Public Service Strike Thread

Hells Belle wrote: »

Thats my bugbear, its not the govt thats effected, its the kids and the sick people and the ordinary workers. It makes me ashamed tbh, why can't some of you spam mail/snail mail the govt all day every day, keep all their phones ringing all day, transfer all your avoidable work to your relevent Govt dept by any method of communication - would that not affect them and leave the rest of us to go on and try and rebuild this country. Holding the country to ransom did so well for the taxi's, PS are heading the same way IMO.

No it would not affect them at all. Its Simple, politics. The heads that be, don't care about the person in the govt office having to take all those calls. It never reaches that people who make the decisions, it stops well short. Nobody it holding anyone for ransom, Teachers have taken exessive pay cuts, and wish to ensure that the govt looks elsewhere for the next ones. It really very simple. You as a parent should also be worried about changes being made for the teachers, but your not, your ill informed.

Teachers can no longer take discretion day (days the make up in the summer, max 3 per annum). Instead they they wish to take off a day like you (hangover, wedding, etc) they will (as would you) call in sick. Sick days no longer get a sub teacher in, so for a day your kids get no education at all. This effects your child and you. that is just one small part of a large change trying to be inforced.

funkyjebus wrote: »

Since when do teacher get 5 months off a year, if you can't cope with your 20 days off a year, get a better job. That's not the teachers fault. If you want 3 months off, you should have been a teacher, why didn't you think of that.

How do you strike on a Saturday, when your hours are M2F. That's not striking, that's just a group of teachers hanging around together on a Saturday. They,re not doing anything to your children, it is clear from your attitude you see them more as babysitters than educators. How are teachers waster, you genuinely believe this,you mean to tell me you send your kids to get an education by wasters, you should change schools.

The only valid point you make here is that it is their right to strike (and your obligation to look after your kid), which it is. It is, for teachers, imperative that they strike to ensure they are not hit with any further cuts (soemthing that you, or anyone her would do in their situation, and if your wouldn't, your stupid). Have your read the new proposed teaching agreement and the changes that would most likely come into effect if the teachers don't show they're not pushovers??

Taking days off work for these types of things, it all part and parcel of being a parent.

FYI - I am not teacher, I just read all the facts and leave presumptions out of it.

And that doesn't include making sure they get an education??? I did not state I saw them as babysitters so I don't know why you assumed that and you know what they say about people who assume... I find them as educators which strangely is what they are paid to do, is it not? I've said previously I've nothing against protests but do it on your time.

Also secondary school teachers get 3 mths off at Summer, 2 weeks at Easter, a week at Halloween, 2 weeks at Christmas and a few days here and there for mid terms so its close enough to 5 months, if i've missed any please feel free to fill me in. Primary teachers get about 20 less.

Also as I've said above we are going through very hard times in my work and we are all pulling together, I used to get 32, I get 20 now, am I bitching and holding up the country - no - I'm working to get it fixed.

funkyjebus wrote: »

No it would not affect them at all. Its Simple, politics. The heads that be, don't care about the person in the govt office having to take all those calls. It never reaches that people who make the decisions, it stops well short. Nobody it holding anyone for ransom, Teachers have taken exessive pay cuts, and wish to ensure that the govt looks elsewhere for the next ones. It really very simple. You as a parent should also be worried about changes being made for the teachers, but your not, your ill informed.

Teachers can no longer take discretion day (days the make up in the summer, max 3 per annum). Instead they they wish to take off a day like you (hangover, wedding, etc) they will (as would you) call in sick. Sick days no longer get a sub teacher in, so for a day your kids get no education at all. This effects your child and you. that is just one small part of a large change trying to be inforced.

Incorrect, my son had a sub teacher all last week so maybe you are the one who is ill informed. I'm not anti teacher at all, I think some do a great job but thats what they are paid for. My children are my main concern, not that some teacher can't buy a new car next year, I resent my boys being used as pawns. If that makes me a bad mother than so be it. They weren't out protesting that the kids were and still are freezing in prefabs were they? They weren't protesting that their raises over the last few years could have been better used to pay for facilities were they? No they took it didn't they? Its all about their money not education.

For someone who is not a teacher you seem to be, to put a word on it, biased :rolleyes:

Hells Belle wrote: »

Yes we were, and we were ignored. Batt the Thief basically told us we'd have everything fixed, we are still waiting..... There isn't even a place to pull in off a busy duel carraige way to drop the children. Imagine, the cheek of us asking for heat and water and a proper roof in the school, and sweet jebus a bit of safety for our loved ones. We should be ashamed of ourselves. :mad:

We did however manage to get a pedestrian crossing so our kids weren't mashed by trucks, the parents I mean, not the teachers.

So you raised your issues and were ignored, or worse fobbed off with lip service. If only there were some way to raise the profile of your objections, some striking message you could send to the powers that be

amacachi wrote: »

Just out of interest what percentage cut have you had in your THP in the last year?

I can help you with that one, before May this year I was taking home 463 per week, when May came around the pay for me was 396 per week. A loss of 67 euro.

I'm nearly 6 years in the civil service.

Day off school....excellent

funkyjebus wrote: »

Teachers can no longer take discretion day (days the make up in the summer, max 3 per annum). Instead they they wish to take off a day like you (hangover, wedding, etc) they will (as would you) call in sick.

I wouldn't dream of calling in sick due to hangover or a wedding. Out of simple decency. I've never done it. Have you? Why do you expect everyone does it?

Buceph wrote: »

I'm in UCC. A couple of lectures, up until today have said that they'll be breaking the strike and coming in for lectures on Tuesday anyway. Good on them. But what happens then? The security guards are going on sympathy strike so the whole place will be shut down.

Same in the last college I worked in, I was on contract but not union (they dont accept us as members - any of them. F**kers. Makes the bargaining process a bit more insular as we have less to lose, in theory).

Anyway, emails were sent to everyone on the staff list, and many were questioning any opposition at all to the pension levy around this time last year, given the level of permanant salaries. This same (Dublin) University is keeping full service next week as far as I know, so I guess its not all bad. I'd like to believe there is a little more to it than self-serving faction fighting, but unfortunately it seems to be the case with many others.

Wertz wrote: »

making a mess of things includes bumping PS wage levels to unsustainable amounts

im sorry but this is laughable. I'm a CO (the lowest grade) and by the looks of it so is wood(poster at top of page).
We are covered by the union CPSU.
The higher grades in the Civil Service received higher increases in pay than the lowly CO's
For example: The last pay increase under the benchmarking report was due to be paid to all civil servants. But at the last minute they decided that all grades covered by the CPSU would not be getting this increase.
Thats laughable to say the least.

I work in a specialised area in the civil service. wont mention what and where. Since January 2008 to today, my take home pay has been reduced 21%. YES 21%.

We have been informed that talks with the government with the unions, that the Government are looking for 8% pay cut next month and another 5% next budget.
A whopping 13%.
Now, total increases through the benchmarking (i'm open to correction) amounted to a 8.5% increase over the past 8 years.

So basically, 4.5% less than originally was decided was too low for workers in our sector.
By December 2010, CO's and SO's will at a Take home pay rate of that of 1994 (the equivalant obvoiusly)

You going to tell me thats fair, or are you going to believe the government spin doctors and media plots to get you all on their side.

defence rests your honour........