to say this to all the teachers who are striking next week

[Memoo]

As a parent I am 100 % behind you.

I really appreciate that you put your life and soul into your job and im sorry more people don't get just how hard you work for the benefit of our children.

Don't let the bastards grind you down!

In a way, I want to take the hit, we can just about take it, so we can sort it out before our kids become parents.
I feel for my teenager who is studying for a good life....I shudder at whats to come for him.

Ed Millliband is keeping very quiet, which is odd, given that he was voted as leader with the backing of the unions. He is not stupid; he has done a few calculations on the back of an envelope. He will have looked at Greece, Portugal, Ireland, Italy, etc.

chiipychop - an extra days xmas shopping??
dear god im away for a vodka before i combust.

scrounging benefit cheats don't rob the country as much as a manager on £60K who can't do his job but still gets the salary, a pension, home computer equipment etc from his public sector job. Managers at that level are resisting their juniors getting paid more because that reduces the pot they can allocate to themselves its happening all across the public sector.

Indeed, and were the government to produce the figures that explained exactly what the situation was and how we, as public sector workers could help to ensure that our pensions do not adversely affect the economy, I think we would be prepared to listen. Perhaps I've missed something but I don't think that's been presented to us yet.

Ed was on the radio earlier...when asked if he agreed with the strike...his reply..the two sides need to keep on talking..what a lily liveried weak opposition leader, quite clearly he disagrees but is afraid to say so because he under the thumb of the unions. I don't agree with his poltics but dear god all governments need a decent opposition!

plus, between me not getting paid that day and if i could christmas shop without trailing my 3 kids around cause theyre off school, i would be helping the economy! aarrgghh, make that a double dear.

It's ridiculous how seemingly rational people cannot seem to accept the facts.

We have a budget deficit. Not a tiny one. A BIG one. How/why is rather irrelevant. The fact is we have one and it needs to be dealt with.

People are living longer. Fact. Therefore pensions schemes designed back in the 60's are no longer fit for purpose.

Fact, teacher's pensions are not self-funded. The scheme (like all public sector pensions) has a shortfall which needs to be met by the taxpayer. The very taxpayer who can ill afford to pay anymore.

The proposals so far amount to an increase of < 3%. For most teachers that's I believe it's < £30 per month. Private sector workers would probably give their right arms for a final salary pension for an extra £30 a month.

So if teachers want to continue with their pensions in their current form then the government will need to either raise taxes or reduce spending elsewhere. Which do they prefer?

In addition it won't be me or you who will be landed with paying the pension bill. It will be our kids, the very kids who they are probably teaching right this minute. In fact, have any of them asked the kids? After all it seems fair to me that if they want their pension, they should at least out of courtesy ask the very people whom they are expecting to pay for it if it's OK? I asked my daughter. She doesn't understand why she should foot the bill for a pension her teacher hasn't paid enough in for.

Mrsmmplus3. Don't be so naive to think that it isn't going to happen, you may not be but there are plenty who will take advantage. As my cousin and s- in law who both work in the public sector have told me

butterflies; there is a magic porridge pot, but to gain access you have to be a recently retired public sector or final pension scheme private sector member. There have always been 'lucky' generations, and we are not exactly one of them (although the strikers are unaware of this), but the next generation, our children, are even less lucky. The public sector workers striking next week are robbing our children, although they claim to be helping them. They are financially illiterate.

Private sector workers would probably give their right arms for a final salary pension for an extra £30 a month.

Except it won't be a final salary pension.

Ed Miliband and Labour are screwed really.

80% of their income comes from the unions. The very unions who want to strike. At the same time they would lose the support of most voters if they come out in support of the strikers.

So the best they can do is sit on the sidelines and hope the Tory coalition take the blame whilst they sit on the fence. Something which is a luxury the opposition party has.

Yeah nice guy2.... Here's my right arm. You are quite right I would love my final salary scheme back again..(it was removed this year).... Did I strike no.... Would I rather work harder to keep my job yes

Will be on strike on behalf of ALL workers on Weds. Am a university lecturer and proud union member.

Chippychop and nice guy etc - do you actually know what the govt proposals are?

I fully support the strikes.

The high and rising level of financial inequality in this country is a disgrace.

niceguy2

could you produce figures for any of that?

the last time that I looked the government had not produced any.

Private sector workers can't/won't strike cos they would more than likely be handed their p45s the day after. Most private sector workers DON'T have a employer contributed pension so they actually have to save for a pension by themselves, if at all.

I support the strike but public sector workers need to realise that yes they get a pretty good deal Re pensions, flexible working etc. Privat sector workers will also have to work til nearly 70 - try being a bricky when you are 68!

The scheme (like all public sector pensions) has a shortfall which needs to be met by the taxpayer.

It has NOT got a shortfall - the 2007 changes made it sustainable for the long term future - ask the National Audit Office, or the Hutton report - or are they financially illiterate too then, Lord Lovely?

The proposals so far amount to an increase of < 3%. For most teachers that's I believe it's < £30 per month

No, wrong again - it's about £100 per month for me and £80 for dh.

Feenie,

As i understand it, the TPS is 'sustainable' in the sense that IF the employers continue to pay in at the same rate (14% of salary) and employeers continue to pay in at the same rate (6% of salary) then a black hoe does not open up.

That doesn't mean it is 'self sustaining' - ie that its investments produce the required rate of return to pay all pensions - it means that if the employers continue to to put in more than twice the employee's contributions, then no black hole opens up.

However, is a pension scheme in which the employer puts in more than twice the employee contribution affordable to the employer? Private sector employers decided not, many years ago - matching funding is about the maximum possible now, and obviously private pensions come with no matching funding whatever. And does the average employer put in 14% of salary, with only 6% from the employee? Again, I would sugest not - from the last review of the pension of another family member, I seem to remember that 18% from him and 6% from his employer was mentioned.

It is not true that the TPS is sustainable, because it continues to require 14% from the employer. If the employer cannot afford to pay this extra 14% on-cost for every employed teacher then the TPS isn't viable.

The TPS may not have a 'shortfall', but it does continue to need a high rate of employer contibutions to keep the level of pensions and the level of teacher contribution the same.

If the employer is not in a position to continue to make those contributions - bearing in mind that all accrued pension is protected so there are already considerable future liabilities - then something has to give...

What I'd be happy with is a solution that doesn't penalise me in all the different ways that the current proposal does. I will be happy with something that is fair. Working longer, paying more and getting less is not fair.

Teacherwith2kids, thanks - excellent explanation.

But the scheme needs no further money, and as I understand it, the employer are not suggesting paying less.

So where does extra money go to? Not to lower the employer's contributions, and not to pay more pensions, since the scheme is sustainable as it stands.