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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

re teacher's strike

284 replies

norton84 · 23/11/2011 19:19

Firstly I have no problem with teacher's striking. I have a young teacher in the family and can see where they are coming from.

However, today I found a letter in dd's book bag saying that the school may or may not be open on 30th and please can we have alternative arrangement in place just in case.
AIBU to think more notice would have been good?

Obv knew stike was possible but as school had not been in touch of course we assumed we would not be affected.

OP posts:
FontSnob · 24/11/2011 20:09

In what way am I proving your point? Please explain as I am a little thick. The money that has been paid in, over what has been paid out, has been lent to the government who has not paid it back.

Any comment on the fact that we as women are being penalised by their proposals?

butterfliesandladybirds · 24/11/2011 20:10

I don't think this would be too much Jolly. The problem is the government paid me less salary than my counterparts in private sector and paying an additional 6% employers contribution was instead of paying a higher salary and more cost effective for them, too. If I'd had the higher salary when I started I would be ok paying the full percentage for my pension. I can't go back in time and too old to make up the difference now as it would cost me much much more than 14% to do so.

FontSnob · 24/11/2011 20:11

4 prong in you include the pay freeze, 5 prong if you include the fact that they are proposing to freeze UPS to 4 years per level. 6 prong if you look at the ways that our terms and conditions are being attacked through the introduction of Academies...

NorfolkNChance · 24/11/2011 20:13

You are right of course FS. Goveust be rubbing his hands in glee as the STPCD is thrown out as school after school acquire academy status.

jollydiane · 24/11/2011 20:17

I really don't know the answer to this (sorry) but is it a known fact that the private sector actually earn more than the private sector.

jollydiane · 24/11/2011 20:18
  • public sector
NorfolkNChance · 24/11/2011 20:29

When comparing degree level and above yes jollydiane. As a personal example if I had gone into publishing alongside a uni friend I'd be on her salary which currently stands at 3x my FTE salary (including pensions)

Below degree level qualifications and public sector workers tend to be better off overall (including the pension).

FontSnob · 24/11/2011 20:32

From my own personal position, I teach graphic design, if I worked as a graphic designer (as I used to) I would get paid more.

pugsandseals · 24/11/2011 20:33

I am very confused by the public/private pay differential gap. Everybody I know that works in a private school gets paid less than their state school counterparts!

FontSnob the calculations are far more complicated than those you describe. This is because the figures are simplified for the masses to understand a little of what is going on. Can you really expect to understand what the teachers pension scheme is going to cost the government next year, in 9 years time or even 58 years time? These are the kind of figures which take many years to understand. I certainly don't pretend to understand them but trust that the experts know what they are talking about.

As far as I can see, the 'women being hard done by' arguement is more difficult to understand. There are all kinds of ways to 'top up' your pension for years you worked part-time or career breaks. The problem with these is that people tend to think "I'll worry about that later" and by the time they get around to thinking about it the cost outweighs the benefit. My DH has always said that every pound saved for retirement when you are 21 is worth many more times than those you put in once you are 50. People are not taught how to save for their retirement which is a big problem in this country. Sadly, the vast majority of people here will not be paying enough into their pension for what they will need.

pugsandseals · 24/11/2011 20:36

Cross post FontSnob - can you really compare the work of a graphic designer with that of a teacher? Surely they are very different. And your friend will be needing to save a much higher proportion of his/her earnings for their retirement as well!

FontSnob · 24/11/2011 20:40

That would have been my graduate job, i'm comparing my own circumstances.

jollydiane · 24/11/2011 20:42

Do all teachers pay the same amount in or does it increase with age/salary? It just seems tough on the young private sector employee to have to pay

  1. 14% of their salary
  2. Have no break in contributions
  3. Get no guarantee that the stock market will make enough money
FontSnob · 24/11/2011 20:45

Everyone pays the same %

pugsandseals · 24/11/2011 20:51

Another way to look at it is that those working in the state sector get an extra 15% pay to what they think, as this is what your employer pays directly into your pension.

Maybe they should include it in your salary instead - then you would have all your money now and not worry about your pension until its too late and you find yourself penniless like all those well paid people you are jealous off I guarantee as a teacher you are in a much better place!

FontSnob · 24/11/2011 20:58

Originally Pug that was the point of having the good pension.

jollydiane · 24/11/2011 20:58

I would still prefer to keep an open mind

  1. If the pensions are really self funding and if there is undisputed evidence to support this theory then the teachers should be able to keep their pensions.
  1. If there is doubt that they are self funding then another solution has to be found.
FontSnob · 24/11/2011 20:59

I'm not jealous of anyone, no more than you are of my 'gold plated pension'. If I want to change careers and earn more then I will try that, i've done it before, i'll do it again if needs be.

FontSnob · 24/11/2011 21:01

Jolly, we don't mind finding another solution if it's needed, we don't mind decreased contributions from our employers. We do mind what they are proposing at the moment. I also mind what Gove is doing to education. I am striking for more than just my pension.

jollydiane · 24/11/2011 21:02

I am actually a little bit jealous of your pension Envy but working for myself has other benefits. Wine

FontSnob · 24/11/2011 21:05

But if you were that bothered you'd become a teacher.

jollydiane · 24/11/2011 21:09

I could never become a teacher, have you not noticed my appalling spelling?

pugsandseals · 24/11/2011 21:10

FontSnob - We all choose our jobs based on the rewards offered. Personal happiness is probably the most important to most people and there are many teachers that would not be happy in another profession even if this was in their subject area.

BTW I am also lucky to be in the teachers pension scheme myself. And believe me, even after the cuts it will be worth far more to me than any personal pension I could get. Being married to someone who works in the industry helps me to realise which side my bread is buttered!

I do hope that the negotiations help the government to understand the impact of kicking out those that work in indie schools etc. However, I fear that these issues will be overlooked because the strike will get in the way.

NorfolkNChance · 24/11/2011 21:11

Jolly, we don't mind finding another solution if it's needed, we don't mind decreased contributions from our employers. We do mind what they are proposing at the moment. I also mind what Gove is doing to education. I am striking for more than just my pension.

This.

FontSnob · 24/11/2011 21:18

We all choose our jobs based on the rewards offered.

So you can understand why those who chose teaching with the reward of a good pension in mind are pissed off that it is now being screwed with.

FontSnob · 24/11/2011 21:19

I also fear that a lot of the other issues that we are standing up for are going to be overlooked also, because all anyone hears is pension.