How do people feel about this one? Will it be short and sweet?
Mod warning:
https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121425200/#Comment_121425200
Stop being pedantic, you know what I mean.
I had people in who are embedded contractors. They are set hours a week or on specific projects. Not that easy for them
Actually learned that back in the day when I was a contractor, on shift, in a lab. There was talk of a strike and I was told by my company that I was not part of any industrial action and that I would not have my contract renewed, should I not present for work.
They could not cancel my contract but they could damn well not renew. Strike did not happen in the end but, on a rolling 3 month contract, I was in no position to argue.
Local union rep basically said the same to me, as I said to others later. I was to present to "work" (nothing would be happening), they explained to my team-mates, and everyone was in agreement.
What I look at is the national debt and more specifically, it`s direction. Right now, it seems to be falling but at a very slow pace. This indicates the markets believe inflation is more likely to rise than to fall.
What a bizarre idea, the markets determine how large the national debt is?!?!? Utterly nonsensical.
I couldn't give a fcuk what the markets think inflation is GOING to do, we'll find out soon enough. I am concerned with what inflation ALREADY HAS done, how far behind my pay has fallen, and how much my standard of living has been cut. The national debt is irrelevant as far as the pay talks are concerned.
That's a very different situation from employees choosing to cross a picket line.
Inflation can be a good thing for holders of longterm debt, especially states, if they do not need to refinance at higher rates. Essentially, the amount owed lessens in real-term value.
So there is an argumemt to be made that some countries would prefer inflation stay high a little longer.
Which is why I am stressing "Contractors".
People are saying that no-one should cross a picket line but that is not always the case and to make sure that your contractor colleagues (especially prevalent in IT) are not under undue pressure, should it ever come to a strike
I think the Government has been seriously caught out by not settling earlier . The strength of response in Northern Ireland resulting in the most comprehensive strike in their history .150 thousand people walking out of work, a few miles up the road cannot be ignored down here.
There is also the increased volatility in markets due to the Red Sea impasse that will add further to inflation if it is prolonged.
Public sector pay should have been resolved before Christmas and would by now be over and done with . 8.50 per cent over two years with the most of it front loaded would have been accepted.It will cost significantly more now .
I think it is important when thinking about this proposal to look at it as what the year by year increase is as opposed to the headline 12% increase over 2.5 years.
This proposal on the table (on a time apportioned basis) are the following increases in each year:
This means at the end of 2026 your wage will be 7.7% higher than it was at the start of 2024.
Workings: (1*1.0176*1.0193*1.0383 = 1.0769% or 7.7%)
Looks like a totally different set up. None of ours have set days, they choose their days and invoice at the end of the month.
I hope you are correct but I can’t see it costing significantly more. 10 is the very max it will hit in my opinion. But yeah I completely agree if they front loaded it then they would have gotten it through.
You're right in that I was being slightly pedantic, but I don't quite get this rush to let contractors off the hook. It's the same issue on any picket line, whether employees or contractors. Those who pass a picket line are actively undermining the work of those on strike for better conditions. If the non-union members find themselves with a dilemma, that is THEIR problem to solve.
Hahaha Jesus you are some militant. Why the f should a contractor not pass a picket line.
Shall I try it a second time?
"Those who pass a picket line are actively undermining the work of those on strike for better conditions."
such a weird view. They are literally contractors
Yes, they are contractors who are actively undermining the work of those on strike for better conditions.
No they aren’t actively undermining anyone. They are doing a job they are paid to do. I would never expect a contractor to strike with employees. Makes no sense:
It's somewhat problematic if the government tried to make those contractors fill in the gaps on permanent staff's work but otherwise they are not civil servants and have no reason to jeopardise their own contracts and livelihoods for something that will not benefit their own lot.
Do the contractors get better conditions as a result of the strike?
You think the contractors showing up and doing work, will pick up the slack for those that are out on strike and undermine the point of the strike in the first place? Not a good reflection on the work output of those on strike if thats the case.
I wouldn`t have thought the markets determined the national debt either but from what I have been observing, that seems to be what happens. For example, when the ECB starting hiking interest rates, our national debt was falling at a noticeable rate. There seems to be more at play here than just the government borrowing or paying off debt. What seems to be happening is the people who buy or sell government bonds have as much to do with government debt as the government and if the bond holders think inflation is going to be a problem, they are likely to sell their bond holdings which makes the national debt go down and it causes our borrowing costs for new debt, to go up.
Recently the government sold a few billion (8, I think) of bonds, so you would expect the national debt to be rising but it is slowly falling so more bonds are being sold than bought. Also, 9 billion in debt comes to maturity this year so maybe the government is borrowing from Pete to pay Paul. I get that market opinion and the national debt means nothing to you or a lot of other people but if it matters to the government and if the government pays your wages, it matters to you whether you know it or not.
The government need to be hit very hard for offering such a ridiculously low amount that would in effect amount to a pay cut due to inflation. Serious sustained industrial action on strategic days is required that will bring the country to a standstill. No concessions to be given and no suspension of action until a proper starting offer is on the table . As for scabs crossing picket lines ( couldn’t care less if they are contractors) , let them enjoy it as they can be blackballed when everyone returns to work. It’s a very short sighted view for anyone to consider going down that road, as life could be made unbearable for them . Let it get ugly . Ugly enough that the next minister thinking of putting it up to the public service will think better of it
As an employee, why should I care about any of that? My employer in the Public Service is nothing to do with what your referring too.
I agreed to do a job for a specific price as setout on my payscale. While not explicit in my contract, I expect that value of that fee to allow me the same purchasing power as the day I agreed to do the job. Everything you refer to is sweet f*** to do with me.
Yes, inflation is good for the borrower, like a country, but it is bad for the lender, like an investment trust. This is why the government has an interest in saying it expects inflation to come down, in the hope investment trust/pension fund managers continue to hold their debt. But if the investors in long term debt believe inflation will rise faster than the rather pathetic interest rates on offer, they are less likely to stick around.
I think this reality may finally be dawning on institutional investors. If so, that will be a problem the government might not be able to contain.
Does everything you expect to happen come to pass? I hope you will not be too disapointed if the value you are expecting is less than what you get.
Contractor roles overlap with staff roles all the time in the IT area, particularly with specialist tech support and cyber security contractors. Agency nurses and doctors do the same work as staff nurses and doctors. Agency substitute teachers do the same work as teachers on staff.
If contractors pass a picket, they are undermining the staff on strike.
All really valid points, especially with what’s happening up North. I find it hard to fathom that there’s been no talks the whole week, almost 3 weeks since the collapse of the last pay deal now.
We should be on strike today with the public sector staff of Northern Ireland. At least in Northern Ireland they have an excuse - they effectively don't have a government. We have a government which doesn't give a **** about public servants and unions led by people too weak to take decisive action.
Only sustained strike action shutting the country down will bring the likes of Donohoe to his senses.
They are not - your logic is as flawed as it gets.
What's the difference between the work done by an agency nurse and a staff nurse?
They literally lose their jobs for that. That is not fair, from us.
They can not join the union, they have NO protections. Nothing I do should mean the loss of a job for someone else
It's got nothing to do with the type of work done.
You don't think there's a difference in the employment status and terms and conditions of an agency/contract worker versus a permanent civil/public servant?
I'd be concerned about your logical reasoning and indeed apathy here.
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