aibu to think that all those striking on thursday are being selfish and greedy?

[hellospoon]

And they should be thankful that they even have a job?

In a day where thousands of people are unemployed and living in poor conditions surely these teachers should be thankful they even have a job!

Many parents are having to take leave, some unpaid I presume the effect that it will have on family's is ridiculous.

LessonsinL - teachers don't train any longer than any other profession, in fact they do a lot less.

The PGCE maybe a post grad qualification in that you do it after graduation but it isn't of a higher level than a degree - those with a PGCE aren't better qualified teachers than those with the B Ed are they? (I stand to be corrected on that one but I have never heard of there being any difference).

To qualify as an accountant you do a minimum of 3 years after a degree, for a lawyer it is at least a year at law school, maybe 2 depending on your degree and then 2 years on-the-job training doing articles.

No idea exactly how long doctors train for but it is considerably more than any of these others.

And no a days striking won't change that. I doubt whether many days striking will make a difference.

Hmmm - is it because the school strike affects you, but the pilot one doesn't?

I imagine so. After all, the pilots don't babysit their children...

Pilots aren't employed by the state and they don't provide a service. Their beef is with their emploer and a private scheme which is nobody else's business but their own.

There are also a lot less of them.

If teachers do not receive suitable pay and conditions then everyone's children will be worse off, as teachers morale worsens and good teachers continue to leave the profession.

But the teachers are taking up their problems with their employers aren't they? Just that their employer happens to be the state.

Or should all employees just roll over and ignore if their employer wants to alter their terms and conditions?

And int he long run, if everyone just does that, what kind of a state do you think employee rights int hsi country would be like?

I don't think you are being unreasonable at all, they (teachers union) have made their point, the government isn't going to listen and re-think their plans so the only people who suffer are the children!

How many strikes are the teacher going to go on?!?!

But the teachers are taking up their problems with their employers aren't they? Just that their employer happens to be the state

I expect that anyone employed by the state should just roll over and suck it up. It will be most interesting to see the frenzy when UNISON strikes, along with the NASUWT in the Autumn.

Anyone who has their terms and conditions pulled out from under them has the right to protest. Best of luck to them, though I think they're on a hiding to nothing and the gov will charge ahead regardless. The thing is, you shouldn't just allow people to ride rough-shod over you. You should protest.

Let's not forget that a larger union is also striking this week (public sector) but as they don't babysit the nation's children it goes unnoticed.

ILS are you the same ilovesooty from the good old TES days?

I certainly am!

YABU.

Ohhh hello! Will PM you my old TES name

I did not think a pension formed part of "terms and conditions" of employment as it is NOT obligatory.

Hello! Looking forward to your PM!

YABU as why should people undertake a role to have the goalposts moved.

However, this strike is going to have zero impact on the government as the ballot vote I believe was very low. What is a one day strike going to achieve?

When the emergency services start striking, that will be different and will cause real uproar and serious chaos. Except their contract does not (i think) allow it yet they are going through similar crap ie pension problems, goalposts moved etc.

YAB more than U.
YAB a completely thoughtless tosser (but then you've been told that many times already, thank goodness).

When the emergency services start striking, that will be different

When UNISON strike I imagine there will be chaos.

Unison striking will cause chaos especially as it is likely that NAHT and NASUWT will be balloting for a similar time.

cookcleanerchaufferetc, only the police and armed forces cannot strike, though this could soon change as the police were offered the right to strike in a deal from the Home Office late last year.

I say again, the armed forces have enough on their plates but will still be expected to cover other peoples jobs with no additional pay.

Niecie
"The PGCE maybe a post grad qualification in that you do it after graduation but it isn't of a higher level than a degree - those with a PGCE aren't better qualified teachers than those with the B Ed are they?"

The PGCE is a Masters-level qualification.

Cavemum - a lot of professions supplementary to medicine can get struck off their register if they strike as well, if it leaves the service unmanned and is considered unprofessional and therefore worthy of de-registration.

YABU.

YABU

YABU - if governemnet were that ingterested in resetting balance they would claim unpaid tax, focus on white collar crime and take some money back from the banks. Pathetic how many 'intelligent' people are so ready to jump on the band wagon against the strike.