Strike Action - Page 4

Neil · 29-03-2006, 07:41

I personally think that a large number of civil servants do a poor job and don't deserve the excellent terms and conditions they get. Many Council services would be much better carried out by contractors. By this I don't mean little companies set up to take over privatised Council services comprised of ex-Council workers. For example Hyndburn Homes. I really can't see them doing any better than HBC did. The problem is with the workforce and managers. They don't appear to be accountable for their actions like us working for private companies. If I stuff up at work I could and would be disciplined for it, ultimately I could be sacked on competance grounds. I can't ever see that happening at a Council.
It's silly things they do like having park keepers start work while it is still dark. This morning the road sweeper came round before 8am, the streets are still full of cars so whats the point of trying to sweep them? If they started after 9am then they would catch litter dropped by school children as well.
What are the managers at HBC actually doing to improve the service they give to us?
The way it comes across is that they don't need to make any improvements, they are in a 'job for life' so why bother?
I know this is not true for all of them, I have met several that are very committed. Like usual though the good ones are out weighed by the many bad ones.

entwisi · 29-03-2006, 09:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Driller

some people joined the civil service (on low wages) because of the security of pensions.. now they are told it means nothing..I agree with the strike

Who says Civil service has been low paid?

IMHO it is normally higher than private sector

stanerlee · 29-03-2006, 09:47

lets's strike- anarchy for the UK!!!!

SPUGGIE J · 29-03-2006, 11:25

The fact is that succesive govenments over the last 50 or so years have increased the number of pen pushers. This is at national county and local level. Now they cannot afford the pensions on the 85 year rule so the answer is what the private sector has to do and that is become lean and mean. Then the could still have 85 year rule forthose who remain. The civil service is now growing fast than it ever has since Augustus Ceaser created the Roman civil service.

stanerlee · 29-03-2006, 12:25

i don't think it's just the civil service. what about council workers that we actually need??? cleaners etc.. i think they have a fair gripe. you pay into a pension fund, you draw from it when you retire. WHEN you're meant to retire without the goalposts being moved. We're not talking rich people here we're talking about the man in the street.

Driller · 29-03-2006, 12:47

I recall that the majority of the british public were against the miners strike in the 80's... holding the country to ransom! what happend.. no more miners 50,000 60,000 70,000 people put on the dole and now we get our coal from poland.. if you want your civil services run from India then go ahead..denonce this action.

SPUGGIE J · 29-03-2006, 13:00

My potshot was at those who would find it hard to justify their job as in big salary big desk actual job err pass not the ones at the frontline.

Madhatter · 30-03-2006, 13:44

Why should the real workers suffer just because they've taken on too many pen pushers though. Some work very hard and do an excelllent job.
I agree with the strike, they signed up to a scheme, on contract, and now it's been changed. That can't be right.
I don't see how you can say they shouldn't be entitled to it if they've been offered it, they signed up for it, they've paid in to it, they've stayed with the same company for all those years to get it, when thay might otherwise have gone off and got a better paid job.
It's a perk thats been offered and descisions have been made based on it.
I didn't work anyway, I've only worked monday so far.

Neil · 30-03-2006, 15:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Madhatter

....they signed up to a scheme, on contract, and now it's been changed. That can't be right....

Why not? Terms and conditions are changed all the time out here in the real world. We now have a situaton at work where people loose pay if they are off sick in the form of waiting days. That wasn't in the contract when they joined up but it is now.

baby boo · 30-03-2006, 16:31

I thought it was wrong for people to strike, my sister had a day of school and she can't afford it, she has her g.c.s.e's in a few weeks and there are people striking about pensions, at least let some youngsters get a decent education so they can get a job and a foot on the pension ladder!

Madhatter · 31-03-2006, 11:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neil

Why not? Terms and conditions are changed all the time out here in the real world. We now have a situaton at work where people loose pay if they are off sick in the form of waiting days. That wasn't in the contract when they joined up but it is now.

Doesn't make it right though, just because they can do it.
Doesn't mean that the people who are going to loose out should just shut up and suffer. Too many people in this country just sit back and let others do what they want to them, and it's only when a union gets involved does anything get done.