Schools announce strike closures (From Bucks Free Press)

Disgusting. They ought to try living in the real world. Most people have to find their own pensions nowadays with no input from their employer. These teachers should be ashamed of themselves. I have no sympathy for them at all or for any other public sector workers complaining about pensions. Trouble is that public sector workers have had it too good for too long! Welcome to the real world!

I don't know. It boils down to who we see as valuable workers in our society.
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As the silly poll connected to this article shows, they provide a childminding service paid for by all tax payers.
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For most parents, this is priceless. And folk will back the teachers with the pretense that they care about teachers' pensions.
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We can after all teach our own children, can't we?

I'd love to be on a teachers' wage, with some great holiday breaks (wait for the flack on that one), combined with a pension scheme that blows away 95% of private pension schemes.

Oh what a happy, cushy live they will have upon retirement...

Ooops - Life

Please wake up and read the comments following the previous article before spouting here.

Almost the entire public sector is striking next Wednesday over far more than just pensions - teachers are just one group whose unions have asked us to support this national strike.

Please read the facts and don't believe what the government, the tabloids and other lazy journalists tell you!

Please read the headline to this article:
"Ten schools announce strike closures"

Holy Trinity school in Marlow is closed for years 3 and 4. Years 5 & 6 have school as usual.

Tigeran/Alberto the Great - I'm guessing you are not teachers.

Come and try it for a week or so and then decide if you think we deserve around £10,000 a year in retirement (the average teacher's pension - certainly not 'gold-plated'!)

Don't believe the hype - focus your anger and frustration on the politicians/bankers who caused this mess - you are falling into the trap that the government wants you to (divide and conquer!)

Bucksteacher.

Sure, I am annoyed at the government and the bankers.

Plus, I'm not a teacher, and I do empathise with your work, which the vast majority of you do very well. You, nurses, the emergency services, and our armed forces, all excel at what you do, and generally speaking, you are mostly underpaid for what you do.

Some of the other public sector workers are more dubious ; councillors and MP’s in particular.

However, a £10k pension is more than most private sector workers can look forward to, plus your contributions to that pension are far lower than the equivalent private sector contributions required to attain the same level of pension.

Therefore, a strike by the public service grates….

get to work. and do what you are paid for . and sort your own pension out .
its only a part time job anyway with all the hoildays . same as all other public sector workers sort yourself out

Alberto the Great...

Your reply seems fair and balanced and you make some very positive comments about public sector workers.

Believe me, we are aware that we get more paid holiday and a better pension deal than many in the private sector - the 'gold-plated' label is a lie though!. Although most teachers are in it to make a difference, it is these perks that make the huge day-to-day stress of the job worthwhile. As mentioned previously, this strike is about more than just pensions - we stand to lose what little non-teaching time we get, which will force us to do even more at home (most of my colleagues already average between 50-65 hours per week during term time).

I don't have an answer for how private sector workers can improve their pay and conditions - I just hope that the government's (and certain newspaper's) attempts to pit private and public sector workers against each other will fail in the end. We should unite against the real culprits that got us into this mess!

That will not happen as long as ordinary fall for and are taken in by the divide and rule methods they use.

or the ordinary have jobs in the real world that are dependent on sales to generate income, not tax supported and so if the money isn't there can't demand it

PS until earlier this year I ran a business employing 94 staff!! I earnt less than £40K!! and worked 60+ hours per week 51 weeks per year.. me big bad boss in private sector!!

readerabc...

There will be plenty of opportunities in teaching in the coming years - around 50% of teachers are apparently considering quitting the profession.

You overlook the fact that those in the 'real world' have been given an education provided by schools and teachers - without motivated and well-rewarded teachers, education standards in this country will continue to slide and there will be yet fewer wealth-creators and employers in the private sector.

erum correct me if I'm wrong bucksteacher but aren't teachers then just doing their job?

not do job= deserve to be sacked

should we say that our streets are nice and clean only because the street cleaners are highly dedicated and rewarded or just that they do their job???

we pay taxes to pay for education so it's not free!!

