Topic: | Re:Re:Re:Time for a Genral Strike of all public workers? | |
Posted by: | Alexandra Moore | |
Date/Time: | 09/07/09 11:58:00 |
declaration of interest - I am an NHS employee I totally agree with Ben - the private sector can't have it both ways. I've always understood that, getting to do what I'v always wanted to do aside, the majority of public sector employees accept their salaries are unlikely to scale dizzying heights but in exchange you get relative job security, good pension plans and job satisfaction. Many of us however have to deal with antiquated IT, poor admin support, unrealistic targets etc, many of us (teachers, NHS staff social workers etc) have demanding jobs with huge responsibilty (and - rightly - public accountability). Most of my team work unpaid overtime to stop said unrealistic targets actually impeding the service provided I don't get the point about public sector jobs being paid for out of "our" taxes. Well yes. I'm not going to work for free. Sorry but I need an income (which as Malcolm said I also pay tax on). I'm assuming the public still want their services. The private sector is less secure and less even - many of my friends and family are in comfortable well paid, well supported jobs. I have known of people made redundant some of whom have got another job. They are described as "well thought of". I am aware of great unfairnesses as well, good people struggling, as well as people I would not employ in jobs both sectors. I know people will have different views on cost effectiveness of services, and the truth is it varies considerably between services, time and place. Most public servants are not workshy, some even do a good job. Most are unlikely to take a call for a general strike seriously but are angry about recent talk on pay - cuts not pay freezes have been mooted, and the press often publishes inflated but unfortunately erroneous pay scales. So I for one would welcome a public debate on our value |