Ssssivil sssservice ssstrike. Possible deadly strike news! Mr Hakkul is an Indian snake-charmer who is "usually called in whenever a snake is spotted in the area and he has saved many lives over the years, local journalist Mazhar Azad told the BBC." However he has got fed up with waiting after various years of petitioning various government offices with the aim of getting "a plot of land where he can 'conserve' his snakes."
Meanwhile, back in the UK, we can hope that striking public sector workers have now been told /learnt /realise the truth: that their pensions are better than most; if they really want fair then a bigger surprise awaits them...I mean they are inconveniencing the very people that CONTRIBUTE to their pensions.
7 comments:
I know this is probably too simplistic but...
Its been said that public sector pension schemes are one of the best available today(perhaps that should read the best of a bad bunch?)and instead of having a go at public schemes and those on private pensions who say "We don't get as good a deal..." the question should be "Why Not!" and the private sector should be doing all they can to match or be better than the public sector...not trying to bring everyone down to a basic level.
Gildy...far too simplistic. The people saying "We don't get as good a deal" are saying it in REPLY to those who get far more but say "it isn't fair! and remember that almost a decade before the "credit crunch" a certain Mr Brown decided to make those private sector pensions a lot worse off. No-one would complain if the public sector realised they HAVE to take a hit...as most private sector have for years. I was pleasantly surprised to see that the top rated comments on the BBC article (see comments below) were mostly laying the truth out for those that don't seem to realise.
Order by: Latest First Highest Rated Lowest Rated
+225
Comment number 763. Sushimo
30TH NOVEMBER 2011 - 10:44
67 years old, still working due to meager pension and will continue until he cannot lift his tools anymore, nor clamber over roofs to fix them. This is the reality of my man working in the private sector, he cannot afford to stop, his private pension was virtually lost, (Equitable Life) and his state pension is a pittance - mine even worse. Sympathy for this bunch? You have to be joking!!
+196
Comment number 20. Merod
30TH NOVEMBER 2011 - 8:34
The last national government to bow to union pressure and provide/maintain generous pensions to its public sector staff was Greece. The fiscal planning by our current government may be unpopular but it is factually necessary given the circumstances. Loss of a finger now, or amputation of an arm later? I'll take the pain of the former rather than foist the latter on my children.
+176
Comment number 60. chris_cat
30TH NOVEMBER 2011 - 8:45
I am in Unite. I am a health worker. I am not striking today. I don't think it can be justified, people in this country, all people, are suffering enough. Yes it is unfair but at the moment, life is unfair for most people. We've dined out on credit for 15 years and it's time to pay the bill. I'm prepared to stand up and take less, because that's what I have to do. We are all in it together.
+163
Comment number 236. Mark
30TH NOVEMBER 2011 - 9:17
My wife works for the public sector. She has just gone in to work and crossed the picket line to scowling faces.bShe has gone in because she provides an emergency service to children in care. I'm so proud of her. I work in the private sector and have next to no pension. I guess I'll just have to keep on working!!
+158
Comment number 11. Ivan1963
30TH NOVEMBER 2011 - 8:33
Will someone please explain to me: Why I (as a tax payer) should pay for these people to retire on a better pension than I could ever afford for myself? Why do they think they should be immune from the global financial downturn that is hurting everyone? Is Edd Balls really saying we should follow the Greeks & Italians and borrow even more money we can’t pay back to pay for it?
+147
Comment number 418. modusman
30TH NOVEMBER 2011 - 9:48
My Son and Daughter in Law both work in the public service and both recognize the mess we have been left in and accept that things like pensions have to change if they are to have a future. They both voted against a strike but both have been forced to stay at home and lose a days pay due to the actions of the union dinosaurs. Thanks a bunch
+142
Comment number 412. lookingforgoodnews
COMMENT NUMBER 412 IS AN EDITORS' PICK
30TH NOVEMBER 2011 - 9:46
if I was a public worker I would want to get as much as I can from the system, but as a realistic private sector worker with no pension, I can see that there is no way the country can support those kinds of benefits for workers who are living longer, with fewer private sector workers to support their pensions. A private worker cannot afford a pension with those kinds of benefits. Get real
+142
Comment number 6. Rich Tapestry
30TH NOVEMBER 2011 - 8:30
The placards read "A fair pension for everyone" but what they really mean is a generous pension for themselves, funded by the extremely hard-pressed taxpayer.
