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

[AuntiePickleBottom]

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

[MilaMae]

Err I think you'll find most people in the private sector are going to have to contribute more if they want to eat in their old age and actually would love the deal that teachers are getting.

[knobbysEx]

TOTALLY agree. Pay more. Work longer. End up with less. No way. I can't see it doing much good, striking for one day, but I wish them all the best and hope they don't get shafted the way it's been planned

[Chen23]

"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."

FFS!

not quite sure where this strawman rubbish about teachers only going into their profession for the pension is coming from but it does seem to be pretty pervasive

Teaching is a vocation and a career that I'm pretty sure the vast majority go into because they see it as a calling; that said they are allowed to have other incentives rather than just the love of the job.

[chubsasaurus]

Do striking teachers get paid for the day?

[chibi]

no they do not get paid. like many workers, they are paid for the work they do

no work = no pay

[trixymalixy]

No they don't get paid for the day they strike.

Most people I know went into teaching for the love of it, I do know a couple who went into it for the holidays though!

I don't think anyone considers pensions when they choose a career, I wish I had and chosen a career that would have a final salary pension!

[Fifis25StottieCakes]

My friend is a teaching assistant in the comp and she is loosing a full days pay

[expatinscotland]

'Pay more. Work longer. End up with less. No way.'

Then find another way to make a lot of money because that is the reality for all of us except the people retiring right about now.

If you think 30 and 40 somethings now are unsympathetic, wait till our children's generation are told they have to pay more and more for you to put your feet up at 60, 63, even 65 for 20 plus years because you 'had it hard'.

Life is hard.

[chibi]

she should only lose a day's pay if she were striking i would have thought

is she in one of the striking unions?

[MilaMae]

Well we all have incentives going into a profession or job.My dp was promised more money when he was promoted 2 years ago.Has been doing the job but still yet to see his payrise,he's no different to many people in the private sector during these tough times but hey ho they obviously are just not worth worrying about.

I find it more than slightly annoying that those of us working in said private sector are expected to just suck it all up but the first time teachers get a taste of what we've all been living with over the past few years toys get thrown out of the pram.

[chibi]

can your dh negotiate his pay and conditions with his employer? can he look for work in the same field which would give him more favourable conditions?

teachers can't

i can't say, look, i want my contract amended to give my x y z because i am such an amazing teacher

i can't say well stuff you lot i shall try my luck at school x where they will recognise my brilliance

when the people who ultimately set the terms and conditions of my employment seek to alter them unilaterally without my consent, what would you have me do?

[Fifis25StottieCakes]

Shes not striking but the school is closing as not enough teachers to open safely. She may have it wrong but this is what she said to me

[chibi]

she should check the terms of her contract

i know that non-striking teachers will be paid as per usual

[trixymalixy]

I think the thing with the TPS that makes it seem more unfair having to pay more and work for longer is that there is no correlation between teacher's contributions and their pension. Because it is unfunded and their contributions pay for current pensioners who are not having anything cut it must seem very unfair.

It's much easier to accept paying more and working longer when the pension scheme is funded and you can clearly see that there is a deficit and current contributions are not high enough.

[Feenie]

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.


Which union is he in? Because the NASUWT and the NAHT expect to be balloting shortly. And whatever your dh would lose for a day's pay, he can expect to lose every month in extra pension contributions soon.

[MilaMae]

PMSL have you seen it out there lately???

He'd be laughed off the building.He's lucky he has a job.Private companies know they have all their workforce over a barrel.Most don't have unions to fight their corner.The cost of living has rocketed,not wages and jobs are going.We haven't seen the half of it yet,the cuts are only just beginning to bite,every company is holding it's breath.

My dp's company is in desperate need of more staff but they won't take any on,they just spread the work out more thickly for less pay.We have friends in a variety of professions and it seems to be the same everywhere.

[Mammonite]

My (private sector) employer's final salary scheme was shut down last year, one of the last to go. Like trixie said, when they presented the figures it was obvious that the pension fund was heading for such a big deficit it would take the company down with it - hobson's choice. I accepted a pay cut effectively because the alternative would be no job at all.

I don't think it's true that there is "no correlation" though, the benefits built up are protected by law and teachers will have to be paid the pension they earned. So a mid-career teacher will get half a final salary pension and half the new scheme. The reason for changing is (1) to get more money into the funds which are in deficit and being topped up by the taxpayer (for todays pensioners) and (2) to reduce the future liability so the funds are in balance (for paying future pensions).

I support the right to strike but would say, don't hold out much hope.

[Riveninside]

When a private pension fund is shut, do they give back the money you have paid in?

[Mammonite]

Riven it depends how long you've been paying in. Normally benefits are frozen and you get them at retirement as a part pension.

[twinklypearls]

Mila I did not say that I went into teaching for the pension alone, why are teachers not allowed to be motivated by pay or pensions. I am not a martyr willing to sacrifice my life for your children. Why are we willing to pay for good doctors but not teachers?

[twinklypearls]

Mila I earn an fraction of what most of my contemporaries at university now earn. My standard of living could not be any different from theirs,

[TalkinPeace2]

Most Doctors are self employed - they pay for their own pensions.

[twinklypearls]

Mila it is not he first time we have had it tough. In previous schools I have worked five days a week and been paid for four. I have taken promotions and not taken the pay as we knew the money was not there. I have faced redundancy and walked away from a job because I knew a school could afford to keep me or 3 TAs. Teachers have not been immune from the cuts in any way shape or form.

[trixymalixy]

The TPS is an unfunded scheme, there is no pot or fund built up from contributions and invested, there are no assets or investments backing it. Current pensions in payment are paid from teacher's contributions and the shortfall is paid directly from taxation.

There is absolutely zero correlation between teachers current contributions and their future pensions as no fund is built up.

[echt]

Pay the teachers doctor's rates, and they'd pay for their own pensions, too.