to not want to go on strike?

[CRS]

This is about teacher's pensions. If the NUT ballot goes that way, there will be a strike in June. I agree that what the government is proposing is shocking, and that this is a serious issue. But I don't want to go on strike for various reasons, some ideological, and some (admittedly short term thinking, but for my family of great practical importance at the mo) financial.

One of my colleagues is quite militant in general, and a union rep, and is not very happy about my stance. I think there are three of us who don't want to strike for various reasons.

Would I be wrong to not strike if the majority decide they do want to?

I don't mind, Pandemoniaa, and I can see both sides of this, but I still remain unconvinced that a strike is the right answer. This is a genuine dilemma for me, so I don't mind if I AM being unreasonable, but this would be a very big deal for us personally, and I would like to know that if I DO strike it is the right thing. Is all.

Think yourself lucky that you can,if you wish, go on strike. DH can't and is in the middle of a payfreeze, extra burdens due to extra commitments and the pensions, well who knows. Oh and also he's doing strike cover for the organisations that aren't happy with pay and conditions

Oh - thanks for the reply, lecce! I think point 3 is the one that also worries me a lot - the general population vote for governments and their policies, obviously - what if a strike makes things MORE difficult?

I hadn't realised there was no room for conscientious or moral objection to strike action from the minority, following a vote in favour (as opposed to simply not being bothered), let alone bullying tactics such as ostracism or name calling still being considered acceptable behaviour; it is this sort of thing that the public sees and it does damage the perception of Unions and makes it easier for the government to look reasonable even when they are barking barking mad. Which is saying something.

But no I don't have any better ideas.

if this this coalition of unelected cunts opportunists get their way, there won't be anything left to fight for - let alone strike for

I think I might work with you. Are you in Suffolk?

Please tell me where you think the money will come from to pay for your pensions at their current rate and qualifying age? Even under another (god forbid) Labour government? Can they make money materialise out of thin air?

Don't see how it could make things worse, how much worse could it be?!
Thing is, no one (well not a majority) did vote for this hideous government and their hateful policies, did they? That is partly what makes it so hard to take - what gives them the right?

Ahem. My school went on strike this year. Successfully. We were supported by three unions and they were excellent.

Just throwing it in there!

There are two other points, and again I am willing to be corrected. The only strike I know anything about is the Miners' Strike (again, Conservatives...) and that didn't turn out too well. And two, I did the pensions calculator thing, and it said I would have to work til 69, and would lose a frightening amount of money, based on a 25 year retirement, meaning I would live til 94.

I still agree with the premise, but would've been more convinced by the calculator if they had based it on average life expectancy?

An average teacher's pension is £10 000 - how is that so excessive, given the job we do?

BTW, I didn't vote for the fuckers, and agree with nothing they are doing!

lecce - I'm still agreeing with you, you know! Just noone except you has answered my worries!

Oh, sorry, and diabolo, but without reasons!

Were any of those advocating a teachers' strike also themselves teachers last time round in the 1980s? Interesting commentary here on the legacy of those strikes.

I don't agree with the idea of strikes, which is why I joined ATL.

ATL are now planning a strike for the first time in decades. Despite my apprehension, I'll join them; that's the whole point of a union (the 'union' bit, not the striking bit)

I have emailed our rep to express some concerns though. Personally I think all of the unions need to do a better job of convincing the wider public and diabolo* ) about why this is important and that teachers aren't just lazy money grabbers. Otherwise the strike simply won't work.

TPS is self sustaining.

The extra being proposed is not to support TPS at all, it is to plug the deficit.

Until recently TPS was in profit but the previous government used that profit for other things, then the financial crisis hit.

So why is TPS being hit? Because teachers are a soft target.

meditrina - thank you - I read that article with interest. One line that stood out was something like "Strikes can be effective when everone INCLUDING THE GENERAL PUBLIC is unified" (I paraphrase).

I agree with those who have said it's up to you whether or not you strike but if you don't agree with striking then maybe you shouldn't be in the union. I think this is a hugely important issue and it won't just be the teachers striking. There's going to be coordinated strike action on the day. If this isn't a big enough issue for you to go out on strike, what is?

If you think you won't be able to manage financially, apply to your union for a hardship fund.

I work in a school, (admin) and have done for many years, so I have managed to come up with own opinion during all this time of listening to various teachers and their reasons for hating the Tories as they do / wanting to strike etc.

I don't need convincing of your reasons for striking. I have listened to them and I don't agree with them.

I could bore you rigid with stories of my DH, private sector, no pay rise for 3 years, no final salary pension, no bonus etc etc. But I accept that because of the mis-management of the banks and the world financial crisis, that there is NO MONEY LEFT for anyone.

How do you go about hardship fund grants?

Thanks for posting the average pension for a teacher.

Here's a comparison to the private sector: to buy an annuity income of £10,000 a year that increases in line with inflation, a 65 year old man, who wants his wife to receive half of his pension if he dies before her, will require a pension pot of nearly £250,000.

This may be relevant in thinking about the answer to question 3 - as so few can expect to amass a pension pot of that size, and even those who do face the additional risks of annuity purchase, rather than Govt payment.

I am not striking diablo but will watch with interest to see what happens to the schools in our area.

We have bigger issues to worry about with SOR at the moment anyway.

Hardship funds are usually administered by branches so speak to your branch secretary.

So because things are shit for others, we should all have to be brought down to that level? Instead of getting angry with those who have caused the current situation and those who are still getting stinking rich, get angry with teachers. Right. Makes sense.

YABU. You should support your union. We need to stick together. Also it's not just militant types who are considerung strike action. Remember that nobody actually wants to strike. The SLT unions are also onboard.

Norfolk we're lucky here, SOR postponed until 2017!