Union Strikes

[Apache]

Referring back to post 143 - I remember 'working' like that when I was Public Sector. Rolling in at 10am a couple of days a week, spending an hour in the on site coffee shop etc and feeling rather hard done to when the team was what we regarded was 'overworked'.

I'm now private Sector and have described to my Public Sector buddies from where I used to work that my current employ sort of 'feels' more honest. I work hard, I am rewarded. I work harder, I'm rewarded more. I slack off, I'm fired. When I was Public, I could take any of the approaches above and continue to take home an OK salary and a hugely employer funded pension.

I'm not saying ALL Public Sector comanies are like that, but from my dealings over the years, and as Karma Supra says, many are (in fact, I personally haven't come across one that isn't - aside from perhaps the NHS, but they may just 'look' overworked due to stunningly bad management).

I moved 'public' to 'private' five years ago after 20 odd years in the public sector - and whilst I appreciate this is but a single case, I prefer the philosophy and work ethic where I am now.

[Predictable Bob]

22 years Regular Army, some 16 of which were in MoD civilian establishments
13 years IT Services company, working within the public and private sectors

Over the years I've got to say that in general the Public Sector were over manned, not inclined to put in their 35 hour week and regarded their 'sick leave' as part of their holiday entitlement. The private sector tend to be far more focused on delivering at minimum cost and I work a minimum of 9.5 hrs a day.

Thankfully my Army pension is safe and currently being paid (although they changed the rules on inflation increments which will no doubt work against me) which will mitigate some of the damage done to my pension and salary

Currently paying 11% for a pension that is far worse than the non contributory FSS I signed up to
3 years without a payrise and not likely to see one next year either
Currently £6k below the average salary for my grade

And if I joined the union I'd undoubtedly appear on the next list of redundancies !

PS
On the IVF thing - well done for your persistence, we could only afford the one try and hit the jackpot with triplets. And you didn't mention that they're perfectly willing to carry out abortions on the NHS ...

[Vultch]

I worked in both but mainly the public sector before I decided to leave to start my own business.

In the public sector there are a percentage who do work very hard at the coalface so to speak, the really crappy jobs and they are treated like shit. Then there is the vast sea of middle management, I was promoted to that as I sought career advancement.

There was no work to do, we were grossly overstaffed... it got to the point in my final year were i could come in at 10:30am take a 2 hour lunch break and leave at 3:00pm ...nobody noticed, in fact for many that was a way of life. For me it was soul destroying , depressing, I trained myself in other skills during that time.

The vast majority of this middle management types were unemployable with no other skillset than bullshit. they could not do what the people on the coalface did but hey wandered around with papers and shouted loudly across the offices etc.

Promotion was by friend of a friend the senior manager who was corrupt would promote friends in fact one of here mates took early redundancy a big pay off, and was back 6 months later in a full time job circa £55,000 a yrs for a job he could not do even if he had to do it.

Fridays the senior manager took her friends out to lunch at a descent restaurant they would return at about 4.45... smelling of having a few...by the way all paid for by you on expenses.

[ninjadave]

and agree with you on the gastric band thing

I think I need one after all this popcorn

[Vultch]

As I said - those at the coalface usually carry the organisation, when I mean coalface our lot are all degree level - engineers.
(I worked at the hard end before promotion), but when i arrived at middle management the staff were ..well useless - but in command and were masters of "stating the obvious". We could not get funds for equipment but money was available for management "meetings in london" flights over and hotels etc to talk Bull

I agree as well if your pension pot is doing well ..you should not have to pay any more or have it raided.
This mess was a combination of casino banking and a government who wanted to be popular and kept spending without any regard.

[Wolfracer]

Seeing as all the popcorn has gone, and I aint trying that porky pork flavour, I've just finished a big bag of Minstrels... I now think I'm going to be sick.
Cracking debate though...

Carry on!




























































Hmmm much better. Now, where's that porky popcorn?

