Anyone else been balloted to strike on Nov 30th?

[ProperLush]

I have- I'm a HCP which muddies the waters somewhat- but hey, guess the Coalition are delighted that the Daily Mail reading public might loathe us nasty, gold-plated pension hoarding Public Sector Workers even more if a essential public service is compromised!

Once upon a time there was a special independent commission convened to discuss the wage rises etc of workers such as us, based on the principle that striking, for us, was a much more difficult 'moral' decision to make than for say a teacher or train driver. So we were less likely to find ourselves pushed into tight corners

That no longer exists.

My ballot paper is counted on Nov 14th so I have a few days to consider.

Personally I can't help but think that the 'trade off' for the long hours and rubbish pay I received 25 years ago was my pension so I am maybe not going to stand by whilst that is effectively decimated.

I am prepared to work for more years before receiving it, but as for the 'higher contributions' and 'lower returns' in addition to 'more years work'.... No.

Symbolic 15-minute walk out? Just heard this mooted on the News.

You do have to cross a picket line, but the numbers are legally controlled - I seem to remember either 5 or 7 maximum and you cannot be abused. BUT if you're in a union you should go with the ballot decision - or why are you in it?

I will be striking - the first time in 20 years for me.

I have been in the Civil Service for 26 years and the changes will mean I will be approx £140,000 worse off over my life time (combination of additional contributions and reduced pension, this figure includes the RPI/CPI change too). Our final salary pension scheme closed to new entrants approx 8 years ago, and Hutton was clear that Public sector pensions are affordable. The government intended changes are little more than a tax on the public sector.

This 'we're in it together' is utter tosh - the luxury (£1m plus) housing market in London is buoyant, its only the lower end of the housing market that is stalled. doesn't that tell you something?

By all means change what is offered to new entrants, but don't change the goal posts for those who have believed they have a certain level of pension to come. The fact that succesive governments have failed to invest the money they should have put aside for the pension that they offered me when they offered me a job isn't my failure.

Also, this view that taxpayers pay my pension infuriates me - my employer pays for my pension because they advertised a job, I applied and was sucessful, they said they would pay me £x and that I would have pension benefits of £y - I have honoured my contract with them, they should honour theirs with me. This isn't a treat that I am going to get for no reason, it is my pension as per my contract of employment.

It is irrelevant how much I would have to invest to get a pension of whatever level - I was given a set of terms and conditions and I expect my employer to honour them. When a government reneges on its commitments - and retrospectively changes the law to allow them to do it - then the rest of the workforce should be very very afraid.

Make no mistake - those of you that are sitting there thinking 'I don't get it so why should you' - prepare to see whatever you would have been entitled to shrink significantly as the 'race for the bottom' starts.

Masie

Anyone who crosses a picket line is a scab even worse if you are a member of a union who has balloted for the action. No doubt if you dont show solidarity with your colleagues and they win the "battle" you will still agree to have your pension downgraded, only fair if you were not ready to support the action.

In one school several years ago two teachers went in during a strike and when the strike was over they were sent to coventry, no other member of the teaching staff would have any communication at all with the two strike breakers other than the minimum required to do their jobs.