'Would you forgo a payrise to help stop inflation?' Poll discussion

dopester

Double-post

dopester

I'm sorry to break this to you, but the pressure on wages is actually DOWNWARDS!

BBC News (7th August 2008) Iplayer news video report
Pay fears for 1200 workers (Bury Council)

I'm losing 25% of my salary and I feel beyond demoralised about it. I've worked for Bury council for 15 years; their asking me to go to a salary below what I started on.

You go looking to a private employer for a pay-rise and some have turned around and said they are actually needing to make job cuts. And the public sector coffers don't bode well for people expecting pay-rises. Labour has spent hard during the good times. You got what you wanted.

Lilyfae

There was nothing I could honestly pick as I have been forced to take a below inflation pay deal as a teacher.

I know people are usually mean and rude when I say about my position saying about my holidays (pah! they're only holidays when you've finished planning, marking or giving extra classes so you can try to hit the stupid targets) but paying teachers badly will only make the problems with education, literacy etc worse as you will have a demoralised work force who will wonder what is exactly worth putting up with increasingly hostile and spiteful parents and kids who just want to be celebrities.

I have no choice and we have little support from the public after the NUT strike responses so I would like to not take a below inflation pay packet, but I am doing it so Mr Brown et al don't have to

akubra

Well I couldn't quite find something near to my thoughts on this subject.
So I will just have to stick with selecting option E and maintain that following the lead set by "people in the know" will have to suffice. So I'm going to follow in the footsteps of "captains of industry" and politicians and lay claim to whatever is available. At least I can claim to balance my budget, which is more than some of our leaders can claim.

fragileworld

The Poll is clearly a sneaky attempt to convince us all, that wage settlements impact inflation.Shame on you MARTIN &CO now that you're growing as a gr
oup are you becoming a mouthpiece for the "establishment" to keep well in? You well know what a corrupt and greedy bunch try to run this country for its own ends.You hav'nt been awarded a lifetime membership of the "masons "for services rendered have you?Try and remember when you first started with all this,pure of heart fighter for the common man etc. etc.get back to your roots.
Would you forgo a payrise to help stop inflation?

Inflation, which is the rate that prices rise, is on the up. Much is due to the international increase in cost of oil and food, yet one way to keep it low, that the government has requested, is to ask that pay settlements are not above inflation. That way, less money pours into the economy, so there’s lower demand keeps prices stable.

On the positive side, if we all had a pay rise freeze we may all gain as prices wouldn’t rise as quickly. Yet without a payrise, your money won’t stretch as far with the current inflation rate.

Ignoring disagreements over the economic theory, would you forgo an above-inflation rise for the greater good?

Which of these is nearest your answer?

A. Yes, we’ll all gain. I think we should all give it a go.
B. Yes, I’ll do my bit. Even if everyone else doesn’t, it’s important, I’m willing.
C. No, as I’d be alone. I would, but no one else will, so there’s no point.
D. No, I need more money now. Even if it hurts in the long run.
E. No, I just want as much cash as possible. The sooner I get it the better.

Please vote here, or click 'post reply' to discuss below. Thanks

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donaldtramp

Well Donald, that's an interesting point of view.

I've worked in the public sector for most of my life and have yet to attain 'average earnings'. If I get a payrise below the rate of inflation that's a pay cut. Why shouldn't I strike to maintain my standard of living (not that I ever have)?
Many people working in the public sector do so because they believe that what they do is worthwhile. Every pay cut makes us realise that the government will take advantage of that. What will happen when everyone gets sick of it and quits so there are no more teachers or nurses or binmen?

I agree that there is a need for the public sector and I agree it is worthwhile but i believe that Gordon Brown has bought his way out of expanding job queues over the years by massively increasing the public sector payroll. The problem is that he really can't afford it now (as he is finding out) or in the future when all these pensions will need to be paid. What will he care? He won't be in power then.

As for your complaints about getting payrises below inflation, what about all the private sector employees who are getting sacked just now? Or are being forced to accept wage cuts?

nomoneytoday

Inflation isn't always bad. It makes the mortgage on my house go down in real terms for example

SunnySusie

nomoneytoday wrote: »

Inflation isn't always bad. It makes the mortgage on my house go down in real terms for example

Yeah i was going to make the same point.

This has always been a thorny issue over at sites such as housepricecrash. Essentially it could be a get out clause for the government, let inflation run away and all those people who took massive irresponsible debts out come out on top. Conversly, savers and sensible people who played the game are punished.

Doesnt seem fair?

Captain_Moonshine

Percentage pay rises are the reason why the low-paid have fallen so far behind the real level of inflation.

How's this for a suggestion as to how we could catch up?

The lowest paid in the company gets a rise equal to 2% of the highest paid's salary, and the highest paid gets 2% of the lowest paid's. Those in between get pro-rata.

beer_tins

If I get offered an above inflation pay increase, I'll take it! One thing you have to remember is that an inflation-matching increase isn't a pay rise, you get the same in real terms as you did before. An above inflation pay increase would be a "real" increase to reward your hard work, plus increased length of service and experience.
I'll pretty much have to take what I'm given, or look elsewhere. However, I think it is a big ask of the government to try to get everyone to accept real term pay cuts regardless of their individual situation.