Shabbah wrote: » To use Vincent Brownes favourite word, the "reality" of it is, that there are thousands of lower paid Civil and Public Servants working hard to put food on the table and keep a roof over their family's heads that will be affected in an hugely unfair and inequitable way (again!!!) by these pay-cuts directed solely at Public Servants. Taxation, in a fair way, is "realistically" the only way out of this mess! Did I just rant a bit? Sorry :rolleyes:
kincsem wrote: » I took early retirement three years ago on half pay. The company has since gone busto, and we now find that the pension fund was underfunded. When they sort it out at best I will get a 0% pay rise until I die, or possibly a 30% pension cut and 0% pay rises. Perhaps I should march by myself around the city and see if anyone cares. I'm not in the public service btw. :rolleyes:
K-9 wrote: » why should they empathise with people on 60/70k up?
Shabbah wrote: » If they decided not to strike merely because they didn't empathise with those on 60/70k and up, what about the likes of me, who earns less than 27K after over 5 years service, why would they show no solidarity with me and the many thousands like me who walked on picket lines today? Are the bus and rail workers also blinded by this media campaign into thinking all civil servants are overpaid, and all earn over 50K??? Is this how little our voice has become? You have to realise that those on 60/70K and up feel they too are being unfairly hit with these cuts as many (not all I admit) of their equals in the private sector continue to get bonuses and raises, their incomes are cut, in a hugely unjust manner. I still believe, regardless of sector, regardless of income, the only fair way to save these billions is through taxation which should be proportionate according to income, regardless of what sector a person works in. Cutting the pay of the lower paid civil and public sector workers is merely going to create more administration and other costs within the Departments of Social and Family Affairs (One Parent Family Payments, Family Income Supplement, etc), the HSE (Medical Cards, Community Welfare etc) and Local Authorities (Housing) so it makes absolutely no sense whatsoever.....but what has this goverment ever done that has made sense? It's totally ridiculous.
oppenheimer1 wrote: » I'm sorry but are you for real? If your aspirations and lifestyle needs are greater than 27k after 5 years then you really need to look at changing careers, recession or no recession.
oppenheimer1 wrote: » Compared to pay in other industrialised nations, ours is way off.
suitseir wrote: » Just listening to Vincent Browne on TV interviewing Public Sector Workers on the picket line. He asked one young lady how much she is earning (nurse). She said about €2,700(take home) a month. As far as I could gather, she is single! Good on her. What is she on strike for! Earlier on today i heard a fire service worker being interviewed (on radio). He told the reporter he is on €60k a year and cannot afford to take a pay cut! Dear God! What are these people like? My job was cut down to 2 days a week......I now get €80 a day and UB for the other three days! They should try live on that!:eek: And guess what, I WON'T be getting a pay rise this year! In fact, my job is probably going after Christmas!
dumbyearbook wrote: » And what do you do for a living? Saved any lives lately , nurses are underpaid and there are'nt enough of them - most hospitals run nurses and junior doctors ragged and there are none being hired this class of civil servant along with teachers and the Gardai should be left alone, theres thousands wasting resources in pencil pushing roles take your grief out on them and leave the professionals that look after sick kids and old people aside.
CrazyRabbit wrote: » Well...let me see. I've just brought in $125,000 worth of new business this month. I've reviewed and simplified many internal processes saving about $70,000 over the year (on paper anyway). The company I work for makes over 3 billion dollars per quarter. Nope...not a chance in hell I'm getting a pay raise.
gurramok wrote: » 2,700 pm is NOT underpaid. Try 800 quid a mth to see what its like on the other side.
Shabbah wrote: » My net weekly salary at the moment is €420 after "pension levies" etc (remember, our last "pay cut" was introduced as a levy which is taken from our gross income meaning our salaries LOOK far better than they are) are taken off so in reality that is about 23K a year I take home (not taking into account unpaid leave). Take the €6K childcare off that and it's down to 17K, just 4K per annum (or €75 per week) more than I would get on One Parent Family Payment + Fuel Allowance, for sitting on my arse at home (and I would also get a Medical Card and a house handed to me for 22eur per week, if I chose not to work, which would surely make up for the €75 less I would be "earning"?) There has to be something wrong there? Before you suggest I stop working, I will continue to work full-time as long as it is possible, in order to teach my daughter a good work ethic, by way of example, and help her to grow up with an understanding that you get no reward out of life by being bone-idle. What do you mean exactly by lifestyle needs? Are you trying to suggest I live beyond my means??? I invite you to visit my life for one day and then you can try and suggest anything of the sort! When I rented my own place 3 years ago, (a small 2 bedroom flat for me and my child) I had €20 left per week of my net income after paying just childcare and rent alone each week. That €20 wouldn't even pay for nappies and baby formula nevermind help towards food or bills. So how could I possibly have "lifestyle" needs above and beyond what I should have?!?! I have 8 years experience within the Public Sector and frankly, I earned more money working in a supermarket when I was 17 than I do now (at 28) Yes, the conditions (hours, job security etc) may not have been as good as what I have now, a decade later....but the wages were definitely better and the work far less demanding. Lastly, show me a government anywhere in the western world that don't have two large expenditures in "pay" and "welfare"!!! That's life. That's economics. It does not make it any fairer to target one specific group of people (when it suits them) to help get them out of a mess which was created by others!!
