Public sector wellcome to the real world

toshy

ani_26 wrote: »

I was'nt talking exclusively about public v private sector. The issue affects us all. You've got to look at the bigger picture.

I totally agree!

toshy

ani_26 wrote: »

Not even with your state pension, which i believe you DO qualify for , too?

Yes I qualify for the full state pension of £109 per week.
I don't mean to be rude ani but I am the only one who is aware of my personal and financial circumstances. I have taken all of this into account very carefully in working out the provision I will need to make for my retirement.

cyclonebri1

toshy wrote: »

I have never believed in claiming benefits

The taxpayer should worry about far more than public sector pensions! Many public sector workers on low salaries qualify for tax credits and other benefits. I totally agree with the Government's moves to make us all much more responsible for ourselves, but all the more reason to give low paid public sector workers a wage which will allow them to do so.
.

You simply don't get it do you?, no one gives anyone anything anylonger,

What should the government do for low paid private sector workers then ???

toshy

ani_26 wrote: »

There are many people in the real world, who can't even afford to think about pension plans, let pay into one, let alone contemplate paying avc's. There are also many people in the world who will be working into their 70's, also, to pay off their mortgages.

Many of these people in the real world, are paying into your pension pot, and have been for almost as long as you have.


I'm not sure borrowing extra on your mortgage to pay into your pension was a cost effective move, given the way interest rates were. Maybe now?

I'm not sure where I am now, if I'm not in the "real world"
It certainly seemed very real to me when working in the NHS the numerous times I was phoned through the night to go into work to cross-match blood needed to save the life of a dying patient.
It looks very real to me when the 1500 pupils at our school start arriving each morning or when they need my help to pass their coursework for their exams.
And it definitely was very real every day when I was working full-time and bringing up two children under 7 after ending my violent marriage.
Maybe I've been missing out somewhere along the line?

toshy

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

You simply don't get it do you?, no one gives anyone anything anylonger,

What should the government do for low paid private sector workers then ???

You have a very valid point, and I agree.
My post probably should have said ALL low paid workers, since private sector workers will also be claiming these tax credits and benefits.

toshy

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

You simply don't get it do you?, no one gives anyone anything anylonger,

What should the government do for low paid private sector workers then ???

Can I ask what the private sector unions are doing to try to address this with the government?

toshy

Since many other factors now seem to have become drawn into this debate, let me play Devil's Advocate and ask opinions on an alternative, extreme as it may be!
Abolish the public sector, abolish state benefits, abolish income tax, NI and council tax and every-one pays only for exactly what they need.
Schools, hospitals, GP's, police, fire services, ambulances, parks, leisure services, dentists to name but a few could be run by private companies and any-one using their service would be charged according to the cost of the service needed by the user.
Residents could be responsible for lighting, sweeping and repairing the street they live on and also for disposing of their own rubbish.
The cost of repairing and building roads could be added to the cost of car tax.
etc. etc. etc.
It already happens in other countries to some degree or another.
If the public sector is such a drain on private sector workers, maybe this is an alternative option to explore?
This obviously is said largely tongue in teeth, but I'd be interested to hear views!

cyclonebri1

toshy wrote: »

Can I ask what the private sector unions are doing to try to address this with the government?

Of course you can and here's my answer;

We, the private sector, didn't see what was coming.

We were "attacked piece by piece by our own companies as they realised the state of buissiness, AKA the economy/company, yeah?.

You however, the private sector, have been forewarned, told what was about to happen,..................... unlike us.

Individual private sector strikes achieve nothing today, there is no 1 union, or enough members, yours too unfortunately will fail due to the lack of support by the ??????????????????????????? profit makers/bread winners?????, sorry, couldn't think of a better way to put it

I hope at least that goes some way to explain our differences

toshy

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

Of course you can and here's my answer;

We, the private sector, didn't see what was coming.

We were "attacked piece by piece by our own companies as they realised the state of buissiness, AKA the economy/company, yeah?.

You however, the private sector, have been forewarned, told what was about to happen,..................... unlike us.

Individual private sector strikes achieve nothing today, there is no 1 union, or enough members, yours too unfortunately will fail due to the lack of support by the ??????????????????????????? profit makers/bread winners?????, sorry, couldn't think of a better way to put it

I hope at least that goes some way to explain our differences

Thanks, and yes I do understand. I'm not slamming the private sector, and if it sounded like I was, it wasn't intentional and I apologise.
I was however defending the stance of the public sector.
Should we really be blamed for trying to defend our position?
At the very least we have brought this to the attention of the general public and are trying to rise awareness, possibly bring about some change. I still feel that if the public sector unions can do this, it will also ultimately benefit the private sector in the long run.
I'm happy to accept that we may need to beg to differ, I respect this and wish you all good luck.
There is no animosity on may part I assure you.

toshy

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

You simply don't get it do you?, no one gives anyone anything anylonger,

What should the government do for low paid private sector workers then ???

I'm not used to how things work in the private sector, however all workers in the EU be it private or public sector fall under European Leglisation. It may be an option to follow this route? I do know that many private sector employers in the past have been forced by their employees to comply with this leglisation.