Public sector pensions nearly over?

marklv

peterg1965 wrote: »

I do like it when the Tories 'steal' my ideas! I do hope they extend this to the BBC which IS a public body.

With the Tory announcements today, they have partially seized the pensions 'nettle' - stopping MPs final salary scheme, capping public sector pensions to max £50,000 (presumably for new scheme entrants), raising the retirement age and increasing state pensions. They get my vote - but then again they had it anyway!

Much of this stuff is Labour policy as well - I don't see the big differences.

Old_Slaphead

peterg1965 wrote: »

stopping MPs final salary scheme

They said that will only be for new members and if the scheme is introduced after the start of the next Parliament that means that it will only apply to new MPs from 2015 !!!

Old_Slaphead

marklv wrote: »

Funnily enough, I'm not bothered by this. Even Osborne and Cameron are aware that sticks need to be accompanied by carrots; if there is a freeze in 2011, pay rises will need to be substantially above inflation in future years, to catch up. It's the only way the unions will accept this.

What about the above inflation increase you've had for 2008, 2009 and (to have) in 2010 - you're already massively ahead of the game

marklv

Old_Slaphead wrote: »

What about the above inflation increase you've had for 2008, 2009 and (to have) in 2010 - you're already massively ahead of the game

That's why I'm not so bothered! :rotfl::beer:

bendix

marklv wrote: »

It's the only way the unions will accept this.

If you seriously think unions are relevant anymore, you're grossly mistaken. It's only the public sector that has unions these days, and the next few years will see the death of their influence too.

peterg1965

marklv wrote: »

Much of this stuff is Labour policy as well - I don't see the big differences.

Er, there is a very fundamental difference Mark, even if Labour claim that these are there ideas. They are in Government, and have been for some time, therefore they have the power to make it happen - but of course they haven't because they lack substance and backbone.

peterg1965

bendix wrote: »

If you seriously think unions are relevant anymore, you're grossly mistaken. It's only the public sector that has unions these days, and the next few years will see the death of their influence too.

Unions are an anachronism - a throwback to the 70's and before. Employment legislation has taken over - quite rightly. The arrogance of the unions is breathtaking, they assume that anyone in their respective union is a Labour voter, quite patently not true.

peterg1965

marklv wrote: »

The contributions are made from BPs big fat profits! :rotfl:No new members are necessary. You see, the key thing is for companies to consider the retired employees as employees, not as pensioners - get it?

Yes, fat profits that are taxed, and profits that are very good for shareholders - the majority of whom are corporate ones - which is of significant benefit to pension funds etc....

Do I detect a 'red in the bed' :rolleyes:

marklv

I'm not a communist - I don't believe the state should own everything and run everything - but I do believe that the milk cow of capitalism needs to be used to benefit the people as a whole, and not just an elite of wealthy individuals. China has learned this lesson and is benefitting as a result.

bendix

marklv wrote: »

I'm not a communist - I don't believe the state should own everything and run everything - but I do believe that the milk cow of capitalism needs to be used to benefit the people as a whole, and not just an elite of wealthy individuals. China has learned this lesson and is benefitting as a result.

LMAO.

Have you ever been closer to China than Southend, pal? I have. Dozens of times, including last month.

The so-called China dream is a complete farce. Average incomes for the 95% of the population who don't live on the eastern seaboard cities have fallen drastically over the last decade, and social tensions are at all times high as economic troubles finally threaten to bubble over the political repression.

If you believe the hype you see on TV - fed by grossly massaged economic data from the Chinese government - you're a bigger fool than I thought.

Noone is benefiting from the Chinese economic miracle except the Party mandarins.

In addition, around 20 million mid management people (a tiny percentage of the population) have become better off based solely on the credit boom and that is all.

Honestly, you're priceless. You really are.