It's STILL tough and not getting better - so how are we coping?

jediteacher

I too am a public sector worker and it's very daunting having all this dislike/hate being aimed at you. I'm a primary school teacher and work part time. Yes, we have 'long holidays' in comparison but I work damn hard. It is not a nine to five job, the days events do not stop when the children leave and the amount of paperwork you now have to do would rival any other business. There are days when there are just not enough hours in the day to get everything done for school and raise my own family. The abuse we can get from children, parents, public, social workers etc would stagger many. Everyone thinks that they can do a better job than you can and thinks they know better. I studied for four years at university and paid my own way - no grants, loans or help from parents. I'm in charge of my own department, the ICT, child protection, history and welfare of the children all on a part time basis and wage. If I went into the private sector I could get paid so much more for just doing just the ICT! I know that times are hard we ourselves struggle from day to day and that the public sector seems to be a cushy number but it certainly does not feel it from where I'm sitting.

I agree that there should be cuts - perhaps the government should stop wasting millions on sending stupid remits to schools about mindless matters. How much money was wasted printing and distributing the 'new' national curriculum by the labour government for it to be axed by the coalition government. :cool: Yes, there are too many quangos and 'silly' job titles and I totally agree that there have to stop but the 'ground' workers should not all be blamed for the ills of society and the debt that we are in.

Sorry, I'll run and hide now as I may have overstepped the mark but it does make me cross the flogging that the public sector is getting. We are all being tarred with the same brush.

Runs....

ginnyknit

You did well there Lauren, bargain bundle hunny!

lauren_1

Very much a bargain when you consider if bought new 1 wrap and 1 nappy would cost more than the £15 and £2 for petrol.

I think I have all the nappies now for baby....A big weight off my shoulders.

parsonswife8

lauren_1 wrote: »

Very much a bargain when you consider if bought new 1 wrap and 1 nappy would cost more than the £15 and £2 for petrol.

I think I have all the nappies now for baby....A big weight off my shoulders.

Very well done you!:T

Oh, I do so love a good bargain.:rotfl:

gailey_2

Just wanted to note I have nothing against public sector workers per say as have many family and freinds who work within it.

Whats gets my back up is the strike at drop of a hat and the fuss over payfreeze over 21grand only as private sectors takens already taken a hit, we all meant to be it together one big sinking ship.

A lot of people go into teaching and nhs because they want to do that job and help people agree its not all about the benefits, teachings good for working mums and tend to find more job shares in public sector so it has its advantages.
Lots of so many people on frontline should keep for sure.
Its teh increased beurocracy, admin and random quangos and odd job titles that I query.

Plus maybe im cynical but wales, north labour strongholds have high public sector workers more than some areas on south which make me think they created jobs when old industrys in area died to massage employment figures but sadly cost unsustainable and hate for people to lose their jobs but something has to give labours tax tax tax then give give just seemed to make uk more unfair with huge gap between rich and poor and child poverty worse..

Hope theirs no bin strikes as only get fortnightly collections, bristol were on strike and had rat problem.

On point of greeece we not the same yet if it wasent for euro bailout they may have gone bust, their public service cuts make ours look very modest and their credit rating downgraded we acted before markets did and dident get credit rating downgrade.

If we had been downgraded out interest on borrowing would have soared and uk owes a scary figure.

On strikes my uncle postman felt obliged to strike and suffered financially so unions activity now really worries me as many families struggling as it is but striking, no pay, rising costs during winter could really harm some families.
I told union rep from usdaw wasent interested when he kept hassling me to join, they do scaremonger under uk and eu employment law employees have protected rights.

lauren1 well done on nappies I love my cloth but use mainly pockets now as my daughter takes off velcro and wont keep still.

Been to mil this afternoon then ended up spending another 40quid in sainsburys:eek:10things we really needed rest offers/reductions.
bog roll 12pack back down to 1.29.

I still want to start stockpiling from august but not sure what with dont want to bump up bill too much ,desperatly trying to reduce groceries but failing all this baking means run out of sugar/butter and milk well wish we owned a cow.

greengoblin

To supplement my voluntary training placement I work at a council country park at the weekends. Not that i'm complaining but I think I get paid too much p/h and I am on the lowest pay grade for rangers/wardens. The parks and landscapes manager who sits in an office all week and doesn't actually come out to the parks has no idea !!!!!! he is doing and gets paid an absolute MINT. He also makes really rather special management decisions like buying a mower header that is too big for the area it has to mow so mow it has to be done by strimmer which takes double the amount of time (and man hours at about £10 p/h). Nice new shiny mower head that he won't sell and that can't be used just sitting in the yard, rusting. Also like the new ranger office / visitor centre to replace the 2 static caravan type things we have atm. Designs get drawn up (Lots of thousands of pounds over budget) without consulting the rangers. Result - an office smaller than the cleaners cupboard with no windows, a huge cafe and function area (current centre has a small shop and icecreams) that the current shop staff won't be able to work in as it is getting tendered out, 2/3 of the building is football changing rooms and toilets and there is an additional loft space put in just in case we need it. Such a money waste
They really don't help themselves in getting people to like or support them (even their own staff!)

Rant over, now for some lovely homemade curry using HG onions and garlic

littleowl

I was a Further Education lecturer for many years - my expertise was in running a course for mature students who wanted to enter university - something they had missed out on earlier in life.

I usually reached work at 8am and rarely left before 6pm - then home to a meal followed by several house of preparation, marking etc

I spent much time helping students to get around the financial and other obstacles they had to keep studying - most with families.

I took early retirement when the 'accountants' took control. Education was no longer student-centred. Money became the only objective. Younger and cheaper teachers were recruited - experience and knowledge downgraded. These were the Thatcher years and I rejoiced when Labour took control. I have never voted Labour in my life but I believed that things would change for the better - they did not. Layer upon layer of extra bureaucracy was imposed, students became less and less a priority. I loved the work and gained great fulfilment seeing students reach goals they had thought unattainable.

I retired - but as a woman who had brought up a family did not have the same years service as male colleagues and so received a much (much!) smaller pension.

So - believe me - public sector employment does not necessarily mean an easy life in retirement - it most certainly does not!

ceridwen

crickett1234 wrote: »

As for OS'ing it, having had a think about it, in previous generations we were pretty much as broke as we are now as a nation... so perhaps we need another solution entirely. I am thinking anarchy is an interesting possibility ?!

...and there was me thinking the "If all else fails...." solution would be to send some of the more <cough> straight-talking members of the O.S. Board to sort 'em all out....Mardatha, BigMummaF and ...errr...myself:D - at the ready....we'll head for 10 Downing Street if they want a few old-style "home truths".

.....well...it would stop Mardatha sheep-bothering:rotfl:

northwest1965

gailey wrote: »

all this baking means run out of sugar/butter and milk well wish we owned a cow.

Does powdered milk work out cheaper? I had a look at it in Morrisons, it was v expensive in there, where does everyone get theres from?

parsonswife8

ceridwen wrote: »

...and there was me thinking the "If all else fails...." solution would be to send some of the more <cough> straight-talking members of the O.S. Board to sort 'em all out....Mardatha, BigMummaF and ...errr...myself:D - at the ready....we'll head for 10 Downing Street if they want a few old-style "home truths".

.....well...it would stop Mardatha sheep-bothering:rotfl:

Ceridwen, both you and Mardatha just crack me up.
:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

You are both like a breath of fresh air.
:T:T:T:T:T