This has, sadly, become such an emotion contaminated issue.
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Public and Private sector workers are not being "pitted" against one another but comparisons are - validly - being made between the median income and benefits of workers in both sectors. Unless lies are being told by relatively independent data providers it is a fact that Public sector workers (paid by taxpayers including Public sector workers) appear to be better rewarded/benefitted than workers in the Private sector (paid from the profits generated by the businesses within which they work).
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The frequently quoted 'facts' that teachers work lesser hours than workers in the Private sector and that teachers work excessive hours outside of the workplace are either 'facts' or they are not true. In either case they are irrelevant to the issue being discussed/debated, i.e. should Public sector workers be going on strike on Nov. 30th - and, potentially, on several future occassions.
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Of course Public sector workers have the right to protest by withdrawing their labour - that is unarguable. The issue being discussed/debated is whether or not it is equitable that they should be taking this action in the current circumstances.
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Sadly, in my view, the current circumstances are not such as to justify this course of action.
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The task for Teachers /Public sector workers is to convince the population that the proposed changes are inequitable and unfair; they have, apparently, singularly failed so to do up to this point in time.

bucksteacher wrote:
Tigeran/Alberto the Great - I'm guessing you are not teachers. Come and try it for a week or so and then decide if you think we deserve around £10,000 a year in retirement (the average teacher's pension - certainly not 'gold-plated'!) Don't believe the hype - focus your anger and frustration on the politicians/bankers who caused this mess - you are falling into the trap that the government wants you to (divide and conquer!)

You really do make me laugh!! You think £10k a year pension is BAD?!!! do you know how much someone in the private sector would have to pay out of an average salary to achieve that? Probably not as you are living in a different world. STOP MOANING AND GET BACK TO WORK!!!

readerabc wrote:
or the ordinary have jobs in the real world that are dependent on sales to generate income, not tax supported and so if the money isn't there can't demand it

PS until earlier this year I ran a business employing 94 staff!! I earnt less than £40K!! and worked 60+ hours per week 51 weeks per year.. me big bad boss in private sector!!

Sounds like you were either in the wrong business or just not very good at it then.

Perhaps you should have paid more attention to your teachers when you were at school.

I think it is outrageous that useful professions in society such as teachers, nurses and civil servants (who keep the country running) expect any pension or salary. These people should be doing it for the love of the job. They are not making money, they are just helping others in their jobs. We must concentrate on making life as good as possible for City Bankers and chief executives who's salaries are only going up 46% a year at the moment.They are the jobs we clearly value as we pay them 100s of times more than the stikers. If these lay about teachers go on strike next week, just because the government is trying to break their terms of employment to take away pensions they have been paying into all their careers, I won't be able to go out to lunch and will have to look after the kids. It's a disgrace!!

When people rob banks, they go to jail.

When banks rob people, they get bonuses.

How often do you hear about a teacher being sacked, NEVER. In the past 40 YEARS only 18 teachers have been sacked for being incomptent. So many of them are rubbish at their jobs but because they work in the public sector they get away with in. We keep hearing what a great job they are doing, really! why then do we hear from so many company CEO's about the poor state or school leavers? In my opinion many of them are lucky to have jobs, let alone pensions.

BBC News article in the last 40 years only 18 teachers sacked for not being up to the job in 40 years.

