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

[AuntiePickleBottom]

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

[expatinscotland]

No, no I don't agree with the reasons behind the strike.

[Peachy]

I think they are entitled not becuase of some magical sweetie etacher type thing but because you choose your job based on a range of factors and the pension was a big part of that for many people.

Now, many people are losing that across the board and there's no reason anyone should be immune but it should be dealt with by the public as a change to contract dispute rather than specifically about some 'perk'. Because that is what it is. And having been completely screwed over by DH's ex employer changing his contrract on us before (hours that clashed with my own job) I think the process for changing contracts and disputing them is essential to maintain- part of which is a strike (DH 's level didn't but many of the warehouse workers did so not just public sector who strike). I guess for me it's about respecting the right to strike after procedure followed than the issue itself.

[Riveninside]

If teachers think their current contributions cover their pensions let their contributions stand, with no more input from other taxpayers and see how its looking in twenty years.....
Or would it be better to know now and up contributions?

[joannita]

I agree with the strike. The Teacher's pension scheme used to be a good reason to go into teaching. Teachers have had the carpet whipped out from under them and now they're left in a very demanding profession without a decent reward at the end.

[ivykaty44]

teachers contributions are not being put away and saved for their "own" pension - the contributions that teachers are now making are paying the pensions of "other" retired teachers. With cuts in teaching and less teachers working as there will be less children to teach with a declining birth rate there will not be enough teachers to pay the pensions of those's teaching now when they retire and that is the problem as there will be less workers in 2025 for example there will be less money to take from them to pay the pensions and that is why they have to be cut

[Flisspaps]

Yes I do agree with it.

And those who whinge about the public sector workers getting such a good deal, why not go and work in the public sector and partake of the endless perks that you seem to think are on hand? You can get all the lovely holidays, the preferential treatment, brilliant pay and amazing pensions too!

[GeneralDreedlesNurse]

I'm not a teacher, but my union is striking as well on 30 June. Like teachers the numbers who voted in facvour of a strike were quite low. However to those of you who think we would be lucky to get a job working for NMW or that we haven't realised it's 2011, I would just say, that we do our jobs and deliver our services amid lies, rumour and downright rudenessa and abuse. We have suffered years of getting pay rises significantly lower than the private sector as we knew we had a decent salary to rely on. We don't take action lightly, we ensure that the vulnerable are provided for in advance when we strike and we onl;y strike when there is no other option.

My salary is currently funding the peosions of those who have retired on their final pension schemes. With the cuts to the public sector there won't be enough civil servants to fiund my future pension. Why shouldn't I strike to show that I think it is important to protect my future and my families future? Under this Governemnt I will be 15% worse off at the end of 2 years (at least) so, as well as having my pension eroded.

So, sorry if striking inconveniences some of you, but I'd be interested to know what you'd do if the Govt decided to stop paying a pension to your Granny or took a huge chunk ouy of your personal pension plan. I also hope your children are lucky enough to work in a world where their employer doesn't lie, cheat and exploit them.

dr maybe woulf prefer a world where the Factory Act was never passed and so yur children were forced to work in dangerous/hazardous occupations or where it was legal to pay a woman significantly less than a man for the same job, because without Unions that what you would have.

[ivykaty44]

fissflaps I have worked in both and can certainly say I am better off working in the public sector than in the private sector

[GeneralDreedlesNurse]

D'oh I meant we knew we had adece3nt final salary pension to rely on

Wish you were forced to preview your mnessage before you could submit!!!

[sallysquirrel]

Totally respect the Teachers right to strike - wish the Nursing Profession had the same balls!!!

[fivegomadindorset]

I work 2 days a week in the public sector, I work on a casual basis only for £6.94 an hour, they have 3 casuals covering what I do so could actually employ someone to do it but don't. As I am casual I get no benefits. I love my job. Still think the teachers are wrong to strike.

[Chen23]

average public sector pensions:

Local government worker: £4,052
NHS worker: £7,234
Civil servant: £6,199
Teacher: £9,806
Member of armed forces: £7,722

There are some very high public sector pensions (1% are £37K+, two thirds of whom are NHS doctors / consultants) but I'm not convinced that public sector workers across the board are being given undeserved insanely high pension packages. Both sides really do need to be grown up about this and make every effort to negotiate/

I do think the government are spoiling for a fight with the unions to shore up support from the right of their own party and to serve as a distraction from their constant u turns, slowing economy and crumbling radical (less so by the day) reforms.

[MrsBethel]

A teacher on a two-thirds of final salary pension will be getting a lot mor than £9,806!

Those averages are skewed down by people who only spent part of their career in those jobs.

[OneHelluvaBroad]

Totally in favour of it.

I know many teachers and none of them are taking it lightly. I was talking to a friend who's school is working double time to make sure that students who will miss classes on the 30th won't be too disrupted by the strike. This isn't just some petulent knee-jerk reaction. It is a very concerning issue for a whole profession of mostly decent, hard working people.

This is an unjust change to the pension deal that teachers thought they had. It's fucking with people's lives - people who, on the whole, are good folk who do a good job and work incredibly hard.

