why schools don't know who is out.

[Whorulestheroost]

I am a public sector worker, a nurse, and will also be made to wait until I am 66 until I drawer my nhs pension. Quite frankly I feel utterly depressed at this thought and totally understand why the teachers are striking. I don't feel it will make a jot of difference however, I think the government have already made their minds up.
I can see it from both sides though and have decided that I am going to make alternative savings so I can retire at 60 and not have to rely on the state or nhs pension. It's those people in their 50s who dont have much time to boost their savings that I feel most sorry for.

[Fifis25StottieCakes]

My schools closed but i dont know how many teachers are striking. They made the decision that there were not enough teachers to open the school safely. I found out today. Also the schools closed on Monday for the wedding.

[jetgirl]

It's not the working longer that bothers me, it's doubling my pension contributions and giving me less back at the end of it.

Having said that, I am not striking. Though I may have to take my dd to work if her school is affected.

[feckwit]

Wedding?

[jetgirl]

Fifis - which wedding? The Monday after the royal wedding was mayday bank holiday, nothing to do with royal wedding.

[Newbabynewmum]

I agree with it. Policemen and firemen aren't expect to work for as ling as teachers.

I'm guessing not many people have thought about how hard it'd be to be almost 70 and content with a 30+ class of challenging inner-city pupils?! Not good for their education or the teachers health.

It's madness.

[NonnoMum]

Totally respect their right to strike.

I have been inconvenienced by tube drivers, bus drivers, air traffic controllers, fire fighters etc holding their right to strike, so respect the right of teachers to strike. After all, they have been shafted.

I also remembered being a school student during the teachers' stirke of the 80s, and although it inconvenienced me as a student (no school play! no netball!) it certainly seemed to raise the comparative wages of teachers from pennies to a decent professional wages.

Don't know why Robf thinks they would be on minimum wage?

[ggirl]

I cannot see striking for a day making one iota of a difference tbh.

[Icoulddoitbetter]

One issue is that the pensions in question aren't in deficit, so the extra money is not going into the scheme, but elsewhere.

The average public sector pension is very low, though that is not what the government would have us believe.

I work in the NHS. In an equivalent private sector role that would require the same level of qualifications and exprience, I would be getting paid far more, so may be paying into a private pension. So why aren't people up in arms about the imbalance between private sector and public sector pay (when comparing like with like)?

As I heard Dave Prentis, Unison General Secretary, say on the radio yesterday, what else can they do?

[AuntiePickleBottom]

public sector workers got a day in leiu for the royal wedding

[chibi]

What do you mean by a day in lieu?