The real issue is that we have a Conservative government that control most of the press and have very successfully spread the narrative that public sector workers are all well off, have an amazing pension and are just greedy. I work in the public sector in a statutory service which does not really exists in the private sector (although the use of agency workers and private placements for looked after children is privatisation through the back door. A residential placement for a hard to place looked after child will usually cost around £8000 a week and that money is not going to the poorly paid, unqualified residential staff). My council has had cuts made EVERY YEAR which equate to multiple, tens of millions. We are all doing more for less, and in real terms have had an over 20% pay cut over the last decade. The current cost of living crisis, and before that covid, has just pushed people too far. There has been years of under investment and reserves and good will has been completely eroded.
No one wants to strike. Striking workers do not get paid and if you do not have a high earning partner, family support or savings, you are really taking a hit. Unions are vilified- however workers not part of a union have benefited from union actions over the years. If/when public sector pay is readjusted to where it should be, this will likely have an impact on the wider workforce. The same with working conditions. It amazes me when people tell us how lucky we are yet no one is racing to fill any of the many vacant posts that exist. You do not need to retrain (at your own expense) as a nurse, allied health professional, teacher or social worker. There remains a huge variety of jobs available. Amazingly, we cannot retain highly skilled admin staff on £16, 000 PA. The same in regards to solicitors, estates workers, accountants etc. It is quite likely if you want to be on the public sector payroll, there is a position available.
It depresses me that everything is always a race to the bottom. If as skilled, highly trained professionals (who tend to be paid a lot less- this is the deal for pensions etc) we express anger at our working conditions and pay depressingly people just jump in telling us how much worse it could be. We should shut up and be grateful to have a job. I have not nursed for nearly 20 years and have worked in child protection after retraining since then. I bloody love my job but the current working conditions are unbearable. Social workers (particularly those in their first 5 years) are just leaving g with nothing to go to.
If you are academically able to retrain (on no pay) and have the necessary disposition and resilience to work in the roles such as nursing, social work, the police etc- there is nothing stopping you. If you believe we have it easy and are just guaranteed pay if we turn up, take numerous paid sick days, will get a huge pension and clock off at 5 (no overtime- time of in lieu- currently have 214 hours to take back) then come and join us.
If not then please stop to think about how important our role is within a functioning society and luckily there are lots of people for whom it is something they love and (working conditions and pay allowing) will continue to want to do. These are not 'vocations' - just some us find this is our skill set and a job we love. Everyone contribites to our society in various ways. I have had police officers say they could not do my job but no way could I do theirs. The same with many private sector jobs, I would be shite at marketing, finance, or anything financial for example, my job is not more important. We just cannot continue to be penalised because of the anti- public service rhetoric. The money is there, we have seen it directed towards very wealthy Tory cronies- particularly during the pandemic.