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

[AuntiePickleBottom]

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

[Fifis25StottieCakes]

Jet - what boat said

[jetgirl]

higgle - you can't save more when you have to put more into the pension each month, but get less back at the end!

[jetgirl]

X-posts fifi!

[magicmummy1]

I respect the right of teachers to strike if they think fit. I doubt that many take the decision lightly.

I don't know enough about teacher pensions and the proposed reforms to have an opinion as to whether it's right for them to strike on this occasion, but ultimately, it's a matter for the teachers to decide.

[LadyThumb]

I have worked in the care sector for 26 years (and before that for 23 years in another job). I got less than minimum wage, 24/7 with no respite. Now no wages as I'm too old, but still doing the same job. On ordinary old age pension. Still on duty 24/7.

I am a Carer to an autistic child/adult - when can I strike please?

[ivykaty44]

Anyone has the right to strike in this country and yes I am happy for that to be extended to teachers. They have my support in standing up for what they belieive in and making a stand - regardless of whether I understand pensions or agree with them on the actual strike

[jetgirl]

Ladythumb - the treatment of carers in this country is criminal. It would take a very hard-hearted person to begrudge you decent support. A number of my pupils are carers. They are truly incredible children.

[Joolyjoolyjoo]

I totally agree with the teachers striking.

the government has been at pains to emphasise, over the last few years, how people need to be responsible about arranging their pension. For teachers, who went into teaching with the understanding (or even a contract stating??) that they would have pension security, it's massively unfair (IMO) to ahve the goalposts moved so radically.

As far as I can see, people bleat about teachers because they think they get:

• Great, child-friendly holidays and working hours
  
• A reasonable salary
  
• Job security
  
• A good pension
  

Now, I am NOT a teacher, but my mum was, all her life. I saw her work late into the night on lesson planning/ marking, so "working hours" becomes a debatable point. My dad, in the private sector, had a stressful and responsible job, but rarely worked the hours she did, even with overtime.

Her salary was far below his, despite being better qualified

Nowadays, new teachers are very very lucky to get a permanent position- most end up in "supply" where they are not paid for holidays etc, so job security has all but disappeared

And now, the final nail in the coffin, their pensions are to be drastically slashed, because the people responsible for investing the money they paid in have screwed up.

It will mean some inconvenience to me, as a working mum with my own business. But I am right behind them. This was NOT the deal they agreed to when many of them took the job in the first place. If the government are able to ride roughshod over their pension agreements, who will be next? In Britain we are too good at muttering and moaning yet letting it go. Hence the reason why we have such high costs of living etc compared to other (feistier!) countries. The government needs to see that people won't take these things lying down. The teachers strike, and people's backing of it, could make them, and other companies, think twice about renaging on people's conditions of employment, and could therefore be beneficial to us all.

[Thruaglassdarkly]

My dh's union aren't ballotting for strike action thankfully or he'd have to be a scab as we couldn't afford to lose a day's pay. He supports me and our 2 small kids at the moment. We long ago gave up on any idea of pensions and have made alternative arrangements for our dotage anyway.

[Pang]

Here! Here! Jooly.
I completely agree with everything you just said. I really do feel that in Britian we are far too stoic at times. The French went on strike when it was proposed that their pension age raise by 6 months. This Current government is proposing to raise the pension age by 6 years. I would have been shocked if there was no strike action. I am just surprised that more public sector workers are not doing the same. Joining forces would definitely get results.

[Pang]

Thruaglass -"We long ago gave up on any idea of pensions and have made alternative arrangements for our dotage anyway."

That's alright for some, but some people can't afford not to strike. There was not enough warning for many people to make alternative provision.

[SlackSally]

What are the people who claim they cannot afford a pension going to do in old age?

Rely on the state?

Wait a minute...

[HerHissyness]

People in the private sector have been putting away money for pensions for years, but have recently got much, much less back than they planned to have.

My diary is already full for 30th, it has been for weeks. I can't tell people to move on a different day FGS.

6 classes in our infant school look to be affected and we may not know until the day of the action if the school will run any service at all.

Real Life can't work like that, our kids are not cans of beans to be put on a shelf until tomorrow.

I can't see why the schools can't bring in the Holiday/After school activity club people in on the day so there are facilities to take children.

[ilovesooty]

I can't see why the schools can't bring in the Holiday/After school activity club people in on the day so there are facilities to take children

So it doesn't matter if the teachers aren't there as long as the childminding service is maintained?

[Pang]

Schools/teachers are not babysitters. We are talking about one day in a child's life compared to people entire retirement.

