Do you agree or disagree with today's public Sector protests?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.telegraph....ic-sector-action.html

With the Private Sector also experiencing cuts and other changes to their less generous pension schemes, can the general public find any sympathy for these Public Sector workers?

Since it is illegal for Prison Officers to strike will they all be prosecuted, if not perhaps our Armed Forces should also down weapons because their pensions have also took a hammering, not to mention the conditions they have to work under?

[jno]

I'm right behind them.

[Joanne130]

I'm right behind them

[flip_flop]

To answer your first question - a resounding No.

The deputy leader of Unite was interviewed on the BBC News this morning and she was bemoaning the fact that it was unfair that public sector workers will have to pay more, receive less and work longer.

So what?

That is what private sector workers are having to do, so I don't see why public sector workers shouldn't feel some of the pain as well.

[rowanwitch]

I work in the public sector and I don't support the strike

We have benefited in the past from secure work when those in the private sector were hardest hit....the country is in dire straits financially and whether we like it or not the world has changed.... it seems unfair when things like pension rules change and there are job cuts but I feel we are simply being asked to rejoin the rest of the country....

[flip_flop]

Quite rowanwitch - a pragmatic argument for once from somebody that is in the public sector.

[friedgreentomato]

Out of interest Rowan how many people are with you in work today?

[TWR]

Dier Straights Rowan! this lot have offered a loan of 15billion to the EU??

[weecalf]

Becaue pensions rise so much ,but losing a days pay doubles what they will be paying .Briliant goverment could not have planned better it them selves

[Gromit]

The simple answer is to scrap the Old Age Pension which is costing the country too much. Pensioners can go back to working.

I don't think you would agree with that. You would say you paid in all your life and they cannot retrospectively change the rules. That is why Public Sector workers are striking. The Government have been promising them Pensions and many of them have been contributing for decades, and now the Government want to change the rules.

[TWR]

To add, I agree, It was not the Private / Public sector that caused this, but I see the Banking buddies are ok? I wonder why?

[rowanwitch]

Fried' All of them that I can see...might have a few missing but I haven't noticed

[friedgreentomato]

Cheers Rowan just interested if it was supported in your place of work or not.

[NOX]

Completely behind them.

[rowanwitch]

No one wants it but the proposed amount extra to pay is still less in relation to return than private pensions...
And while I fully support the pay scales for front line staff I know if i did comparable work in the private sector I'd be lucky to make 60% of my current salary...

[anneasquith]

i agree.

[Davethedog]

Gromit what a good idea and for those to old and infirm to work, we could get the private sector to open establishments, that could make sure they can work until they are dead.

We can call them workhouses and Iain Duncan Smith can be put in charge.

You ar correct you take a job a work at it all your life and then the things you were promised as part of that job are summarily removed. I take it if the government went to everyones bank account and took 5% of you saving there would be no protests. Its caled theft plain and simple.

As for auserity as long as people keep buying this line and take it, they are just going to keep giving it to you.

The economy is in a worse condition than it was a year ago, our national debt approaches £1tn (TRILLION) all the media could tell you when Labour was in power was how big the debt was now nothing.

There is no such thing as austerity for the rich and we are funding the insurance.

I work in the private sector by the way.

[anotheoldgit]

Gromit

That must be the most absurd analogy you have ever made Gromit.

We are addressing private pensions here, all citizens are entitled to a State Pension upon reaching retirement age, be them Public Sector workers or Private Sector workers.

But even after saying that, the State Pension is continuously under the control of the State, which can freeze it, increase it or even increase the age of entitlement, but its recipients cannot go on strike.

Incidentally when a person reaches the age of 80 years they receive an extra 0.25p which hasn't increased since it's introduction 25 years ago.

[anotheoldgit]

/// The simple answer is to scrap the Old Age Pension which is costing the country too much. Pensioners can go back to working. ///

/// what a good idea and for those to old and infirm to work, we could get the private sector to open establishments, that could make sure they can work until they are dead. ///

A nightmare vision of life under the Socialists, no wonder National Socialism was short for Nazism.

[THECORBYLOON]

"all citizens are entitled to a State Pension upon reaching retirement age" are you sure? What about someone who has worked but not paid enough National Insurnce contributions, what about someone who has never worked?

[anotheoldgit]

/// no wonder National Socialism was short for Nazism. ///

Should read no wonder Nazism is short for National Socialism