Are the Jobcentre on Strike 20/3/2013

guilds

helentay wrote: »

guilds wrote: »

If I was to vote it would be for the BNP!

Not surprised, classic Troll statement looking for food (response.)
I see on some other threads people are on to you already

Please don't Feed it

guilds

helentay wrote: »

guilds wrote: »

What happens if I don't care who is in power or have no opinion either way? Do I just go to the Polling Station and spoil my voting paper to satisfy you?

As for education, to be honest given the quality of it today, it is a complete waste of time and money! Especially when you have 16 year olds leaving school who don't have a clue about basic maths or how to communicate using the written word, mind you if you can understand text communications I suppose that is OK!

Given my time again I would have got out of this country 20 years ago when I was in my teens and given up my British Passport!!
This isn't the country that my dad fought for in the last world war. It isn't England, Ireland, Wales or even Scotland, it is nothing more than a dumping ground for the misfits from the old Soviet block countries + the Middle East and parts of Africa where civil wars are a way of life.

What my grandfather who was wounded in the first World War would have made of it all I dread to think!

So don't start quoting what people died for to me, they died and fought for a different Britain than what it has become.

No they will be to busy earning an honest crust as plumbers round at your house, you could have a chat about the BNP ideology

barnaby-bear

306chris wrote: »

I was browsing the news http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-21689428 and just wondering anybody knew if Jobcentres would be closed on this date.

According to the BBC they want another £1200 p.a or 5% payrise - Good luck with that (Insert sarcasm smiley here)

I am supposed to be seeing my advisor rather than just signing on. I will of course try to ask them on Monday while in town but tbh it amazes me that most of the staff in there manage to dress themselves in the morning (there are some good ones though, but not point of contact staff)

I know someone who works for them and complains how badly paid he is, when we suggest get a job in the private sector he says he can't afford to because the benefits are less good and he'd be working for less.... and he can't find anything better..... if you work in the job centre and can't find yourself a better job.... are you great value.... is it such a bad package... always wondered.....

ComeTheRevolution

The Job Centre gets its staff from - er - the Job Centre. Ordinary people looking for work. They train them to do a job that requires adhering to rules. If they refuse to do that they'd be sacked. They can't complain to the media about their highly stressful working conditions. Meanwhile they're likely to be claiming tax credits, etc., to top up their pay. Ordinary human beings trying to get by.

If you're unhappy with the benefits system it is futile and unfair to target these people just because they're in the frontline and if you miss them not being there on the 20th then presumably it's because you do think they're doing a decent job.

mysterywoman10

Whilst I have sympathy for them in one way, I don't in another it really is a bit of a contradiction.

No one is getting pay rises in the public or private sector. At the end of the day I really don't understand the anti benefits cuts brigade on this one. Surely a pay rise for any public sector worker (my own OH included) is funded by the tax payer?

I agree they have to enact the law, but they also need to have empathy with their clients (who also keep them in jobs).

ComeTheRevolution

helentay wrote: »

guilds wrote: »

Given my time again I would have got out of this country 20 years ago when I was in my teens and given up my British Passport!!

Out of interest, what's stopping you now?

missapril75

mysterywoman10 wrote: »

they also need to have empathy with their clients

True...and there are some obstructive types, as there are anywhere.

But it does work both ways. If you are signing on, you're only dealing with one member of staff. If you're staff, you are dealing with dozens of clients and very many of them are disgruntled about something. You are on the receiving end of the complaints and it's mostly had absolutely nothing to do with you - rates of benefits, cuts, holiday rules, lack of jobs, lies, even...and you just have to suck it up?

With the best will in the world that's going to be TOO DAMN MUCH :eek: at some point in the day.

antonic

I`m a CS of 20 years plus service (NOT in the DWP) who voted against going on strike and taking action short of industrial action BECAUSE I knew asking for a 5% payrise or £1200 was totally unrealistic.

BUT as someone who has needed PCS help 3 times and respects the majority vote in favour I will be on strike on the 20th and it will cost me about £40 for the privilege.

I would also add that (currently) we have a democratic right to strike, and the strike on the 20th will affect the whole of the Civil Service (HMRC/DWP/UKBA).

I respect you all, my fellow strikers !.

missapril75

antonic wrote: »

BUT as someone who has needed PCS help 3 times and respects the majority vote in favour I will be on strike on the 20th

Good on ya.

Nothing used to irritate me more than those who took part in a democratic voting process with no intention of abiding by the majority vote.

Oh...except when they would accept any gains as a result.

epitome

The Jobcentre payscale has pay levels within each band it is in the contract that the salary will rise every year until you reach the top of the band.

The Jobcentre has not allowed a progression (or increment) within the band for 4 years now. Coupled with pay awards of 1%. this policy has reduced an already low salary and creates unfairness between different members of staff who are getting more money for doing the same job.

And the last time they did a single progression it was after a similarly long time of having no progressions. This treatment is unheard of in any other walk of life or in any other civil service department.

****If there is a strike on Wednesday, I advise anyone who is on JSA who signs on that day - to ask in advance do they have to sign on the strike day- and to get a written confirmation from the jobcentre of what date they are to come back to sign on next- if the claim gets closed, your written instructions from the jobcentre will get your claim re-opened.....and you won't lose 4 weeks of JSA.****