And they wonder why there's a Budget Deficit

damianmcr

Its not really a payrise for most. Its a movement up the scales which everyone is due. People at the top of the payscale get !!!! all.

qwert_yuiop

So what's the difference between a pay rise and a movement up the scale which everyone is due?

jenheiffer

qwert_yuiop wrote: »

So what's the difference between a pay rise and a movement up the scale which everyone is due?

Quite simple really. Each grade has an increment scale that you move up year by year till you reach the top (usually about 5 years). If you don't apply for and get a higher grade job ((and these days it is more and more difficult) you sit at the top grade for ever with no increase.

Witless

jenheiffer wrote: »

Quite simple really. Each grade has an increment scale that you move up year by year till you reach the top (usually about 5 years). If you don't apply for and get a higher grade job ((and these days it is more and more difficult) you sit at the top grade for ever with no increase.

In other words a bit like an apprenticeship, with the top of the scale actually the rate for the job.

I wonder how many of the naysayers think plumbers, joiners, vehicle mechanics etc should remain on their 1st year scale for their entire careers?

As for the 'average' of £24k quoted I'd love to know what percentage of staff actually get that or higher; I've a feeling that figure would put a totally different perspective on the story.

(And it's funny nobody has mentioned the MLAs 11% never mind their expenses!)

qwert_yuiop

If there is supposed to be a climate of austerity, these increments would have been expected to at least be delayed? How many trades men are making as much as they were five or six years ago. At a rough estimate, around none.

Witless

qwert_yuiop wrote: »

How many trades men are making as much as they were five or six years ago. At a rough estimate, around none.

Quite true.

How many are still on their entry rate of pay? Not a rough guess but a certainity - none.

And still no mention of MLAs 11%!

qwert_yuiop

MLAs' pay rise is shameful.

Plenty of tradesmen are making less than minimum wage, or losing money. Take it you've no experience of self employment in a downturn.

Parisien

Don't tell me this hallowed forum is swallowing hook line and sinker the Con-Dems line on public sector pay?

They've reneged on their part of the contract, in the private sector you'd just sue them.

The true trouble is the big guys, firms and multinationals milk the ordinary taxpayer to death whilst they just get richer, thats the real problem

qwert_yuiop

Correct. A living wage would prevent industry using public funds as a subsidy via tax credits etc. However, the level of spending on state employment is daft. Any other ideas?

Parisien

NI as a small province was never going to be a viable economic entity, it would always require public sector money, am not surprised.

You cannot at any level compare UK/England economies with NIs, total nonsense