Conservative proposals to freeze public sector pay-what do we think??

[MavisEnderby]

Good idea or not?

[SixtyFootDoll]

In theory I think it is prob a good idea in the current economic climate
BUT seeings as about one in four(ish I know its a lot) people in employment are public sector workers might not be a vote winner
and i am a public sector employee

[SixtyFootDoll]

In theory I think it is prob a good idea in the current economic climate
BUT seeings as about one in four(ish I know its a lot) people in employment are public sector workers might not be a vote winner
and i am a public sector employee

[SerenityX]

Unpopular but right. The public sector has more holidays and benefits than the private. We are also bankrupt as a country. It can't continue. Things are getting tough. The media isn't reporting the bad because it would make things worse so unless you know people or you yourself have been effected then you could thinks are ok.

Look at California 40% unemployment in some areas and 70% of homes in negative equity. The UK borrowed the way out of it and is crippled in debt. One in 5 youths is out of work and the prognosis is not good. There is a massive baby boom on now. Education is at a low and unprepared for the surge.

It used to be kids were the future workers and good for pensions. But the reality is the economy is shrinking and more are likely to end up in unemployement and low paid jobs.

It's grim and we are a market economy. If goverment were a private company it would collapse.

[SixtyFootDoll]

sorry all my posts are coming up twice

[1dilemma]

I've had subinflation pay rises for a long time now

So presumably the 50% tax rate will go when the freeze does?

No increase in pay for me while inheritance tax threshold goes up to 1,000,000

I'm surprised more people don't have a view on this TBH

(not against the big public sector pay cuts that are coming some are sorely needed IMHO but such a blanket policy regardless same for cleaners and HCAs as civil servents and politicians-not sure if they're included actually )

[Sagacious]

Currently work in the private sector and have had to swallow a 46% paycut.

So am finding it hard to feel a great deal of outrage at pay freezes TBH.

[1dilemma]

Serenity yes it's worse than expected and the spending our way out of debt is an odd policy but you don't say why a pay freeze on a sector of the population is a good thing now if you promise me a pay freeze for everyone then fine, if you want to cut a load of useless junk go right ahead but a cut in real terms for some whilst inheritance tax threshold is increased for what will presumably be more likely to be the haves of society

[atlantis]

Firstly I would like to say shame on alister darling for making an anouncement (much the same as this) during conference week !! (boo , hiss )and the fact that Labour didn't have the guts to announce this at their own conference before their union audience.

Then I would like to know would this be legal as the government agreed to a three year pay deal with many public workers ( so labour or conservative doing it may not be legal).

Then I would like to add, it needs to be done by whomever is going to do it and if labour have finally decided to take on the unions good luck to them (that should be fun to watch).

Maybe the unions could forgo their subs by members while the pay freeze is in operation and then suspend giving money to the labour party in bribes donations.

[1dilemma]

oh well sagacious I've just lost my job because of the public sector cuts (yes really) but I was trying to engage in a meaningful group discussion IYSWIM

[1dilemma]

whoops since I've not long got back from work can I ask whose policy this actually is

looks like I've seriously made a fool of myself!!!!

[wahwah]

Pay freeze for all. No one to earn more than 7 times the national average wage in ANY setting and no bonuses greater than 5% of gross pay in any calendar year for anyone. No tax shelters, loopholes, foxholes, setts, whatevers. Fine by me.

[atlantis]

" but a cut in real terms for some whilst inheritance tax threshold is increased for what will presumably be more likely to be the haves of society

Hold on a minute, if my mum and dad (working class) had brought their home in London during the 80', which they didn't ( dad kicking himself ) it would now be worth close to a million pounds. If he then died and wanted to leave that to me ( working class) I would have to pay inheritance tax on it. Why? It doesn't make me a 'have' because I get a house I can't sell in this climate, plus I lose a chunk of the value.

Most older folk invested in their home rather than take insurance policies out so leaving this to their families is all they have why should the tax man have any?

[boyraiser]

Don't think it's right. £18k pa is hardly a fortune. Can't really believe that Dave, George et al. have much idea about raising a family on that sort of money. There's a big difference between what a nurse or new teacher earns and what better paid public sector employees such as GPs, headteachers, senior council officials, politicians or such like take home.

