Strike

Re: Strike

Eamon McAllister — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 19:25:32 GMT

[quote user="David Mills"]

Thanks, Dr Mir, you say in your brevity of reply far more than your previous exuberant fluffy rhetoric.

[/quote]

Call me cynical but the previous " exuberant fluffy rhetoric " did sound like drivel churned out by the PR department of UNITE rather than an off the cuff post.

Re: Strike

David Mills — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 16:16:34 GMT

[quote user="Shams Mir"]

Dear David Mills,

Whilst you disagree with EVERY sentence of my statement (see above), it is hard to contemplate you will agree with much I may say in response.

Therefore, all I would like to say is that I fully respect your opinion.

Best regards,

Shams

[/quote]

Thanks, Dr Mir, you say in your brevity of reply far more than your previous exuberant fluffy rhetoric.

Re: Strike

Hannah Wynne Richards — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 09:38:50 GMT

Between PAYE and VAT a customer has to give me nearly twice what I pay one of my staff-that's the damage tax is doing to the economy

Wynne

Re: Strike

Mark Hedberg — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 21:05:13 GMT

[quote user="Hannah Wynne Richards"]

Well I've never pretended tobe a socialist-and am totally convinced that a low tax economy is a vibrant economy

Wynne

[/quote]

Totally agree. I am all for helping the less fortunate; I don't particularly enjoy financing someone's midweek binge drink session, or their three pack a day habit. :)

Re: Strike

Hannah Wynne Richards — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 09:40:19 GMT

Well I've never pretended tobe a socialist-and am totally convinced that a low tax economy is a vibrant economy

Wynne

Re: Strike

Mark Hedberg — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 21:42:25 GMT

Maybe it is more fair, but just playing devil's advocate, Louise - why should my pension depend on your salary?

Re: Strike

Louise Buckley — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 21:06:27 GMT

No doubt - but that would be entirely driven by self - interest rather than the ability to see the 'bigger picture'. I am no fan of the Tory government (and I fear the effect that this government will have on higher education) but I am also no fan of a pension scheme that disproportionates rewards 'high achievers within the state sector'. I think that the career average scheme is more equitable - plus, I firmly believe that the retirement age should be equal across sectors.

Re: Strike

Clive Ansell — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 20:45:15 GMT

[quote user="Louise Buckley"]

As I pointed out to our union rep, I never thought I'd see the day when a Tory government would be more socialist in its actions than the unions which supposedly have their roots in socialism.

[/quote]

If you think this shower are socialist, just watch this space is all I would say.

I don't know exactly what you do in education, but come the day when/if it is privatised, and you have to reapply for your own job at reduced salary with reduced pension and eroded terms and conditions, and with little union support, you may feel very differently?

Re: Strike

Louise Buckley — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 20:24:16 GMT

Not everyone in the union(s) were striking. I am a scientist (& a VN) working in education, have a final pension salary scheme and am a member of the union and was asked to strike in solidarity. I chose to cross the picket line and go to work. I understand all the reasons for union members sticking together but, and for me this was the big but, I am not a mindless zombie there to do the union's bidding. I will act only if I feel comfortable to do so. I definitely do not feel comfortable striking to protect a pension scheme that disproportionately rewards the members who fast track through their career. I do not think anybody 'needs' a pension of 30 - 100k/per annum (particularly not those who have been high earners through their lives and therefore had the chance to own outright their home at, if not considerably before, retirement).

For me it beggars belief that people really feel that, in today's economic climate, the final pension salary scheme is feasble or ethical. I came from a private sector background, most of my friends are below average earning private sector workers and I cannot for one moment accept me retiring at e.g. 60 on a final pension salary scheme while they work until 68 paying for my pension and with no pension provision (other than state) themselves. I watched my grandmother have to work up to 68 to supplement her meagre state pension - only to drop dead of a heart attack about 2 years later. And, all the time, paying tax which obviously partly went to supplementing the pensions of the well off - who, on average, live longer than working class people.

As I pointed out to our union rep, I never thought I'd see the day when a Tory government would be more socialist in its actions than the unions which supposedly have their roots in socialism.

Glad I got that off my chest!!!

Re: Strike

Julian Earl — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 17:24:17 GMT

[quote user="Clive Ansell"]

[quote user="Julian Earl"]

You were a HGV driver once? You'd think you might have told us before!

Anyway, it can always help to pay slightly above union rates, and then if someone wants to join, "Sorry about your salary..."

[/quote]

I have mentioned it before.

[/quote]

I know. Frequently. Note the smilies in my post.

Re: Strike

Clive Ansell — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 17:04:56 GMT

[quote user="Julian Earl"]

You were a HGV driver once? You'd think you might have told us before!

Anyway, it can always help to pay slightly above union rates, and then if someone wants to join, "Sorry about your salary..."

[/quote]

I have mentioned it before.

The company I worked for back then paid well above union rates and treated staff very well, but in return asked for and expected loyalty and hard work and to go the extra mile (pardon the pun) if needed.

Re: Strike

Julian Earl — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 16:47:54 GMT

[quote user="Clive Ansell"]

That should not be the case. The BVU, or any other union, should act to discuss and resolve differences or disputes with a positive outcome for all involved.

A good and successful union should be there to benefit everyone; employer and employee alike, it certainly should not be a "them and us" situation. The idea that because one is a union member one will go on strike the minute a biro stops working is utter nonsense. I was a union member for years in my pre-vet days when I worked in road haulage as both an HGV driver and briefly in transport management. There was a good relation between union and employer, and never any strikes, pickets lines etc.

[/quote]

You were a HGV driver once? You'd think you might have told us before!

Anyway, it can always help to pay slightly above union rates, and then if someone wants to join, "Sorry about your salary..."

Re: Strike

Clive Ansell — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 16:36:04 GMT

[quote user="Hannah Wynne Richards"]

Hear hear Niall I too can remember how awful it was when the union bully boys ran the country

Ian

Re: Strike

Hannah Wynne Richards — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 16:49:53 GMT

And some so extreme they think the Mirror is a newspaper

Wynne