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Forces sweethearts

If you have a family member in the Royal Navy, RAF or army, find support from other Mumsnetters here.

Original poster

Armed Forces Pay Freeze

29 replies

StrictlyTory · 23/06/2010 18:38

Well I think it's been confirmed that the AF will also suffer the same pay freeze, even though both parties involved said they wouldn't....

It does make me mad as DH announced he cannnot come home this weekend as he is on call... just like he was last weekend so we won't actually have seen him for a solid 2 weeks as they moved him to somewhere 3 hours away where they currently have no MQ's.

We also went to visit a friend of his last weekend who has just left SO hosp after 9 months.... He is now in a wheelchair amoungst a lot of other things.

How can they really compare a job like this to the vastly overpaid civil service officed jobs they were supposed to be cutting back on.

It makes me so mad that they pretend to DH and all the others that they really 'understand' and 'appriciate' that the job they do is well out of the ordinary but then they put the boot in!

OP posts:
stinkypinky · 23/06/2010 18:51

I too appreciate what AF do for us, but joining up is voluntary - your DH could have chosen to get an office job instead, and could always leave... I am a nurse, and as such am affected by pay freeze. Not happy, but why should I be any different.

Original poster
StrictlyTory · 23/06/2010 18:59

He can't leave for 4 years.

The difference in my mind is that he is risking his life. Most CS jobs cannot possibly say that with the exception of the Fire Brigade and Police Force. Joining up is voluntary yes, but where would we be if people weren't willing to take the low pay, crappy housing and the regualar holidays in sunny climes?

I'm not saying he should get a raise but I think there should be some recognition that it is an exceptional job and that the members of the AF put up with conditions which even I find hard to imagine

OP posts:
CaveMum · 23/06/2010 19:32

stinkypinky you could use your own arguement against yourself - you chose to be a nurse.

The AF are overstretched as it is and with the strategic defence review around the corner there will be more personnel cuts.

As strictlytory says, it is one if the few jobs were you are required to put your own life on the line and as such there should be a premium for those brave enough to do the job.

Original poster
StrictlyTory · 23/06/2010 19:45

Exactly CaveMum. I don't want to out him but this friend of DH's we met at the weekend is not the man I first met 5 years ago. He cannot walk, he cannot move one of his arms and he is in constant pain. What other job asks for that sacrific?

OP posts:
SmallShips · 23/06/2010 20:42

It's a bit shit isn't it?!

What about pensions - I don't think they can mess around with them can they?

Fettle · 23/06/2010 20:56

It is the pension side that worries me as they are so poorly paid compared to other professions but the pension does help make up for it. DH is confident about his pension but I'm less so.

They better freeze ciloct in line with council tax freezes or else we'll lose out there too!

I know he's voluntarily in this job but someone has to do it and when the other public services strike it tends to be the armed forces who fill in!!!

But I suppose there has to be cuts and it could be a case of "not in my back yard!" or whatever the phrase is!! But they can't say we owe our armed forces so much for our security and then penalise them!

SmallShips · 23/06/2010 21:02

Yes DH is confident they won't do anything to his pension but I'm panicking - I've already mentally spent his gratuity , he's only got 3 years left before his 22 is up.

Original poster
StrictlyTory · 23/06/2010 21:09

I hope you've had the pep talk about not spending it all at once smallships as your DH might never be able to get a job again and your mortgage might suddently go up....

I've had that but I still think of the biggest shopping spree ever! Followed by lots of sensible planning for the future of course

OP posts:
CaveMum · 23/06/2010 21:16

DH has got about 6 years left before he reaches his 16 year point.

We're already planning on using the gratuity to pay a chunk off the mortgage and the pension will allow him to get a lower paid job than he currently has.

I really hope they leave it alone.

SmallShips · 24/06/2010 10:22

I told him if he doesn't get another job I'll rejoin the Navy and he can be a SAHD.

penguin73 · 24/06/2010 14:59

But the Operational Allowance has gone up to compensate for the 'danger' and the problems caused by being away. When back in the UK and relatively safe I don't think we can differentiate between the Armed Forces and the other public sector workers...Both my husband and I are affected but understand why and don't expect to be treated differently, to do so would further escalate the anti-military feeling that is already far too prevalent in this country.

scaryteacher · 24/06/2010 16:40

Well...I think the increments will still happen, so if you're not top of the pay band that will be OK. It's better than the 10% pay cut that the Irish Armed Forces have just had to take; and I'd rather that dh had a pay freeze for two years and a job, than no job in 6 months.

