Public sector workers tell us why they walked out
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This week’s strike closed three quarters of the schools in England, saw police providing cover to the London Ambulance Service and 26,000 civil servants walk out. Unions say two million people were involved. The Prime Minister called the day a damp squib, claiming less than half that actually took action.
The strike was prompted by reforms to public sector pensions which the Government and many pension experts say are vital to ensure they are sustainable in the long-term. Union leaders say they want to reach a deal but the Government is being unreasonable and not negotiating in good faith. Money Marketing’s political reporter Steve Tolley was on the streets with the strikers to find out why they believe the reforms are unnecessary.
Ministry of Justice fines officer Patrick Wheeler (pictured) says, for him, the strike is about the Government refusing to honour contracts.
“For me personally it is a matter of honour. The Government says to us it is contractually obliged to pay massive bonuses and massive pensions pots to the directors of these banks which went under and have been carried on the taxpayer’s bill. In the same breath they say our contracts are no longer valid and that is not on. Simple as that.”
“Ministers talk in the media about these wonderful offers which will not be repeated but as I understand it they have yet to be tabled at the negotiations. They are being duplicitous about what they say in public and what they are doing in the meetings, though I have to say I did not trust the last Government either.”
“Britain in the 21st Century Britain is ruled by a 19th Century style elite. This is an ultra-conservative Government, they are very much interested in revitalising a class system where people know their place. It is a very strange situation where we have a very strange bunch in charge and I hope we get rid of them as soon as possible.”
‘K’ works for the Department for Work and Pensions but has asked us not to publish his name.
“Frankly no-one in this country, public or private sector, believe we are all in this together. The bankers who caused this problem, who appear to be friends of our leaders do not seem to suffer any sanctions for this at all. The bank levy is tiny and they will find a way around it, everybody knows that. It is disingenuous and unfair. When you add all this together is it surprising there is a good deal of bitterness around?”
“Someone in a senior position like I am, in charge of around 20,000 people, is on £75,000 a year. If I had been working for a private sector company being in charge of so many people I would have probably doubled that. But my salary was held down and that was supposed to pay for my pension.”
Sasha Elliot is a primary school teacher from Camden and membership secretary for the local National Union of Teachers chapter.
“The Government usually carries out independent valuation of the schemes every four years. It is refusing to do the one due now because it knows it will prove it is perfectly sustainable. The truth is, it is quite handy to rob them. The NUT estimate that since 1923, when the teachers pension scheme started, that £46bn has been paid in that has not been paid out, so it is quite clearly a profitable cash-cow.”
She says removing pensions is part of efforts by Education Secretary Michael Gove to fully privatise the education system using the free school and academy programmes.
“Things like teacher’s pensions are a bar to that, and this is a really good way to dismantle it. As the pension contributions go up in four years time you will have teachers starting with 40k of debt. Obviously lots will opt-out and when no-one is paying into them anymore that will make them unsustainable.”
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Readers' comments (22)
Anonymous | 2 Dec 2011 2:08 pm
I have some sympathy for changes made to any contract which leaves the person worse off. However, this has happened across the board and is not targeted at the public sector. For example the old age pension will be paid later and for those who have made no provision, for whatever reason, this means working longer. This is more likely to hit the lower paid and those who are, probably, doing more manual jobs more.
It is unfair to blame all the problems on bankers. Yes there have been significant issues but where were the regulators? Not all banks took tax payers money either so let's not put everyone in the same camp.
In essence we as a country and as individuals have been spending more than we can afford afford to pay.
Is it fair to ask those who have no pension provision, or a lower pension provision, to increase their taxes to pay a larger pension to those in the public sector who could pay more toward their own retirement?
We have to be realistic, when there is no money you have to make cuts.
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Exasperated Me | 2 Dec 2011 2:18 pm
"Bankers caused the problem"???
Shows how ignorant and selfish these people are, we couldn't afford their chuffing pensions 20 years ago!!!
Must calm down, perhaps Clarkson was right, we should put them out of our misery.
BTW, sums up the chumps at the MoJ.
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Julie Wilson | 2 Dec 2011 2:18 pm
It is nonsense to say that those in the public sector get paid less than those in the private sector and that their pension entitlement makes up for that. I would guess there are very few people that go into any employment because of the pension benefits available, and those that do should seriously think about living in the present. Yes, there are some public sector workers that work very hard, but in my experience there is a higher proportion that have never lived in the real world, and spend their lives faffing about dreaming up nonsense for the rest of us to comply with,
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Last Post | 2 Dec 2011 2:26 pm
The public sector workers in Wales were so outraged that most of them went shopping to Cardiff on Wednesday for retail therapy. The shops said they had never had such a busy day. No sympathy here I'm afraid if they can afford to lose a day's pay and treat the day like a holiday.
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Anonymous | 2 Dec 2011 2:32 pm
@ Anonymous | 2 Dec 2011 2:08 pm...Unfortunately realism is not part of the vocabulary of either Politicians or Union Leaders. Politicians acted irresponsibly to buy votes, Union leaders are simply lining their own pockets at members expense. They're as bad as each other.
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David Brookes | 2 Dec 2011 2:50 pm
" Fair Pay for All" say their banners but only if you are in the public sector it should say in brackets. Why do seemingly intelligent people get led by the nose, they should read and digest the terms of the offer rather than believe what the Union tells them it means.
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huw | 2 Dec 2011 2:52 pm
Massive load of cobblers. The levels of pension provision in most private sector jobs will just about cover the Council Tax bill for retirees. Some coffee smelling is needed.
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Roger | 2 Dec 2011 3:12 pm
I'm with Clarkson on this one.
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Ballbag | 2 Dec 2011 3:17 pm
If they are not happy with their pay & pensions and are envious of the private sector, they can always resign and come to our Utopia. If you reckon you can double your money in the private sector, you'd be an idiot not to do it...?
It's very easy to blame everything on the bankers, but the last government must shoulder a lot of the blame.
Teachers in particular should be putting all their efforts into educating our children properly, it is our children who will be paying their gold-plated pensions while being unable to afford their own.
And there weren't any teachers on a picket line round here, they were doing their Christmas shopping. And they've got a "training day" today - and then they break up for their 2 1/2 weeks holiday on the 16th. Poor old teachers.
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MrManc | 2 Dec 2011 3:20 pm
David Brookes | 2 Dec 2011 2:50 pm
" Fair Pay for All" say their banners but only if you are in the public sector it should say in brackets. Why do seemingly intelligent people get led by the nose, they should read and digest the terms of the offer rather than believe what the Union tells them it means.
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So true!
Also interesteing to note that many union leaders have a six figure salary and an average annual pension contribution in the £20,000 range (yes that is per annum).
I also had to laugh at the teachers with the "no cuts" banners with a no symbol over it. So they are supporting the cuts!?
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