[twinklypearls]

I know some secondary schools are saying that although we can't teach - we can't cover colleague's classes - we can allow students to come in for independent study.

[madhattershouse]

Too right pang! Teachers deserve better treatment than this (I am not a teacher just a believer in fairness!)

[Peachy]

Hpw many schools have after school holiday are? Ours certainly never has offered that, If only!

HerHissy what if your child had been sick on the 30th? One of the reasons H will work from home when i go back to work is that we don;t have emergency cjildcare cover, but back up is important. There's a school locally that ahd a fire so is closed, it's not comon but does happen that schools close.

[CogitoErgoSometimes]

Don't agree with teachers striking. I think they're being badly led by their unions.

[LilBB]

I think the problem with things like this is always - the grass is greener. The private sector doesn't necessarily pay huge amounts, we get about 20 days holiday a year, young people struggle to get permanent jobs and a lot of companies have pulled the good pensions. Many have huge pension deficits and theres always the fear that the company (along with your pension) won't even exist when you're ready to retire. However we can retire from 55.

I work for a massive company, as does my husband. He started 7 years before me and his pension is really good. Mine is good too but not as good. However it means we have to stay at the company for the rest of our working lives to benefit. Many private sector workers move about so end up with bits of pensions and with the death of the final salary schemes probably wont end up very well off either. There is of course the stock market to take in to account. Anyone retiring now will have lost a lot of money due to the recession.

I'm not saying this means teachers don't deserve a good pension. Perhaps the changes that come on should affect new staff not existing members of the scheme? That's what most private sector companies have done. I also think the way if is invested should be carefully reviewed. Are public sector pensions similar to private ones? If they are contribution based I don't see why you can't retire at say 55 if you could afford it. I cant say I blame you for striking. I think it also highlights to people the importance of planning for old age. A lot of my friends have opted out of pensions and I find that worrying.

[fivegomadindorset]

No, and being self employed will lose a days pay, also beiing self employed there is no spare money for a pension, so have no sympathy I am sorry.

[Cookster]

There are some changes proposed to a pension scheme that will remain the most generous and beneficial in the UK. Anyone know of any other pension schemes where somebody, after the age of 55, can decide to take their full pension, have one day off the pay roll to trigger the pension payments and the lump sum, and retain the statutory right to return to their position regardless of capability or whether the employer wants them back, and start building another pension pot without loss of continuity of service. That isn't changing.

No, I don't agree with this strike. Professionals do not strike. I do, however, support the teachers statutory right to strike providing they are members of their teaching unions and pay their subs in full. I do not believe in schools closing and teachers who are not union members or who are not striking not having to attend their place of work and be available for work whilst receiving full pay because technically they are not striking. That is wrong, very very wrong and even if for health and safety reasons schools cannot open they should be on the premises working if they are being paid. I also do not support the teachers who are striking at my daughter's school because the head issued the rudest and most discourteous letter I have ever seen which did not demonstrate a single iota of regret for cancelled events or potential inconvenience. That is not a member of the teaching profession who is a proper and decent role model for my child.

[Silverstar2]

Our school is partly out, partly not - which is causing no end of trouble. Basically, if your kids are in year FS, 3 or 6 they HAVE to go to school, but if they are in 1,2, 4 or 5 they can't. Mine are in 2 and 4, so I have the hassle of childcare as I work but other are up in arms as they have a child that has to go to school that day, whilst the other one (or two) get to stay at home. This, as you can inagine, is really unfair on the the kids that have to go whilst their siblings get an extra day off with Mummy or whatever. Some people have said they will keep both/all off, or just call them in sick.

I am sympathetic to the teachers, but the way they are going about it in our school is winning them no favours with parents at all, and I don't know if they have done more harm than good. it is causing prioblems in the playground with some parents, who work, having to find childcare (along with lots of others) and some SAHM having their kids going to school as normal. I have heard a few arguments. it does seem odd that all the kids that can't go in will still be there at dropping and picking up times anyway.

i think it would be better all or nothing really, not splitting the school.

[MrsBethel]

I'm not convinced by the "they already contribute 7% so shouldn't be asked to contribute more" argument. The pension benefit is worth way more than 7% - it's more like 25% or 30%, simply because the current pension they dish out is so high.

I can understand why they are on strike. They've had an unbelievably good deal for so long they feel entitled to it. But reform is inevitable, and the deal they've been offered is still way better than you get in the private sector. I'd have offered them a defined contribution scheme - then you'd have seen some histrionics.

[charliejosh]

I think its a massive inconvenience to working parents and very annoying and what will be will be strike or no strike!