ESB vote to strike over gold plated pensions as winter arrives

Ace2007 · 19-11-2013 09:38PM

kceire wrote: »

Not only that, but the new staff are paying into a DC scheme, so they don't even get contributions to keep the DB scheme afloat.

Why would they get contributions to keep the DB scheme afloat from new members?:eek:

Rezident · 19-11-2013 09:39PM

And didn't they dodge the pay cuts all the civil service and public sector got because they are technically only "semi-state". This country is such as joke, we deserve everything we get.

I suggest we should all just let them get away with it and do nothing about it. Everyone who agrees, bend over and take it.

P_1 · 19-11-2013 09:41PM

Cienciano wrote: »

I don't think so. As far as I know, it's illegal for a picket line to stop anybody from crossing. I wouldn't do it myself

So technically, were a strike to happen and the power be cut there's nothing stopping a group of civic minded technical folk from just walking in and manning the stations, keeping the power on and rendering the strike redundant :P

hmmm · 19-11-2013 09:43PM

People in monopolies should never be allowed strike. Same with the bus and rail workers.

Gmol · 19-11-2013 09:43PM

If the union strike can the general public sue them for hardship

Gumbo · 19-11-2013 09:44PM

Ace2007 wrote: »

Why would they get contributions to keep the DB scheme afloat from new members?:eek:

Because in other PS employers, current staff pay a pension contribution and a pension levy, which the employer gets to keep 65% of in order to fund their services.

In Dublin City council for example, retired staff are paid their pensions from current contributions ie pension contribution and 65% of the levy from the staff. In ESB case, they don't even get these contributions to help keep the scheme afloat as new staff pay into their own DCC scheme.

Possibly different situations though because of the PS/Semi State differences.

Gumbo · 19-11-2013 09:46PM

P_1 wrote: »

So technically, were a strike to happen and the power be cut there's nothing stopping a group of civic minded technical folk from just walking in and manning the stations, keeping the power on and rendering the strike redundant :P

I'd imagine we would have no idea how to keep it on! Plus we would be trespassing and breaking every health and safety law available to us.

Ace2007 · 19-11-2013 09:49PM

kceire wrote: »

Because in other PS employers, current staff pay a pension contribution and a pension levy, which the employer gets to keep 65% of in order to fund their services.

In Dublin City council for example, retired staff are paid their pensions from current contributions ie pension contribution and 65% of the levy from the staff. In ESB case, they don't even get these contributions to help keep the scheme afloat as new staff pay into their own DCC scheme.

Possibly different situations though because of the PS/Semi State differences.

what are you on about - the company's don't keep the pension levy.
if you are paying into a DC scheme, your monthly contributions are invested in a fund, the employer doesn't keep this.

P_1 · 19-11-2013 09:51PM

kceire wrote: »

I'd imagine we would have no idea how to keep it on! Plus we would be trespassing and breaking every health and safety law available to us.

Very true, would be interesting to see it happen if only to see the reaction of the union head hochos though :P

radonicus · 19-11-2013 09:52PM

periodictable wrote: »

Fire all the workers, bring in the army to run the show,arrest the union bosses and rehire the workers at lower wages.

The ghost of Martin Murphy hangs out on Boards??

Gumbo · 19-11-2013 09:54PM

Ace2007 wrote: »

what are you on about - the company's don't keep the pension levy.
if you are paying into a DC scheme, your monthly contributions are invested in a fund, the employer doesn't keep this.

You should read up on the pension levy

There is no PS pension fund, it's paid out of current contributions and current expenditure.

tayto lover · 19-11-2013 09:56PM

How dare they stand up for themselves.

P_1 · 19-11-2013 09:58PM

tayto lover wrote: »

How dare they stand up for themselves.

It's a very fine line to walk though when they provide an essential service that has no back up

radonicus · 19-11-2013 09:59PM

tayto lover wrote: »

How dare they stand up for themselves.

Yeah, why don't they quit causing trouble and lie down like the rest of us?

tayto lover · 19-11-2013 09:59PM

P_1 wrote: »

It's a very fine line to walk though when they provide an essential service that has no back up

87% of them seem to think its worth it. Odd that.

Ace2007 · 19-11-2013 10:02PM

kceire wrote: »

You should read up on the pension levy

There is no PS pension fund, it's paid out of current contributions and current expenditure.

why don't you post a link that shows they keep 65%.

Ace2007 · 19-11-2013 10:03PM

tayto lover wrote: »

87% of them seem to think its worth it. Odd that.

should we do a vote of taxpayers to see if they support paying for their pensions, while private sector pension schemes are allow go bust and no back up?

end of the road · 19-11-2013 10:06PM

P_1 wrote: »

So technically, were a strike to happen and the power be cut there's nothing stopping a group of civic minded technical folk from just walking in and manning the stations, keeping the power on and rendering the strike redundant

possibly, all though with health and safety legislation i can't imagine it would be allowed, i wouldn't be worrying about it anyway as the likelyhood of them downing tools whether they voted it or not for it is very small TBH, will probably be work to rule.

end of the road · 19-11-2013 10:07PM

hmmm wrote: »

People in monopolies should never be allowed strike. Same with the bus and rail workers.

why not? what else should they do if nothing else works? should you be allowed to strike or should you have to put up with your employer doing what it likes and you just have to take it?