[John h]

I care about your conditions and pension as much as you care about mine !!!
And I care even less about your politics.

I'm £31.50 out of pocket for child care

And why is someone who does not agree with you a Tw*t ?

Clarkson may have had a point.

For your information, School is school they are for children's Education, not a Childcare facility to dump your kids for the day !!! Wow can't you tell I'm married to a teacher ??

[John h]

Fair one slobodan how you been keeping anyway?

John been a while bud I hear on the grapevine you have a nice war machine your self and yep we are good bud, how's you doing?

There is plenty of change coming our way and none of it good

Giz a tinkle John when your not busy

You have been talking to your Jedi student Jay I take it ?

Fantastic contact that man is ! Mad as a fish but a heart of gold !

We are preparing for Armageddon!!

will ring you over the weekend...as you suffer the Christmas shopping

[Apache]

Debate?

Oh...

Just thought it was a ####take about lazy feckers

[Albannach]

A couple of years ago, (on a Saturday morning) four council employees turned up outside my mum's house. They had three vans and a truck with one of those wee digger things on a trailer.

The truck driver got out of his truck, took the digger off the trailer and proceeded to dig a hole in the street. Once dug, one of the guys got out of his van and helped the guy in the digger to lift a steel plate off the truck and cover the hole. They finished at 9am and left a couple of hours later.

Two of the guys didn't get out of their vans at all.

Nothing at all happened to the hole until the following Saturday, when four council workers came and filled it in.

It's unclear whether or not it was the same four workmen, but, between them, they'll have generated 64 hours overtime for esentially doing nothing.

[Surf01]

A couple of years ago, (on a Saturday morning) four council employees turned up outside my mum's house. They had three vans and a truck with one of those wee digger things on a trailer.

The truck driver got out of his truck, took the digger off the trailer and proceeded to dig a hole in the street. Once dug, one of the guys got out of his van and helped the guy in the digger to lift a steel plate off the truck and cover the hole. They finished at 9am and left a couple of hours later.

Two of the guys didn't get out of their vans at all.

Nothing at all happened to the hole until the following Saturday, when four council workers came and filled it in.

It's unclear whether or not it was the same four workmen, but, between them, they'll have generated 64 hours overtime for esentially doing nothing.

That is very common place as it helps their pensions especially if they are in the last years of their working life!

[schrodingers-cat]

As I work for the modern day equivalent of the Victorian mill owner the idea of a pension from them at least does not arise, I`ll have to suffer the state pension tho i doubt it will exist by the time i retire and even if it does mine will be reduced due to me "getting on my bike" and getting work abroad in the 80s/90s meaning a lack of contributions (something the bums who sat on their ass and done feck all wont suffer) Still its my fault, i sacrificed a career for fun and dead end jobs in exotic places. Sh1t happens to quote a previous post.
Seems to me the country`s overspent, money needs to come from somewhere. Do I want to pay it ?. No. Do I care where they get the cash from ?. Not really with one or two exceptions so i dont support the strikers. be thankful you`ve got a job, some people dont know where the money to pay the next bill is coming from.
Interesting thread tho with the prize for the most outstanding post going to

Well Kate Jennings, you bundle of laughs you, I bet you did it once and didn't like it.
Try it sometime you repressed, comfortable shoe wearing, joyless, harridan.

Class

[Apache]

with the prize for the most outstanding post going to

Originally Posted by gwh200
Well Kate Jennings, you bundle of laughs you, I bet you did it once and didn't like it.
Try it sometime you repressed, comfortable shoe wearing, joyless, harridan.

Class

Totally agree. One thing I cannot abide is women in comfortable shoes!

[Rustinho]

Anyone mentioned the new world order yet??

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJBh5zpYfTs&feature=fvsr

[greecysurf]

Seems Mr Hutton, you know that Labour bloke who likes Public service workers, now says, you need to lose another few chunks of your pension, Now thats definatly an ooopppssss moment.