http://www.bbc.co.uk
/news/10464617

I trained as a teacher but chose not to pursue that career, went to work in the private sector for a while but came back to the civil service for the love of the job. Believe me, money was not the motivating factor as I currently earn less than I did 10 years ago but work longer hours. I earn roughly 20% less than my peers, I take less holiday than they do and I cannot afford to take holidays abroad, spoil my child, buy new cars or indulge in other wild luxuries. I do not have the disposable income to save as many of my peers do - although being in our early 30s most of them spend more on the luxuries than they save. My point is that the media highlights only the senior civil service, the small percentage who are overpaid but the vast majority are people like me who are tarred with the same brush, treated as though we're as bad as benefit thieves living off taxes (I should point out that my tax deductions are as high as everyone else's) and for many people like me the security of having a good pension was more than just a perk. We're providing essential services without which the private sector would struggle but no one remembers that. We do it for very little pay and even less recognition but many are drawn to these careers in part for the pension deal. That said, I don't believe in the strikes; I find them an archaic method of trying to resolve an issue and find that they upset the public rather than raise awareness of the genuine issues. We should remove the old, stubborn union leaders and replace them with younger people with the initiative to negotiate a better deal using more appropriate methods. As for teachers striking - I have many, many friends and family who are teachers all of whom are paid far better than I am but still not in line with the average Joe.

Possum1 said:
"We're providing essential services without which the private sector would struggle"

That's true of education and the emergency services. What other essential services would the private sector struggle without?

I ask this because nearly everything else is available through the private sector.

For business, the public sector is mainly a massive burden.

Please enlighten me/us further,

I'll add Highways Agency to the above, but even that needs a Bl**dy good sort out!

Add Beaconsfield to the list of schools.

I think the teachers need to wake up to the real world, although they in most cases do a great job, there are also lots of private sector workers doing the same and unable to get pay rises or other benefits due to the state of the economy.

People get what can be budgeted for, not what they think they are worth, unless they are a banker!

One of the public sector benefits you get is the pension that is paid for by others as with the other essential services, but in these times where money and jobs are scarce do you want to be promoting to our children that if you can't get what you want then you should strike!

Our kids will be getting the impression that if they can't get what they want then they should object and not do it.

What state will that put us in for the future?

Based on some the arguments advanced here, because some workers only get paid the National Minimum Wage and only receive the Statutory Minimum holidays, then that should be acccepted by every worker within the economy.

Unions formed because of the willingness of those in control of work and wages to drive down living standards and pay wages on which it was impossible to live and individual workers, standing alone, could not stand up to these powerful individuals.

In the private sector, we have returned to that position. Who decides in the private sector whether the provision of a decent pension scheme is affordable? And who it is affordable for?

Maybe if shareholders and senior managers were not so concerned about their own remuneration and dividends, then the continued provision of reasonable pension provision in the private sector would have been secured - or if private sector workers had continued to realise the benefits of the collective strength of workers. But they were seduced by the idea of getting rid of fair pay and terms, argued for collectively, in return for the fairy myth of better wages for 'me' - the elusive chance to get one over on the next guy.

Strikes are never the preferred way forward - but when you are faced with an employer who refuses to have meaningful discussions, what options are left, if you refuse to simply roll over, tug your forelock and thank kind master for a job of any kind?

Look at recent evidence on the potential pensions of those in Government seeking to force these amendments through - like their private sector boardroom buddies, it is one rule for workers and another for the bosses. Rises of nearly 45% in the last year for FTSE Top 100 bosses - I suspect the level wasn't the same further down the same companies!

The unions involved are prepared to talk; they are prepared to accept the need to amend terms; BUT they not prepared to let their members' terms be imposed, by dictat, by those who will never understand what it is to live on a basic wage and have to rely on benefits to top that up so kids can be fed, clothed and kept warm.

And those who fall for the Tory media hype to urge a rush to the bottom had better prepare for the return of feudalism, the logical end point of their arguments.

Teachers. Count yourselves lucky you have a job, let alone a pension! I know of plenty of people who would kill for a job right now, so while you have an extra day off on top of all your holidays you already get, consider the unemployed and poverty stricken families. Be grateful!

MOCOB,

Much of what you say is true, during times of prosperity. But we are now in an economic crisis that is killing many companies. Therefore everyone in those companies that close, loses their job, including the bosses.

You only have to walk down the high streets of this country to see the boarded-up shops, or the charity shops that have taken over failed companies.