+134
Comment number 124. TheWalrus999
30TH NOVEMBER 2011 - 8:59
Support the striker? I will. Like I've done every day of my working lives. While I stuggle to pay my taxes, and bills and pension contributions, I will continue to subsidise theirs. And while they are sat at home in their early retirement, rest assured I will work wel linto my 70s to pay for their Sky subscriptions. All in this together? I don't think.
+108
Comment number 61. andy helgesen
30TH NOVEMBER 2011 - 8:46
The MP's sneeked in a £1000 pay rise and in the PM's own words the MP's pension is very generous.Do as we say not as we do.
+99
Comment number 145. cheshiremouse
30TH NOVEMBER 2011 - 8:59
Agreed something must be done about pensions. Including those of MPs and senior executives of private companies. The first step of the government should have been to change the pensions of MPs BEFORE any change to the public's pensions. The second step should have been to reduce tax relief on the pensions of those with mega salaries.
+97
Comment number 72. GlynT
30TH NOVEMBER 2011 - 8:48
There are more than 2 million unemployed - many well qualified who would give their eye teeth for a Public Service job. These strikers are not irreplaceable - and the British public don't have to surrender to Union Political Bullies. Let’s clear out the minority driving these strikes.
+95
Comment number 81. Old_Hat
30TH NOVEMBER 2011 - 8:50
Most of us in the private sector don't get bonuses, don't get pay rises and our pensions are far worse than those of our public sector counterparts, if our employers can't afford to keep us, we lose our jobs and there's nothing we can do about it. Why do public sector workers seem to think they should be above the rest of us?
+86
Comment number 78. StuartFD
30TH NOVEMBER 2011 - 8:49
Nice to see 2m can afford a day out of the office, I know I can't as I'm working my socks off in the private sector trying to survive the recession.
+85
Comment number 204. Total Mass Retain
30TH NOVEMBER 2011 - 9:11
"S42Wolf
How would you feel if your employer said:
1. You're going to have to pay more for your pension (Moan).
2. You're going to have to work longer for your pension (Moan)
3. Your pension will be significantly reduced (WHAT!!!)"
This has already happened to me in the private sector and strking would have been a futile response. Hence I lack sympathy for the plight of public sector workers.
+81
Comment number 125. solomondogs
30TH NOVEMBER 2011 - 8:59
They 're lucky to have a pension, whether its been cut or not they still get a good deal. In this climate they are coming across as greedy and selfish. As a small business I cut my rates two years ago, they're still at that level and will continue to be, for some time, I cannot afford a pension, yet my tax AND 28% of my council tax is being used to pay for this lot. They ought to be ashamed.
+68
Comment number 45. Matt Conway
30TH NOVEMBER 2011 - 8:42
Isn't fair? Go talk to one of the billions of people living without a job, without a house, without a penny, without any prospects. Oh right, your 3 extra years of paid working followed by (the new pension offer) what is still a very very very good pension!
+63
Comment number 12. Mr W
30TH NOVEMBER 2011 - 8:33
I can understand people not being happy about changes to their pensions and such but there are so harsh realities people have to realise. Life expectancy is rising, the country doesnt have the money, most in the private sector are suffering too. To refer to bankers pay and FTSE directors pay isnt a fair reflection of whats happening to the rest of the pvt sector.
+61
Comment number 176. zzgrark
30TH NOVEMBER 2011 - 9:08
Whilst I have some sympathy for pub sec workers whose conditions are being changed, this is no different from what the priv sec has been doing for 3 years simply to survive. The pub sector in its current form is unaffordable due to decades of govt overspending. The pub sec may find they are not as indispensable as they think they are; these actions could lead to privatisations by the back door.
+56
Comment number 143. orientrich
30TH NOVEMBER 2011 - 9:01
I worked for a council for several years when I first started work before moving into the private sector. In comparison the public sector is not target driven and generally everything was pretty easy. The pay wasn't fantastic at the time, but wages increased pretty quickly. Compared to the private sector it was an easy ride and the benefits generally in the pirvate sector do not make up for this.
All from HERE:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-15953806
Yes, very interesting...and the big fact you've mentioned and is cited by many and rightly so, regarding what Gordon did...
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