Can i, should i claim back childcare costs for next weeks Teachers strike ?

curtlyb

Lunar_Eclipse wrote: »

.................
Also, I rather suspect the job itself has simply moved with the times. The hours and working conditions still compare favourably IMO. Long hours thesedays is up and out between 4-6am (both my Dad & hubbie do this) and home after 9pm. Home before 8pm (if at all!) is considered early amongst my friends. We are lucky that my husband sees the children most evenings. I'm not saying it's right, it's just the way it is nowadays.

But I do think you have to have experience of long hours in the private sector before you can see this point of view. My best friend from uni became a teacher and whilst she moans about the long hours, she knows most of her friends have less favourable experiences. My cousin works for the Civil Service (good job) and after 10 years service, I think she can count on one hand the number of days she's been in the office past 5.30pm. Seriously. Just another planet.

:T:T:T:T...............

Mrs_A_4

curtlyb wrote: »

Surely teachers refusing to invigilate on Sats would have the greater effect, hitting the right people where it hurts ????

(We aren't allowed to invigilate any more. Doesn't take a trained teacher to stare menacingly and dish out more lined paper. They hire people in for about £7 an hour. Shame - I love invigilating. Gives my brain a rest.):rolleyes:

gregg1

Lunar_Eclipse wrote: »

Yes I totally agree with you. I think teachers should be paid more. But the strike is about a pay rise and being realistic a double digit pay rise is not going to happen. Especially in the current economic climate. I'm not sure what the answer is though tbh.

Also, I rather suspect the job itself has simply moved with the times. The hours and working conditions still compare favourably IMO. Long hours thesedays is up and out between 4-6am (both my Dad & hubbie do this) and home after 9pm. Home before 8pm (if at all!) is considered early amongst my friends. We are lucky that my husband sees the children most evenings. I'm not saying it's right, it's just the way it is nowadays.

But I do think you have to have experience of long hours in the private sector before you can see this point of view. My best friend from uni became a teacher and whilst she moans about the long hours, she knows most of her friends have less favourable experiences. My cousin works for the Civil Service (good job) and after 10 years service, I think she can count on one hand the number of days she's been in the office past 5.30pm. Seriously. Just another planet.

My OH worked in the private sector for many years, she is now a secondary maths teacher. The hours she works now far exceed those she worked in the private sector (and she had a pretty demanding job then but on twice the salary). For instance, the last half term saw her spend a total of over 30 hours marking books and planning lesson. She is at school by 7.45 each morning and never leaves before 6pm, comes home, has her evening meal then does more school work. Very rarely does she get more than 15 mins for a lunch break what with clearing up from last lesson, doing lunchtime duties and then setting up for the next lesson after lunch. She does not complain as she loves her job (she is not on strike today - she thinks it is detrimental to the students). Just pointing out that she has seen it from both sides so is in a very good position to make the comparison.

But you are right, I don't think this pay demand is going to get anywere either.

Whelk2006

Kez100 wrote: »

I do think that teachers are more disappointed that the gravy train has now stopped.


As others have said - exactly what job in the private sector will they be doing for a higher wage and the same pension benefits?

Well, for a start, with a higher degree and 30+ years experience at departmental head position she could expect to be earning in excess of £100K, plus benefits such as a company car and a final pay linked pension in many positions in the private sector... Retail Buyer, for example. One of her friends from Uni days has just such a job, and that is what she is earning. Her brother, who is a Solicitor for the FSA is paid even more, well in excess of £100K. Want to hazard a guess as to how much Harley Street consultants get paid, and what perks they have?

How many more jobs do you want me to quote?

gregg1

Kez100 wrote: »

I do think that teachers are more disappointed that the gravy train has now stopped.


As others have said - exactly what job in the private sector will they be doing for a higher wage and the same pension benefits?

Maybe what my OH was doing before she became a teacher. Chartered Accountant, better salary, better pension, better hours!

Lunar_Eclipse

gregg1 wrote: »

Maybe what my OH was doing before she became a teacher. Chartered Accountant, better salary, better pension, better hours!

But there was probably a very good reason she stopped doing it.

My sister is an FC (CA qualified) and my Dad an FD. I also have quite a few friends locally in these jobs. I cannot imagine a single teacher in either of my kids schools being up to the stress, hours and mental challenge of that job. The hours are really long.

My Dad often does 'all nighters'.

My sister (she's 32) only worked until 10pm on her birthday last week!

My neighbour is a Partner with one of the big six and is home from Friday night until Monday morning. He's given up coming home in the week because there is little point coming home around 1am and leaving again before dawn.

My best friend locally's husband is an FC too and also doesn't see the children during the week.

So maybe your wife was lucky if her hours used to be less than they are now because from what I am experiencing in this sector, the hours are the longest I know. Admittedly the pay is right up there too.

I think like many sectors now though, conditions have got much more demanding in last 4 years.

This is depressing. I'm going to make and enjoy a fresh coffee and a chunk of Galaxy. Hooray for the little things in life.:D

Edit - final salary pensions are also long gone (for newcomers)!

gregg1

Lunar_Eclipse wrote: »

But there was probably a very good reason she stopped doing it.

My sister is an FC (CA qualified) and my Dad an FD. I also have quite a few friends locally in these jobs. I cannot imagine a single teacher in either of my kids schools being up to the stress, hours and mental challenge of that job. The hours are really long.

My Dad often does 'all nighters'.

My sister (she's 32) only worked until 10pm on her birthday last week!

My neighbour is a Partner with one of the big six and is home from Friday night until Monday morning. He's given up coming home in the week because there is little point coming home around 1am and leaving again before dawn.

My best friend locally's husband is an FC too and also doesn't see the children during the week.

So maybe your wife was lucky if her hours used to be less than they are now because from what I am experiencing in this sector, the hours are the longest I know. Admittedly the pay is right up there too.

I think like many sectors now though, conditions have got much more demanding in last 4 years.

This is depressing. I'm going to make and enjoy a fresh coffee and a chunk of Galaxy. Hooray for the little things in life.:D

Edit - final salary pensions are also long gone (for newcomers)!

I did not say the hours were not long. They were - very long. The only thing which has improved since becoming a teacher is job satisfaction - and that is coming from someone who has experience of both worlds.

Anyway, hope you enjoyed your coffee and galaxy (much nicer than Cadbury's!).

traciekan

they re YOUR kids your responsibility. if they were ill what would you do? deal with it

Strapped

curtlyb wrote: »

Generally strikes aim to hit the company in the pocket through lack of revenue for the strike period....... All that will happen tomorrow is that you will cheese off several thousand potential allies both morally & in the pocket whilst the LEA will be sat on a nice nest-egg of unpaid staff wages......somebody has obviously not thought this through very well have they, and i thought they were well educated

Actually, it will be the schools sat on the unpaid staff wages. Hopefully they might elect to spend it on something useful...

Broken_hearted

Well its over and has achieved nothing, although watching a load of drunk teachers protesting in Newcastle city centre was very funny.