The private sector is in crisis, and it is mainly due to the current and previous governmental mismanagement of the country’s finances. This isn’t helped by colossal business rates imposed on companies.

Essentially, the cost of the public sector is killing this country.

marlow678 wrote:
BBC News article in the last 40 years only 18 teachers sacked for not being up to the job in 40 years. http://www.bbc.co.uk /news/10464617

I noticed no teachers responded to my post! Oh and are the teachers who work for private schools striking? NO! Same old public sector workers, cr*p at their job, and wanting the earth.

Alberto,

Sorry, no, it is NOT the cost of the public sector, it is the greed of the wealthy:
- it was that greed which fueled the money market tactics that led to the financial crisis in the first place;
- it is that greed which puts CEO remuneration and shareholder dividends over the fair reward of the work force, who are the very source of that prosperity: very few CEOs could 'deliver' their company's profit alone from the boardroom; very few bankers could deliver their profits without the hard working staff who they are failing to adequately reward;

Similarly it is the expansion of that greed and envy, fuelled during the reign of Thatcher and echoed by her 'sons', Blair and Cameron, which sees the wealthiest in our country now arguing that the 50% tax rate on their massive earnings is too high and needs to be cut, rather than seeing this as a way of supporting those less well-off than themselves.

The truth is that society cannot afford to be without their public services or their public servants:
- ask those who no longer have a place to go, a day centre, because these have been cut;
- ask those who feel frightened to go out after dark, due to front line police cuts;
- ask those who queue for hours in airports because there are too few immigration officers;
- ask those whose children are excluded from schools, because it is cheaper than dealing with their individual needs.

Recent Governments have used the cloak of a terrorist threat to disguise the removal of so many of our core civil liberties; now they want to use the cloak of economic crisis to strip away the hard won benefits of workers, in the private and public sectors. Rather than allowing them to set one of group of workers against the other, we need to stand together to resist this onslaught together.

MACOB,

Some valid points (Banker greed), some debatable points.

However it was our recent governments (public sector) who decided to go to war with various countries, and spend multiple billions on those wars. This was/is followed by more multiple billions on the subsequent protection required due to raised levels of terrorism threats against us.

Our going to war against those countries has only had negative impacts on this country, and is costing us all, far more than we can afford. In retrospect, it would have been far more cost effective, to give each citizen of each of those countries, about £5,000 each, and just walk away. No loss of life, no increased terrorist threat, no additional defence spending required…..

Then, our Prime Minister of the day, a former financial expert (laughingly) decided to sell off a huge part of our gold reserves at a point in time when the gold prices were at their lowest. How shrewd was that.

Thanks public sector. (Government)

tom.marlow2 wrote:

readerabc wrote:
or the ordinary have jobs in the real world that are dependent on sales to generate income, not tax supported and so if the money isn't there can't demand it

PS until earlier this year I ran a business employing 94 staff!! I earnt less than £40K!! and worked 60+ hours per week 51 weeks per year.. me big bad boss in private sector!!

Sounds like you were either in the wrong business or just not very good at it then.

Perhaps you should have paid more attention to your teachers when you were at school.

no - I just knew that the business could not sustain any higher and rather than strike about it, got on with it as I knew 94 other peoples livihoods depended on whether or not I kept the business going!

being in the private sector does not mean we are all higly paid- oh and bythe way I got 9 O levels and 2 masters degrees, so please dont think I'm thick!

tom.marlow2 wrote:

readerabc wrote:
or the ordinary have jobs in the real world that are dependent on sales to generate income, not tax supported and so if the money isn't there can't demand it

PS until earlier this year I ran a business employing 94 staff!! I earnt less than £40K!! and worked 60+ hours per week 51 weeks per year.. me big bad boss in private sector!!

Sounds like you were either in the wrong business or just not very good at it then.