P_1 · 19-11-2013 10:07PM

tayto lover wrote: »

87% of them seem to think its worth it. Odd that.

True but it's not exactly the most effective way of getting what they want once you take the likely public reaction to it. Hopefully it's like a nuclear bomb option, useful to have as a deterrent but unthinkable to actually use

end of the road · 19-11-2013 10:08PM

Gmol wrote: »

If the union strike can the general public sue them for hardship

no, if you plan right their will be no hardship, not being able to charge your phone isn't hardship

tayto lover · 19-11-2013 10:10PM

Ace2007 wrote: »

should we do a vote of taxpayers to see if they support paying for their pensions, while private sector pension schemes are allow go bust and no back up?

Taxpayers can think and do what they like. They are not the people in question i.e. the ESB staff.
The taxpayers should have had a vote on the banking bailout if they wanted an issue to vote on. We are being led by the ears in this country. Fair play to the unions.

end of the road · 19-11-2013 10:16PM

Ace2007 wrote: »

should we do a vote of taxpayers to see if they support paying for their pensions, while private sector pension schemes are allow go bust and no back up?

no, would cost to much and take up to much time, why do people always bring up the private sector, its irrelevant, its like the whataboutery which takes up the threads in relation to britain/northern ireland/the troubles

Frank Black · 19-11-2013 10:21PM

end of the road wrote: »

why not? what else should they do if nothing else works? should you be allowed to strike or should you have to put up with your employer doing what it likes and you just have to take it?

You could quit and get a better job elsewhere.

You know, one of those other jobs for life that pay obscenely high wages and has gold played pensions.

tayto lover · 19-11-2013 10:27PM

Frank Black wrote: »

You could quit and get a better job elsewhere.

You know, one of those other jobs for life that pay obscenely high wages and has gold played pensions.

He has a good job.
It's the tricking around with his pension he is angry about.

Black cat banger · 19-11-2013 10:27PM

Corkbah wrote: »

amazing how unions seem to encourage strikes coming up towards christmas …. every year its the same …. we fancy a strike (unless you want to give us more money)

Not amazing pal ....the brothers has been doin this for years.

I can remember a good few years ago there was a vital international soccer match coming up...suddenly the brothers in ESB got a bit agitated and threatned a strike which would have pulled the plug on TV coverage .!

Was contacted by Electric Ireland some time ago and asked to come back( I had gone to Airtricity)

Took pleasure in telling them that if they employ that knobhead Ogle and pay their CEO 700k + I would prefer not to contribute to that sh1te !

Corkbah · 19-11-2013 10:31PM

Ace2007 wrote: »

should we do a vote of taxpayers to see if they support paying for their pensions, while private sector pension schemes are allow go bust and no back up?

unless you happen to have your money with Newbridge credit union … our government considers it better to invest over 50Million to protect the potential loss of 1.1million of customers money !!!

really makes ya think who has their money in Newbridge that our government thinks its worth protecting !!

(sorry for going slightly off topic)

tayto lover · 19-11-2013 10:32PM

Black cat banger wrote: »

Not amazing pal ....the brothers has been doin this for years.

I can remember a good few years ago there was a vital international soccer match coming up...suddenly the brothers in ESB got a bit agitated and threatned a strike which would have pulled the plug on TV coverage .!

Was contacted by Electric Ireland some time ago and asked to come back( I had gone to Airtricity)

Took pleasure in telling them that if they employ that knobhead Ogle and pay their CEO 700k + I would prefer not to contribute to that sh1te !

You should refuse to pay your income tax, property tax etc as well.
Look at the knobheads that's going to pay -- fat ministers etc.

Ace2007 · 19-11-2013 10:33PM

end of the road wrote: »

no, would cost to much and take up to much time, why do people always bring up the private sector, its irrelevant, its like the whataboutery which takes up the threads in relation to britain/northern ireland/the troubles

Please tell me how it is irrelevant, say a guy worked for a company for 40 years and was told on retirement he would get 2/3rds of his final salary as a pension, if the company goes bust before he retires, he will be in a position of probably getting nothing, as currently rules states pensioners get the money first.

Now look at the guy in ESB - same situation and you think they should be bailed out?

What about the 100's of other DB Schemes in deficit, do we just say tough sh!t to those people, they are in private and so you don't care?

Also to add - the pension levy has taken over a billion out of private pension funds since 2011 - what right has the government got to that?

Fiery mutant · 19-11-2013 10:41PM

Let them strike. It will affect them every bit as much as the rest of us.

When they are going home to a freezing home with no electricity to cook, or boil water to wash, or heat their family, we'll see how comfortable they start to feel. I think they forget that no power, means no nothing. Without electricity, the people at risk of dying are not only us, but them as well. Their old mothers, their sick friends in hospital.

So let them strike.

ESB vote to strike over gold plated pensions as winter arrives

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