[ABetaDad]

Private sector is taking massive pay cuts, working short time or redundancy and pension custs. The public sector has to take te same pain.

In the heavily unionised days of the 1970s the unionised public sector and nationalised industry workers kept their jobs and pay and benefits and the private sector took the majority of the pain. It must not happen that way again.

[1dilemma]

You would be able to sell it you would probably have to accept it just isn't worth what you would like it to be.

You can't argue with a straight face that getting close to 600,000 pounds doesn't make you a 'have' compared to those who don't.

Your class is irrelevant there is no entitlement to inherited property wealth at someone elses expense (and lets face it when your working class parents didn't buy their house it would have been at the trad 3 times one salary etc etc)

House prices are one great big ponzi scheme and the person who 'pays' will be the person left holding the mortgage not hard working working class people who happened to buy when life was different!

(I do accept my views on London property prices are somewhat towards one end of the spectrum)

oh and loads of circa 1,000,000 houses round here are poorly maintained piles of s&^t with people living downstairs/virtually confined to one room because for a whole variety of reasons they don't move)

all IMHO obviously

[hocuspontas]

A blanket freeze is ok if you are being paid a decent wage to start with! There are a lot of public sector employees (myself included) who work for next to nothing. My last raise was £1 a week I think. I probably wouldn't notice if there was a freeze!

[1dilemma]

Can't comment on the 70's beta I'm too young but it has long been a mantra of the public sector that you swap pay for job security and pensions if both are going to go then pay has to go up!!!

[itsmeolord]

They have only said they will freeze the higher earners pay, so GP's, Judges etc.
Mid earners will still get a rise but a smaller one than they wanted, so that would be prison officers, teachers etc.
The lowest paid would still get their anticipated pay rise.

I think it's fair. In the private sector we are experiencing enforced pay cuts, pay freezes are soooo last recession....

I don't see why a doctor or a judge should me more entitled to a pay rise than someone at an equivalent level in the private sector.

[frogetyfrog]

I think its wrong, but then I am in the public sector earning above £18grand but below a decent salary. I am working in an area where they cannot recruit and we are constantly understaffed. I need a degree to do my job, and have various post grad qualifications too. I have seen so many past colleagues leave and earn a fortune privately, but decided to stay in public sector as it is theoretically working for the general public rather than working against the general good to make a profit. Also decided that job stability and a good pension almost made up for the poor wage. But we seem to get hit at every turn as the public are made to believe we earn good money and are on to a good thing. If only that were true we may beable to recruit! Our pensions will be next and that is the only reason I decided to stay on half what I could earn privately. I agree that there is a huge difference between what gp's earn and top public sector employees, and your bog standard officer or middle manager. When it is the good times, we dont get bonus's or big increases.

[southeastastra]

i am sick of listening to david cameron go on and on and constantly hiding his priveledged background.it won't affect him so why should he give a toss?

[Morosky]

I thought it was over 18K, as a public sector worker I have no problems with it. It is a myth that you are immune from redundancy if you work in the public sector. I have worked in a school that ran out of money and was laying off staff, in an attempt to save jobs some of us voluntarily took pay cuts.

[morocco]

happy enough with public sector pay freeze - inflation is pretty low in any case. want to know what else the tories have lined up though

[saggarmakersbottomknocker]

Can someone tell me what these public sector benefits are (and frankly I'm laughing at the 'more holidays' thing)? I've worked in the private sector and voluntary sector - currently in the public sector and I don't get any 'benefits' and I get less paid holidays than I've ever had. I appear to be missing out.

[jellybrain]

CAn we have some evidence that Public Sector workers generally have more holiday, better pay and pensions than everyone else? Yes some jobs are well paid but probably less well paid than similar jobs in the private sector. We do all pay into our pensions so , that isn't free by any means and I think a lot of Public Sector workers have accepted lower pay because at least there is a pension.
I had a brief spell in the private sector a few years ago in a similar level job to the one I do now and my wages still haven't caught up.
Can I suggest a poll indicating the following;

Public/private
Salary
Experience
Level of Qualifications
Levels of risk and stress faced

[1dilemma]

morocco do you work in the public sector?
are you 'happier' with it if everyone has a pay freeze?
are you 'happier' if it is only those earning over 18K?