Perhaps you should have paid more attention to your teachers when you were at school.

i've also seen my friends business sales dive 50% as they had contracts with the public sector that have been cut..by civil servants who still insist on training courses/meetings finishing at 1.30pm so they are entitled to a lunch, who insist on using hotels at high rates when a vilage hall would do and who need days out to think about their work or employ equality and diversity coordinators!!!! that's where the money is being wasted!!!

marlow678 wrote:

marlow678 wrote: BBC News article in the last 40 years only 18 teachers sacked for not being up to the job in 40 years. http://www.bbc.co.uk /news/10464617

I noticed no teachers responded to my post! Oh and are the teachers who work for private schools striking? NO! Same old public sector workers, cr*p at their job, and wanting the earth.

You seem to overlook the fact that teachers cannot spend time on local newspaper websites during the day.

You really have no idea! Spend some time alongside teachers in a local state school and then make your judgements.

I have worked in three schools in which the vast majority of staff have been dedicated to improving the life chances of young people. The issue you raise is not the responsibility of other teachers to sort out - you should take this up with the Department for Education; I agree that incompetent teachers should be dealt with.

As mentioned previously, a wide-scale public sector strike is taking place next Wednesday and the union I am a member of (largely for the piece of mind and protection from false accusations of students) has balloted to support this strike - it is not a "teachers" strike.

Several comments have been made along the lines of "if you don't like it, get out". Believe me, plenty of fantastic teachers are considering doing this right now; they will be replaced, as many people have turned to teacher training in the recession, but the loss of experienced teachers will impact on educational standards in the UK.

Bucksteacher.
I think the message here is, don't go, but don't strike either...

bucksteacher wrote:

marlow678 wrote:

marlow678 wrote: BBC News article in the last 40 years only 18 teachers sacked for not being up to the job in 40 years. http://www.bbc.co.uk /news/10464617

I noticed no teachers responded to my post! Oh and are the teachers who work for private schools striking? NO! Same old public sector workers, cr*p at their job, and wanting the earth.

You seem to overlook the fact that teachers cannot spend time on local newspaper websites during the day. You really have no idea! Spend some time alongside teachers in a local state school and then make your judgements. I have worked in three schools in which the vast majority of staff have been dedicated to improving the life chances of young people. The issue you raise is not the responsibility of other teachers to sort out - you should take this up with the Department for Education; I agree that incompetent teachers should be dealt with. As mentioned previously, a wide-scale public sector strike is taking place next Wednesday and the union I am a member of (largely for the piece of mind and protection from false accusations of students) has balloted to support this strike - it is not a "teachers" strike. Several comments have been made along the lines of "if you don't like it, get out". Believe me, plenty of fantastic teachers are considering doing this right now; they will be replaced, as many people have turned to teacher training in the recession, but the loss of experienced teachers will impact on educational standards in the UK.

The bottom line for everyones annoyance at the fact that the public sector, school teachers or not, are striking over pensions. Pensions are something that the private sector worker, I am now talking about the majority of people, not your high paid bankers etc, has suffered dramatically with over the last few years and many have had theirs cut drastically and in some cases actually STOLEN by the last government! I think I am right in saying that most people would argue as to why just because you were told you had this pension and now you may not get it, should you feel so different to the rest of us?!!

At least the people that appreciate their jobs will have quieter roads for driving into work!

Instead of going on at the public sector pensions, get on to your MP to find out how stole the private pension funds with the extra taxes on fund profits.
How about getting off your seats and demanding answers as to why the private pensions are being robbed by sucsessive governments to help pay for MPs pensions and expenses.

bucksteacher wrote:
Alberto the Great...

Your reply seems fair and balanced and you make some very positive comments about public sector workers.

Believe me, we are aware that we get more paid holiday and a better pension deal than many in the private sector - the 'gold-plated' label is a lie though!. Although most teachers are in it to make a difference, it is these perks that make the huge day-to-day stress of the job worthwhile. As mentioned previously, this strike is about more than just pensions - we stand to lose what little non-teaching time we get, which will force us to do even more at home (most of my colleagues already average between 50-65 hours per week during term time).

