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!

Memoo how exactly? in the private sector you will find we get told 'you are lucky to have a job at all'

Which, in the current climate, is true

I am striking (though not a teacher)

But shooby, how far do you take the 'lucky to have a job' before you stand up and protest. When the pensions are slashed, if your pay is reduced, if your working conditions deteriorate,if your hours are increased???

When do you say enough is enough?

Good on them doingthebestIcan

But Shooby, in general, in the private sector, people get paid more salary with a worse pension deal. In general, in the public sector, people get a lower salary but with a better pension deal.

If they want to amend terms for new starters to save money, fair enough as people can make a decisoin based on the deal at the time.
Changing people's terms halfway through a contract when they have planned their life is just not fair.

Losing a day's pay is nothing compared to losing your whole planned out retirement!

Also with you Memoo (parent working in private sector)

Bah - I meant decision of course...

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.

That is true. However, since public sector worker's are paid out of everyone's tax it is understandable that people aren't as supportive as they would nornally be.
Speaking as someone who has been truly shafted by the credit crunch/recession

i just wish the police were allowed to air their grievances too by striking

I support the strikebut losing a days pay to stay home as the kids will be home is very painful.

I work in the public sector. The people I know who are striking are doing it
a. because they are sick of seeing the services for the families they work with being slashed.
b. because we are not just talking about pensions. We are talking about people who do the crappiest, lowest paid jobs having all their enhancements removed so they are losing a huge proportion of their wages. I am talking about Meals on Wheels workers, overnight care staff etc. They will go from getting paid a bit more an hour to work nights/weekends/holidays to getting a flat rate.
c. our local authority sent out new contracts to everyone with massive changes to pay and condition and told us that if we didnt sign we would all be sacked.

Anyone who thinks that all public sector workers have a sweet deal for doing nothing is a twat.

But look - if all the Meals on Wheels workers, dinner ladies, care workers have to leave their jobs there will be loads of work for all the benefit claiments to do when these posts are downgraded from paid roles to volunteer ones.

Being honest, am finding it a bit hard to support my DD's teachers fully on this as DD and a lot of other kids will be very upset to miss school, and she will miss some of her vital therapies.

the strikers will be losing a day's pay as well.

How do you think these services are going to be saved if people do not stand up and be counted.

I have never had a sodding pension. Not everyone in the Public sector does.

RedHotPokers when you dont have to work to survive any more...

Unfortunately, we don't have the luxury of complaining to the point of striking and leaving our jobs not done. Private sector workers are treated poorly too.

I am a parent and work for the private sector and I am completely aghast at this strike. Do people actually not realise what a mess we are in? The government are going to try and inflate their way out of the mess ( I think) and that is going to take years. I think we are all in for a rude awakaning as lots of people still seem to be in denial.

Teachers hold on to your jobs while you still have one.

fanjo that is understandable but at the rate things are going in my LA those therapies wont exsist for much longer anyway.

Physios, OTs, SW etc are being deleted left right and centre.

yes..I know Glasgow council closed all schools except special schools last strike though and I think that was the right move, I do think a line has to be drawn somewhere

You want services such as free at point of access schooling, education etc etc you have to pay for them.

Don't forget we pay taxes too.

I liken it to getting someone into decorate. It will cost £8000 to paint, paper, tile etc. However times are hard, so it's ok for me to turn around and say "we're all in it together" so I'll only pay £4000? After all it doesn't matter that the contract of service agreed £8k, you can change things half way through.

Yep ok. Terrible of public sector workers to strike.

How awful of them to put their jobs on the line to defend services that are there for everyone - yes even private sector workers.

Jackstini thats a terrible generalisation. Do you think we are all hooray henry banker types? Private sector could be working in a bar for nat min wage

'Private Sector' doesn't mean we all work for blue chip firms with company cars, huge salaries and en early retirement with a huge pension you know

I suppose I also don't really believe the strike will do much to help anyone, sadly

I also applaud all public sector workers in their strike. They are all we have at the moment between us and a Government adamant on slashing public services/pay/pensions etc. Good luck to them.

Memoo I clicked on this thinking it would be a teacher bashing thread and already riled up - then I read your post and got a little teary. Thanks

If teachers do not get a good pension, how will the profession attract those needed?

My CPN is striking.

Last year he literally saved my life.

His job is at risk because of cuts.

I would like to know when the public sector workers are going to realise that money isn't just going to materialise out of nowhere, no matter how much you strike.

This country is going to the dogs, all of us are in the same boat, but the strikes just make everybody elses lives bloody hard too.

What if somebodies boss had no sympathy with the fact they have no childcare, that person has no contract (ie casual workers) and as such loses their job?