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!

JustCross there are loads of posts showing you where you're wrong around already.

DH isn't yet in a union so if he strikes he won't get paid. But as all the support staff will be out the school will be closed anyway. And I agree with you OP.

And didn't realises nurses were stricking. Hope patient safety remains the priority.

In RL I'm gagged in this respect not allowed to march or strike.

I 100% support the strikes and it makes me when people see school as childcare.

Well said OP. I shall be striking. And if I wasn't I would be taking leave because my DCs school and nursery will be closed.

And justcross , the argument that because some sections of society (e.g. a lot of private sector workers) have been TOTALLY shafted re pensions should mean that EVERYONE deserves to get totally shafted is a very poor one.

It is not imperative that we must go with the lowest common denominator.

'DH isn't yet in a union so if he strikes he won't get paid. But as all the support staff will be out the school will be closed anyway.'

Surely anyone who strikes gets no pay - that's the case with me anyway.

Thank you Memoo

omgomgomg - it isn't just teachers who are striking. A whole host of other public sector workers are also on strike.

Private sector have been hit badly, in some areas, I agree. However, that doesn't mean that what is being proposed now for public sector is right and acceptable, and that those affected workers should just roll over and let it happen without standing up for theirselves.

YABU.

Noone gets paid if they strike.

Thanks memoo, totally agree.

Clearly some people will be inconvenienced, that's the point of a strike. The country as a whole will be permanently inconvenienced if it is unable to recruit committed, intelligent teachers. Which with £30k minimum student debt and a poor pension to look forward to, seems a very real possibility.

Lady- its not making a huge difference in our hospital- Our Service Manager described it last night as having 'no teeth' in the health sector as the majority of our nurses are not in Unison but are in RCN.
RCN generally against striking, however they are balloting members in the new year - they are waiting to see what happens with negotiations.

If RCN members ballot to strike then I think we will see quite a high turnout of nursing staff that will vote to strike some time early next year. Thats the impression that I am getting from the chatter on the ward.

I am also in support :)

As a teacher (only not striking as I am on Mat leave) married to another teacher (who will be striking) I thank you for your support. :)

It's not just about teachers, in fact we're a tiny proportion of the variety of public sector workers who are affected. It's other, lower paid people who need the support.

It is people like the Science Technicians in my school, they are all well qualified, experienced people who have worked for years on ridiculously low wages to provide a vital service to the school and pupils (and us Science teachers!). When they did this, they traded off a better paid job in private sector with the expectation of an ok pension when they retired. Only now the government says (without any evidence) it's unaffordable and they want to change their terms and conditions, right before they retire.
Whilst I appreciate that happened to many low paid private sector workers some years ago, it doesn't mean they/we shouldn't complain! It's like saying because one person gets there house burgled then anyone else should just open up and let them in to so everyone is equally worse off!

I got paid when I went on strike. Union paid me. I was a key worker in local government. I thought that was usual.

I also support the strikers!

If private sector workers aren't happy then they should make a noise too!! Don't just sit there moaning and wishing the same on others.

Me too. 100% support for everyone striking next week. I'm going to be donating a day's pay to my union's strike fund (if I can find out how to donate/who to send the cheque too )

'striking achieves nothing'

Tell that to French air traffic controllers.

Ooops... Please forgive the typos... 39 weeks pregnant and my brain seems to have started to unravel...

Lady the argument, 'if you don't like your job, change it...' is not really what's at issue. Most love their jobs. The terms and conditions have been changed unilaterally, which some feel is unfair.

As far as striking never achieving much, well, the BA workers seem to have gotten travel concessions reinstated and some of the other issues were resolved, and Willie Walsh works elsewhere.

EXACTLY Memoo!

My dh has just been balloted to strike,he works in the private sector,he hasnt just sat there moaning as you so nicely put it

Not everyone in the private sector has offices lined in £50 notes you know!

Some of us are on LESS money then public sector workers,dont turn this into a them & us thread cos that is bloody boring.

It is them and us when people object by ranting saying that public sector workers have such a great deal etc etc. It isn't the public sector throwing stones at the private.