Public sector pay rise demands unreasonable?

[stickershock]

I’m a nurse and outraged that we’ll only be getting (most likely) a 3% wage increase. I’m fully in favour of a strike action. But I’ve also just read that the junior doctors are planning a strike if they aren’t awarded a 22% increase 😮

We have all been losing wages year on year but 22% seems unrealistic. AIBU or have they got brilliant bargaining tactics?

@MamanDeChoix

I didnt mention nursing and you didn't actually answer my question

Some of them haven't had a pay rise in 3 years, do you think that is OK? Do you expect pay rises when inflation is running at 11%? Not everyone can afford it.

Eww, taxpayers alliance, take your right wing propaganda elsewhere, trying to cite it as a source 🙄🙄

They seem to have plenty of vacancies.

..to the detriment of the economy. For the many not for the few, only when it suits.

@Callingoccupants

How do you think the economy is currently benefitting the many?

Some of them haven't had a pay rise in 3 years, do you think that is OK? Do you expect pay rises when inflation is running at 11%?

Generally people look at it from perspective of own sector, but ours was hit really hard by the pandemic so many were trying to survive rather than offer pay increases

Generally people look at it from perspective of own sector, but ours was hit really hard by the pandemic so many were trying to survive rather than offer pay increases

This is a good point. I have a few friends in sectors that struggled. The pilot and the events organiser were made redundant. Then paralegal was given the option of accepting 90% of her salary or losing her job during covid. The bar manager was furloughed on 80% pay every time we went into lockdown. It's a kick in the teeth to people who are just grateful to have a job and hoping to keep it.

And yet, for working a mere 39 weeks of 1265 maximum hours that can be directed, you are so well paid above the national average wage for the qualification.

Yes, ex teacher here and fully aware of the pension that is still much better than the average Joe will ever receive.

How many poverty stricken teschers receiving their pension do you see? Given the changes happened quite some time ago you'd be expecting to see them... And I don't!

Why don't people read evidence anymore? As a teacher I am not on final salary scheme. I can't think of a single public sector pension scheme, including the lgps that hasn't been taken off that for the past decade

I think people aren't necessarily on top of the terminology. Yes final salary pensions are gone, but what they've been replaced with (direct benefit pension schemes) are still infinitely better than what is on offer in the private sector (direct contribution schemes).

Why are people so fixated on pensions?

It doesn't magically increase wages by 50%

They dont improve working conditions.

They clearly don't improve recruitment and retention.

would public sector workers take private sector pensions in exchange for private sector pay and private sector job security?

@Fairisleflora

Loads of them do.

Have you missed the bit about the massive recruitment and retention crisis?

Their demands aren’t unreasonable, but nurses also need a bigger rise.

I dont think there's any chance of double figure pay rises for nurses or doctors tbh. I'm a healtcare professional too so I am also hoping for more than 3%. I think under 5% I'll vote to strike.

Maybe if the government hadn't sat by and watched as wealth inequality increased due to the wealthiest's scramble for buy-to-lets, or wage inequality increased due to incremental percentage rises while minimum wage squashed up the lower levels, people would be more willing to accept the situation. But they have been taking the piss for years.
Inflation is not the fault of people wanting a decent wage for work paid. It's the fault of the wealth hoarded by the richest with nowhere to spend it.

There are massive recruitment crisis’ in the private sector too. Airlines, airports, pubs, restaurants as well as professional workers.

And not just here

Talking to family in Aus, we had a bit of laugh as said where did they all go? But it’s the same

@Fairisleflora

Almost like people aren't willing to work in shit conditions for shit wages, pensions or not, huh?

If people want proper public services they will have to pay higher taxes.

Will people pay higher taxes willingly? Even if you took away the issue of the cost of living crisis?

Shit wages and shit conditions? Do explain more

@chiffchaffchiff

Kind of self explanatory no?

I don't know about jobs paying that much but there are "help wanted" signs in many of the independent hospitality businesses around here. Perhaps she should go for a walk about with a wad of CVs, rather than relying upon the centralised recruitment of chains.

The wages aren’t shit in the roles being advertised in my industry. There have been some roles advertised for months though, £15k+ over what they’d have been advertised for pre covid and yet still no one applies. Things like the ability to work fully remotely or at least flexibly and giving lots of holidays are what are attracting interest.

We have a winner.