[Hammie]

Funny how all the people on strike are on at least quite decent money. Those on genuinely low pay can't afford to strike, often working alongside those manning the braziers.
I have a suspicion that many of those striking are then going into work and being offered overtime to catch up the work they've missed.

[Bluestow]

Funny how all the people on strike are on at least quite decent money. Those on genuinely low pay can't afford to strike, often working alongside those manning the braziers.
I have a suspicion that many of those striking are then going into work and being offered overtime to catch up the work they've missed.

Evidence for your suspicion or unfounded guess?

[firqdays]

Think you touched a nerve there Hammie - too close to the truth to fit the BBC context !

[BilltheCat]

Funny how all the people on strike are on at least quite decent money. Those on genuinely low pay can't afford to strike, often working alongside those manning the braziers.
I have a suspicion that many of those striking are then going into work and being offered overtime to catch up the work they've missed.

Oooo. Hammie goes controversial. Steady, nipper!

[Lawrence]

Funny how all the people on strike are on at least quite decent money. Those on genuinely low pay can't afford to strike, often working alongside those manning the braziers.
I have a suspicion that many of those striking are then going into work and being offered overtime to catch up the work they've missed.

Good job we have you around to decide what is "decent money". Quit reading the bollocks made up by the Daily Mail/Express and actually talk to some of the people involve. You'll soon discover that what they are paid is just the tip of the iceberg. Employers want the whole ball and chain thing back.

Nurses and doctors on strike at the moment (thereby qualifying in your eyes as all the people that are earning "decent" money). So why is there a massive shortage of positions in the NHS and a huge number of them are leaving the profession as apparently there coining it in.

Not having a go, but try and have some empathy and recognition that for someone to reach the point of going without pay isn't an easy choice. Why are people so annoyed at others trying to better themselves? to get better treatment for themselves?

Over decades, the tories have turned this nation into a bunch of "me-me-me's" who squinny at anyone they perceive as doing better than themselves.

[TBP]

And all public sector or pseudo public sector too. We've done without the public sector for nearly three years now, do we still need them or are they a luxury we can no longer afford?

[Smirnoffexpress]

Funny how all the people on strike are on at least quite decent money. Those on genuinely low pay can't afford to strike, often working alongside those manning the braziers.
I have a suspicion that many of those striking are then going into work and being offered overtime to catch up the work they've missed.

Maybe it’s not a case not being able to afford to strike. Maybe it’s if those on low pay happen to not be in a union, then they fear the consequences of striking. IE getting sacked.

[Tufnell_Chimes]

Always hearing how the public sector should behave more like the private sector. Well the NHS has 12,000 doctor vacancies and 50,000 nursing vacancies. When the private sector are having difficulty hiring essential staff, they put up the salary.

[Smirnoffexpress]

Always hearing how the public sector should behave more like the private sector. Well the NHS has 12,000 doctor vacancies and 50,000 nursing vacancies. When the private sector are having difficulty hiring essential staff, they put up the salary.

Another sign of inadequate levels of funding over a forty year period for training enough staff within the NHS. Robbing the third world of their doctors and nurses to prop up our system is also running out of time because being robbed prefer countries that pay them better and give them decent working hours.

[Tufnell_Chimes]

Nurses used to get a bursary, now that get a £29k university bill. Should be paying people to go to university - all fees paid - on the understanding that, once qualified, they give their first five years to the NHS.

[Hammie]

I believe the nurses are once more getting a bursary to train, and quite right too. Although there should be a tie in to work for the NHS for a minimum period in exchange.
Funnily enough I am a teacher so I know very well how much teachers earn. As with so much of the public sector, those who earn the most do far less actual front line teaching. For instance, a head of year at a local secondary on upper pay scale 3 is on about £58K
As regards the NHS. Mrs Hammie works in social care (council employed) at a senior level where she is in a joint NHS/Council team that gets people out of hospital and back home or into care. She works directly with NHS nurses and above. The NHS staff in the team see far fewer patients, finding reasons to fill in forms answer the phone etc etc. And that difference in productivity was tested by an independent time and motion type study a year or so ago. The only staff who achieve less are the agency staff bought in to fill gaps where they cannot recruit carers for social care, bearing in mind that NHS employed carers doing the identical job are paid £8k a year more. With all of that, Portsmouth are still one of the most successful in the country at preventing "bed-blocking."

[Cunninglinguist]

It was an interesting opening gambit, Hammie. How do you regard the argument now?

[Hammie]

It was an interesting opening gambit, Hammie. How do you regard the argument now?

not sure really
I do know that I opted not to vote in the strike vote as I'm not in favour of striking when my work force are on better money than many and removing child care will cost many who cannot afford it money they can ill afford right now.

[exgaffer]

Always hearing how the public sector should behave more like the private sector. Well the NHS has 12,000 doctor vacancies and 50,000 nursing vacancies. When the private sector are having difficulty hiring essential staff, they put up the salary.

The UK borrowed a record amount in December, about 27 billion in one month.

We also paid 17 billion in interest payments on our obscene debt.

We are living way beyond our means, where is this extra money coming from then genius? 

The private sector has to pay for wage increases out of earnings, the public sector does not.

Individuals are going to have to pay more for their healthcare if wages are to increase significantly.

In the real world you have to pay for things Tufnell, a difficult concept for you and Bill I know.

[Smirnoffexpress]

Labour get the “we don’t trust them with the economy” bitthrown at them anywhere near an election. In fact, historically, it’s always the Tories that borrow the most and pay the least back.

[Cunninglinguist]

Always hearing how the public sector should behave more like the private sector. Well the NHS has 12,000 doctor vacancies and 50,000 nursing vacancies. When the private sector are having difficulty hiring essential staff, they put up the salary.

The UK borrowed a record amount in December, about 27 billion in one month.

We also paid 17 billion in interest payments on our obscene debt.

We are living way beyond our means, where is this extra money coming from then genius? 

The private sector has to pay for wage increases out of earnings, the public sector does not.

Individuals are going to have to pay more for their healthcare if wages are to increase significantly.

In the real world you have to pay for things Tufnell, a difficult concept for you and Bill I know.

Always seem to find it all too easily when it comes to weapons and wars.

[Cunninglinguist]

It was an interesting opening gambit, Hammie. How do you regard the argument now?

not sure really
I do know that I opted not to vote in the strike vote as I'm not in favour of striking when my work force are on better money than many and removing child care will cost many who cannot afford it money they can ill afford right now.

A very compassionate view. It’s a shame that people who are paid more and are far better off than you don’t share your sentiment.

[BilltheCat]

"where is this extra money coming from then genius?"

A good starting point would be the filthy rich and corporations paying their taxes like the rest of us. Close all the loopholes, disabuse people from squirreling their money into tax-havens and off-shore accounts and the treasury would rake in billions.

Of course the government needs to lead by example which ain't happening as long as the Tories and their cronies are in charge of our finances (Zahawi, anyone? Sunak and his wife? Fucking Boris Johnson?)

The stench of corruption is overwhelming - or is that too difficult a concept for you, exgaffer?

[dsmg]

I read that tax dodging costs 22 billion compared with benefit fiddling which costs 2 billion. Says it all.

[Cunninglinguist]

I bet you didn’t read that in the daily mail!