AIBU to ask if you would support a strike by midwifery/nursing staff?

[HolidayArmadillo]

Just that really, would you support a strike by frontline NHS midwifery/nursing staff? Following the 1% 'pay rise' news (which is actually a pay cut in real terms and only for those who are experienced staff at the top of their band) more and more of my colleagues have been saying that if it came to it they would strike, many have been reluctant up until this point as no one wants to disrupt women/patient care but the workforce is becoming burnt out, disillusioned and unsafe.

Just wondering what the mumsnet collective has to say?

retropear I really don't think comparing your DH's job and working conditions are anything to do with this discussion.

From what I remember from other threads, he works in IT doesn't he?

Comparing an IT workers day and working conditions to that of nursing staff is fucking hilarious!

So Anne we really can't win, we're stuck between a rock and a hard place. Public opinion is going downhill anyway because we're blamed for all the failings.

Really.

Sorry but that is bollocks.

Like nursing the sector varies-a lot.

There are varying levels of stress and crappy work conditions in all sectors.

No I wouldn't.

Aside from "top executives" and bankers, who really have pay rises?

Maybe I am out of touch, but show me a private sector worker, like a shop worker or an air hostess, who has had a payrise, lately.

Oh well retro like people keep saying. He can 'get a job elsewhere if he doesn't like it'.

Coz yano, people aren't going to die if all his sector decide to piss off.

But it's not that simple is it? I wouldn't expect it to be. But I absolutely support if your partner would want to fight for better conditions. It just seems that you don't want us to.

Quint

I know of a few people, but that isn't the issue here. We're trying to persuade from comparison of public and private. They're too completely separate issues.

I guess I am just feeling gloomy, I know nurses work hard, but they are not the only hard working profession around, and it seems to me that nobody (I know) has had a payrise in Yonks.

Ah don't get me wrong Quints we all deserve a pay rise. So does my DP in the private sector, he's worked for that company for ten years and hasn't seen much movement.

It's just we have to complain to the government rather than a company

Ok, I get the point about private vs public. I dont think I know of any public sector friends who has had payrises. Not charity sector either. But I could be out of touch.

It is difficult though, with front line workers and strike action.

I just want everybody to be happy and earn enough. Peace and love.

Quint, my husband gets a payrise most years, he works in IT, he's not management, everyone in his company has an annual pay review.

^^ peace and love right back at ya Quint.

But like teachers you only want to strike for your pay and pensions(which we can't afford).

The campaigning re nursing numbers and Gove measures we never hear about or see any action about.

It just seems that at the end of the day you care mostly about pay and unaffordable pensions which you are prepared to strike over at the expense of your client base.

Pay is shit for everybody at the moment.

Lack of nurses and kids reciting poetry at 4 would get far more sympathy from the public imvho,well this member of the public anyway.

Thats good.

aged some of the military get a decent pension, not all of them. My DH has no option but to leave and find another job when he is 51 at the latest. Do you know how hard that is going to be? He can work for private company, doing a similar job, but will need the pension to make up the shortfall because it would be a lower management level.

The conditions the military work in are totally different to every single other worker in this country. They are called at short notice to deal with all manner of things, they spend months and months in conditions that the rest of us can not begin to imagine and they put their lives on the line. Not only that, they aren't allowed to strike but fill the gap when others do. In my mind they deserve every penny and more.

My brother has just bought a car with his bonus and pay rise this year . He's in insurance and not at management level but is very good at his job. Plenty of folk I know who haven't though

I would support it. If MPs can afford 10% for themselves they can fucking well pay more than 1% to people who do real jobs.

Retro how far would you like us to be run into the ground before you would 'allow' us to do something about it.. genuine question.
And if you were interested, you would see A LOT about staff numbers. Petitions which have been ignored, campaigns, articles..

Peace and love quint

And still.. why are people comparing other jobs? No-one is saying other people don't deserve more. Of course they do, especially our armed forces! That doesn't mean we can't be concerned about our own jobs. I'm sorry but 'i'm glad our armed forces have had a pay rise' doesn't help us much.

And regarding private sector, it's interesting how many employers are using the past recession and people's thoughts on being lucky to have a job as an excuse not to raise salaries.

Iam their families do too.

Partners can often struggle to hold down jobs due to moving and children are continuously uprooted which isn't great education wise.

Nursey to be fair a lot of companies have had a crap time.If they go under there is no job let alone a pay rise,workers know that.

Yeah and a lot of companies are making record profits but using the current state of the country's economy as a whole as an excuse.

But we are diverting from the point I suppose :)

"Yeah and a lot of companies are making record profits but using the current state of the country's economy as a whole as an excuse."

Blardy pissing me orf.

Yes it is.