I don't have an answer for how private sector workers can improve their pay and conditions - I just hope that the government's (and certain newspaper's) attempts to pit private and public sector workers against each other will fail in the end. We should unite against the real culprits that got us into this mess!

Sorry but I feel it is totally immoral as a public sector employee to strike. I am in the public sector and have never and will never use a strike as blackmail. We do not generate wealth like the private sector but use resources, albeit for the common good. If you do not like being a teacher or feel undervalued you may leave. It is your choice but striking is unprofessional, it is blackmail and hurts the pupils. How selfish.

To be honest what example are teachers setting for all these children well the answer is if you do not get your own way you walk out!!

Times are tough for all even if you run your own business but thats the way life is at the moment and we as tax payers who pay your pension think sometimes you should put up and get on with what you are paid to do whether your a teacher, border control etc............

tigeran wrote:

bucksteacher wrote:

marlow678 wrote:

marlow678 wrote: BBC News article in the last 40 years only 18 teachers sacked for not being up to the job in 40 years. http://www.bbc.co.uk /news/10464617

I noticed no teachers responded to my post! Oh and are the teachers who work for private schools striking? NO! Same old public sector workers, cr*p at their job, and wanting the earth.

You seem to overlook the fact that teachers cannot spend time on local newspaper websites during the day. You really have no idea! Spend some time alongside teachers in a local state school and then make your judgements. I have worked in three schools in which the vast majority of staff have been dedicated to improving the life chances of young people. The issue you raise is not the responsibility of other teachers to sort out - you should take this up with the Department for Education; I agree that incompetent teachers should be dealt with. As mentioned previously, a wide-scale public sector strike is taking place next Wednesday and the union I am a member of (largely for the piece of mind and protection from false accusations of students) has balloted to support this strike - it is not a "teachers" strike. Several comments have been made along the lines of "if you don't like it, get out". Believe me, plenty of fantastic teachers are considering doing this right now; they will be replaced, as many people have turned to teacher training in the recession, but the loss of experienced teachers will impact on educational standards in the UK.

The bottom line for everyones annoyance at the fact that the public sector, school teachers or not, are striking over pensions. Pensions are something that the private sector worker, I am now talking about the majority of people, not your high paid bankers etc, has suffered dramatically with over the last few years and many have had theirs cut drastically and in some cases actually STOLEN by the last government! I think I am right in saying that most people would argue as to why just because you were told you had this pension and now you may not get it, should you feel so different to the rest of us?!!

But we are NOT just striking over pensions (the media are not reporting the full facts, as usual)...

I am striking on Wednesday because, alongside changes to my pension, the government are proposing to strip away my right to non-teaching time during the school day (the only opportunity to plan lessons/mark books other than at home) along with many many other improvements to my working conditions brought in over recent years.

I am also striking to support those other public sector workers in healthcare and other essential services such as border control, who have seen similar or worse erosion of both their pay and working conditions.

Finally, I am striking because (despite what the government are claiming), my union has been attempting productive discussions and asking for a clear picture of the sustainability of the Teacher's Pension Scheme since the coalition came to power and hitting a brick wall.

Just to clarify, when I am not striking I am normally at my classroom desk by 6:45am, have 10 minutes for lunch, leave at 5pm to spend a bit of time with my own kids. I then start work again at 7:30pm when they are in bed, stopping at around 10pm most nights and going to bed. I usually fit around 4-5 hours more in over the weekend. I think the government get their pound of flesh!

tigeran wrote:

bucksteacher wrote:

marlow678 wrote:

marlow678 wrote: BBC News article in the last 40 years only 18 teachers sacked for not being up to the job in 40 years. http://www.bbc.co.uk /news/10464617

I noticed no teachers responded to my post! Oh and are the teachers who work for private schools striking? NO! Same old public sector workers, cr*p at their job, and wanting the earth.