The pension worries me as dh has under 4 years to go until he reaches the retirement age for his rank.

herbietea · 24/06/2010 20:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Original poster
StrictlyTory · 24/06/2010 21:32

Herbie is your DH my DH? He worked last weekend and this one he'll be working too, been away Mon-Fri and is still at work now so we won't see him in 2 weeks. The 2 weeks before this he was on exercise and was home for one day... so one day out a month! Do they get extra pay for this, or even extra holiday? NO!

I'm actually sick of it. I'm so bored of spending every evening alone!

We live in a grot fest and pay a fortune in bills as they haven't actually insulated the blooming roof So this is really the last straw!

OP posts:
scaryteacher · 24/06/2010 22:47

They have said however that Defence will not be as hard hit as the other departments, so the cuts may not be as deep and there may not be the job losses.

CaveMum · 24/06/2010 22:54

I don't think there will be job losses per se: the redundancy packages would cost a fortune!
Most likely they will use natural wastage - not renewing short service commisions, not replacing people who have retired etc.

Original poster
StrictlyTory · 25/06/2010 07:39

DH was still at work at 11pm last night! I know it's trchnically 24/7 but man do they milk that!

OP posts:
hf128219 · 25/06/2010 08:30

Has anyone got a link to the pay freeze?

Pension contributions will definitely go up - I think.

And they will also be tightening up on CEA. They have to - it costs more than £168 million annually.

Scary - we had a great time in Belgium. Dinner in Louvain and went to the African museum at Tervuren. Also went to Bruges - beautiful. Going back in August to see our other friends who move next month!

scaryteacher · 25/06/2010 10:50

I'd have met you for coffee if I'd have been here - the Africa museum isn't far away. Next time, go for a walk in the Arboretum - I live in that area.

Can't see how pension contributions will go up as HM Forces have a salary restriction to cover that; so less pay rise when the freeze is over perhaps.

Cavemum; I wouldn't hold your breath about redundancy payments; I had heard that there would be none; and there is a special scheme depending which AFPS your dh has. Mine is with AFPS 75; has 30 years service, is the top pay band for his rank, and would get, as he has 3 years to go, 11 months salary tax free. Not a lot.

See here www.mod.uk/NR/rdonlyres/.../0/Redundancybookletjan07.pdf for the booklet I found.

Chulita · 25/06/2010 11:03

As for it being 'technically 24/7' if you do the maths it works out as being way, way under minimum wage so that argument doesn't wash with me.
We just topped our pay band so the pay freeze is bad timing. I didn't believe Cameron/Clegg when they said they wouldn't touch AF pay but it's still a kick in the teeth!

hf128219 · 25/06/2010 11:04

Is the pay freeze official? My dh hasn't heard about it!

Our friends are moving to Everberg.

scaryteacher · 25/06/2010 11:14

Nothing on the MoD website. Everberg is nice; the British store is there.

hf128219 · 25/06/2010 11:15

So how do we know there is a pay freeze?

scaryteacher · 25/06/2010 11:16

They'd tightened up on CEA already hadn't they? It'll be interesting to see what effect that has on the kids here, as they are day. I hope they leave us alone until June 12 when ds has completed his GCSEs.

ShowOfHands · 25/06/2010 11:19

I was talking to a friend (army) about this last night. He's out in Afghanistan atm. He was having a good old moan with dh (police officer).

DH isn't in the armed services but he does work over and above his contracted hours (yesterday he was in from 5am and got home at 8.30pm. He was paid for 8 of those hours, half of what he worked). He gets no overtime and no time off in lieu. This is normal as is no public holidays and no bank holidays. When other people relax, he works twice as hard at least. And they're talking of cutting civilian, community and police staff. They're already so stretched. DH's female colleague collapsed yesterday with exhaustion. She had been in 13hrs and hadn't had a drink all day. Along with the pay freeze and possibly a pension cut, we're anticipating a rise in crime and a bigger work load as civilian staff are made redundant. He pays 12% of his wages, is in for 35 years and has no right to strike.

It's not comparable to armed services I know, but the public sector are in for a rough time.