[RottenTiming]

There are clearly some in support of the strike who, going by the content of their post on this thread, have arrived at this decision based on seriously erroneous information as to the overall method of funding of public sector pension schemes.

Others show a woeful ignorance of the state of private sector pensions after the effect of Gordon Browns stealth tax policies.

How can I explain this simply for you....., Oh wait, there won't be any point you've already listened to biased crap (peddled by someone who wants you to strike or support the strike action) and decided that it was reliable information.

Yes, teachers will be hit financially, but that cannot be a reason to strike, when you consider it in the context of how private sector pensions have all been hit (private sector workers have been resigned for many years now to the delayed retirement age) and the fact that we all (both private and public sector employees) have to make up any deficit in the funding of public sector pensions via taxation. Public sector workers have been hit financially for at least an additional 10 years. The country has needed to make economies in this area for a long while but Labour didn't have the balls to tackle the issue as the public sector is traditionally a strong source of votes for them.

Do 18 and 21 year olds really choose the career which they will be working in for 40+ years as a result of the perceived good pension at the end of those 40 years when they could drop down dead 2 years into retirement. If they do then it doesn't paint a very good image of a teacher's intellect. (Maths certainly isn't their strong point).

[mdowdall]

Don't agree with the reasoning behind it but if they want to strike they have every right to do so and shouldn't be slated for it just because it affects kids etc.
Let's be clear on this though: if the Labour party hadnt fudged the public sector pensions issue for years and (because it is so cosy with the unions) the Tories wouldnt be having to take such drastic action now.
Teacher loyalty to the Labour party is staggeringly misguided.

[Chen23]

"Do 18 and 21 year olds really choose the career which they will be working in for 40+ years as a result of the perceived good pension at the end of those 40 years when they could drop down dead 2 years into retirement. If they do then it doesn't paint a very good image of a teacher's intellect. (Maths certainly isn't their strong point)."

crass, cheap shot

I don't think you'd have to be mentally challenged to let a pension deal influence your choice of career. It's an important consideration for anyone and should be part of your financial planning from as early as possible imo.

[OneHelluvaBroad]

What a pompous and vitriolic post, RottenTiming.

I can't even be bothered to respond, since you obviously believe you know it all except to say that most of us understand the issues on all sides very well and are capable of making up our own minds about them (believe it or not!).

[knittedbreast]

i absolutly support the strike and feel very dissapointed if anyone chose not to strike.

[RottenTiming]

Chen,

I have experience of 18/21 year olds financial knowledge and it's very rare to find one who will pension plan other than to maybe set one up and start making small contributions if encouraged to do so.

I'm just pointing out the flaw in the argument that some people go into teaching after leaving University just because of the pension scheme.

I've clearly rattled a few people and their unquestioning support for the strike action.

Good, because some of the posts in support of the strike are are embarrassingly naive/inconsistent with facts.

Support the strike or don't support it but please don't post unvalidated information as your reasons for doing so. Research the facts taking your information from various sources, preferably from somewhere without a vested interest.

[twinklypearls]

I went into teaching for lots of reasons, mainy because I wanted to teach but also for job security and a pension.

Aside from the fact that I love my job my only other reason to stay in teaching is the pension.

[Chen23]

"I'm just pointing out the flaw in the argument that some people go into teaching after leaving University just because of the pension scheme."

Pretty sure that argument only exists in your head as I don't think anyone made it but feel free to use that as an excuse for a pompous, patronising dig at teachers tho.

"I've clearly rattled a few people and their unquestioning support for the strike action."

I'm a million miles away from someone who would ever unquestioningly support any strike of any kind and I'm 'rattled' (or at least mildly wound up) by the sneering superiority in your last couple of posts.

tbh I'd be surprised if anyone thinking of entering teaching would dismiss the importance of the pension promised to them on the basis that they might die a couple of years into it.

[NinkyNonker]

I am for it.

[MilaMae]

Sorry but teachers going into teaching(I was one)should be going into it because they love teaching not because of a pension.Little bit if my dc were taught by teachers only doing it for a pension.

I have no sympathy what so ever and I suspect most non public sector workers will feel the same.

Many people working in the private sector do worthwhile demanding jobs and get a lot less than teachers-worse pay,laughable pension,limited holiday. People in the public sector have been living with pay decrease,job insecurity and crap pensions for the past 2 years or more.

My sister works hideous hours for a leading charity.She gets a low wage for all the crap she puts up with,laughable pension(like the rest of us) and is trying to do a job with reduced staff whilst living in fear for her own job.No teacher deserves a gold plated pension more than her,not one of them.My sister would never let her clients down.Like the rest of us she'll carry on trudging into work and putting up with crap.

Teachers(and other public sector workers) need to wake up and smell the coffee ie this country can't afford their previous pensions,the money simply aint there,it can't be plucked out of thin air.

Personally I'd far rather keep the amount of teachers we've got instead of making 1000s more redundant just so a few can keep their stonking great pension that the rest of us can only dream about.

[SloganLogan]

Of course no-one goes into their job (whatever it is) because of a pension. But most people in most jobs would not be pleased if their pension was eroded.