You seem to overlook the fact that teachers cannot spend time on local newspaper websites during the day. You really have no idea! Spend some time alongside teachers in a local state school and then make your judgements. I have worked in three schools in which the vast majority of staff have been dedicated to improving the life chances of young people. The issue you raise is not the responsibility of other teachers to sort out - you should take this up with the Department for Education; I agree that incompetent teachers should be dealt with. As mentioned previously, a wide-scale public sector strike is taking place next Wednesday and the union I am a member of (largely for the piece of mind and protection from false accusations of students) has balloted to support this strike - it is not a "teachers" strike. Several comments have been made along the lines of "if you don't like it, get out". Believe me, plenty of fantastic teachers are considering doing this right now; they will be replaced, as many people have turned to teacher training in the recession, but the loss of experienced teachers will impact on educational standards in the UK.

The bottom line for everyones annoyance at the fact that the public sector, school teachers or not, are striking over pensions. Pensions are something that the private sector worker, I am now talking about the majority of people, not your high paid bankers etc, has suffered dramatically with over the last few years and many have had theirs cut drastically and in some cases actually STOLEN by the last government! I think I am right in saying that most people would argue as to why just because you were told you had this pension and now you may not get it, should you feel so different to the rest of us?!!

But we are NOT just striking over pensions (the media are not reporting the full facts, as usual)...

I am striking on Wednesday because, alongside changes to my pension, the government are proposing to strip away my right to non-teaching time during the school day (the only opportunity to plan lessons/mark books other than at home) along with many many other improvements to my working conditions brought in over recent years.

I am also striking to support those other public sector workers in healthcare and other essential services such as border control, who have seen similar or worse erosion of both their pay and working conditions.

Finally, I am striking because (despite what the government are claiming), my union has been attempting productive discussions and asking for a clear picture of the sustainability of the Teacher's Pension Scheme since the coalition came to power and hitting a brick wall.

Just to clarify, when I am not striking I am normally at my classroom desk by 6:45am, have 10 minutes for lunch, leave at 5pm to spend a bit of time with my own kids. I then start work again at 7:30pm when they are in bed, stopping at around 10pm most nights and going to bed. I usually fit around 4-5 hours more in over the weekend. I think the government get their pound of flesh!

bucksteacher wrote:

tigeran wrote:

bucksteacher wrote:

marlow678 wrote:

marlow678 wrote: BBC News article in the last 40 years only 18 teachers sacked for not being up to the job in 40 years. http://www.bbc.co.uk /news/10464617

I noticed no teachers responded to my post! Oh and are the teachers who work for private schools striking? NO! Same old public sector workers, cr*p at their job, and wanting the earth.

You seem to overlook the fact that teachers cannot spend time on local newspaper websites during the day. You really have no idea! Spend some time alongside teachers in a local state school and then make your judgements. I have worked in three schools in which the vast majority of staff have been dedicated to improving the life chances of young people. The issue you raise is not the responsibility of other teachers to sort out - you should take this up with the Department for Education; I agree that incompetent teachers should be dealt with. As mentioned previously, a wide-scale public sector strike is taking place next Wednesday and the union I am a member of (largely for the piece of mind and protection from false accusations of students) has balloted to support this strike - it is not a "teachers" strike. Several comments have been made along the lines of "if you don't like it, get out". Believe me, plenty of fantastic teachers are considering doing this right now; they will be replaced, as many people have turned to teacher training in the recession, but the loss of experienced teachers will impact on educational standards in the UK.

The bottom line for everyones annoyance at the fact that the public sector, school teachers or not, are striking over pensions. Pensions are something that the private sector worker, I am now talking about the majority of people, not your high paid bankers etc, has suffered dramatically with over the last few years and many have had theirs cut drastically and in some cases actually STOLEN by the last government! I think I am right in saying that most people would argue as to why just because you were told you had this pension and now you may not get it, should you feel so different to the rest of us?!!

But we are NOT just striking over pensions (the media are not reporting the full facts, as usual)...

I am striking on Wednesday because, alongside changes to my pension, the government are proposing to strip away my right to non-teaching time during the school day (the only opportunity to plan lessons/mark books other than at home) along with many many other improvements to my working conditions brought in over recent years.

I am also striking to support those other public sector workers in healthcare and other essential services such as border control, who have seen similar or worse erosion of both their pay and working conditions.

Finally, I am striking because (despite what the government are claiming), my union has been attempting productive discussions and asking for a clear picture of the sustainability of the Teacher's Pension Scheme since the coalition came to power and hitting a brick wall.

Just to clarify, when I am not striking I am normally at my classroom desk by 6:45am, have 10 minutes for lunch, leave at 5pm to spend a bit of time with my own kids. I then start work again at 7:30pm when they are in bed, stopping at around 10pm most nights and going to bed. I usually fit around 4-5 hours more in over the weekend. I think the government get their pound of flesh!

But you are still striking!! I feel it is totally immoral as a public sector employee to strike. I am in the public sector and have never and will never use a strike as blackmail. We do not generate wealth like the private sector but use resources, albeit for the common good. If you do not like being a teacher or feel undervalued you may leave. It is your choice but striking is unprofessional, it is blackmail and hurts the pupils. How selfish.

The latest comres poll ( significantly more accurate than the 5minute poll on this site) showed a 60% support for the public sector strikes.

http://www.bbc.co.uk
/news/uk-15915650

There are a small number of veciferous idiots on this site just having an arguement amongst themselves. Try openign your eyes to the reality of the situation.

And if one more person says that 'teaching' is not a REAL WORLD JOB ....... hello what world are you living in then ?


And BTW the bucks cc website is not uptodate, there are schools closing or partially clsoing that HAVE NOT DECLARED YET..

educationbod.

The “Reality of the situation” is, that the public sector is far far more protected than the private sector.

It is far easier to lose your job in the private sector, through redundancies and lay-offs, due to business cutbacks and closures.

Then to top it all, the public sector have pension schemes that offer so much more than is available in the private sector for any given equal input.

And now you want to strike!?!?

Alberto The Great wrote:
educationbod. The “Reality of the situation” is, that the public sector is far far more protected than the private sector. It is far easier to lose your job in the private sector, through redundancies and lay-offs, due to business cutbacks and closures. Then to top it all, the public sector have pension schemes that offer so much more than is available in the private sector for any given equal input. And now you want to strike!?!?

No it is not more protected. Look into the face of the teachers who have been made redundant every year in this county and say that agin. Ignorance on your part.

Schools in bucks are threatened with closure, redundancies have been happenign all across the county in schools and central services, all public sector.

When you compare like for liek qualifications, a private sector employees earns more.

We chose to be teachers, we worked hard for it. We are prepared to fight for it. This negativity aimed at us is a projection of your bitterness that no one defended you. SOmething to think about.

This is not about the scheme being too expensive.. ebcause its not. Its about the tories hating the public sector...

So which is correct:
Teacher shortages or Teacher redundancies?

educationbod wrote:

This negativity aimed at us is a projection of your bitterness that no one defended you. SOmething to think about.

This is not about the scheme being too expensive.. ebcause its not. Its about the tories hating the public sector...


You're wrong on both counts educationbod.

1. This "negativity" is about fairness.
2. How can the Tories hate the public sector? They ARE the public sector.

Don't go on strike. Do as you are told by multi-millionaires who will need a job at the top of a big bank/corporation when they leave office. Its vital for everyone's pension to be destroyed, so if private pensions have been mangled by governments it is unfair to fight for YOUR pension in such a selfish manner. Health workers, teachers, road cleaners, council workers and civil servants are great until they selfishly stand up for themselves at which poit we see them revealed as the over-paid scrounging scum the are. Get back to work! Not like GPs, MPs, bankers and other 'weath creators' who deserve every break for the hard yacht buying, tax dodging and overseas hiding of wealth that they are forced to do to make this country great. I've got to stop...I'm welling up...