What if the private sector really did go on strike?
Discussion
Following the public sector and their notoriety for striking, what if the private sector did? I know we all know it would never actually happen but what if it did?
In my industry it wouldn't be too bad oddly. I'm in transport and distribution and so if the trucks aren't moving, then the warehouses aren't clearing - but, the factories making the goods to fill them wouldn't be working anyway so there wouldn't be anything 'new' to move. Shops would be shut so people wouldn't be buying and in turn stock wouldn't need replenishing as if people were still buying.
Of course, it's not this simple but I'm interested to dig a little deeper into the scenarios we would be faced with.
In my industry it wouldn't be too bad oddly. I'm in transport and distribution and so if the trucks aren't moving, then the warehouses aren't clearing - but, the factories making the goods to fill them wouldn't be working anyway so there wouldn't be anything 'new' to move. Shops would be shut so people wouldn't be buying and in turn stock wouldn't need replenishing as if people were still buying.
Of course, it's not this simple but I'm interested to dig a little deeper into the scenarios we would be faced with.
I love the way a large proportion of this forum see's it as an "us and them" issue. But if you're public sector it, means the "us = the public sector" and the "them = the government" but when you look at the private sector, "us = the private sector" and "them = the public sector".
Fascinating.
One thing as a mechanic which always annoyed me, was the majority of electrical and plumbing work carried out in a house had to be carried out by a professional. I made a point in another topic that health and safety measures are often advised by insurance companies - so that they have a "legal get out clause" if customers tried to plumb or wire up their house incorrectly they would not be covered...
...but jack-the-lad across the street is more than welcome to replace suspension, brakes, upgrade the engine all by himself without the use of a professional and then travel down single carridgeways at 60mph?
If the mechanic trade went on strike, people would just laugh. Why spend all that money when I can fix my car with a tool-kit I won in a Christmas cracker?
Fascinating.
One thing as a mechanic which always annoyed me, was the majority of electrical and plumbing work carried out in a house had to be carried out by a professional. I made a point in another topic that health and safety measures are often advised by insurance companies - so that they have a "legal get out clause" if customers tried to plumb or wire up their house incorrectly they would not be covered...
...but jack-the-lad across the street is more than welcome to replace suspension, brakes, upgrade the engine all by himself without the use of a professional and then travel down single carridgeways at 60mph?
If the mechanic trade went on strike, people would just laugh. Why spend all that money when I can fix my car with a tool-kit I won in a Christmas cracker?
This us & them is an interesting issue in my house.
My wife is public sector, in a union, on strike tomorrow etc etc etc, I'm private sector, and would sack mine for gross missconduct (well I'd try, warnings etc) if they went on strike.
My wife is like most public sector types, she has absolutely no idea where the money comes from, sort of thing, or doesn't really care, she'd be quite happy for the private sector to work until they are 80, paying more taxes etc, so she can retire at 60 on a full pension.
My wife is junior management level, and if the private sector types could see what the public sector types get up to, what benefits they have, how they cheat the system, off work with stress, regarding sick leave as annual leave etc etc etc.
The public sector types I know are clueless, if possible I'd sack the lot of them, and take people from the dole who want to work !
My wife is public sector, in a union, on strike tomorrow etc etc etc, I'm private sector, and would sack mine for gross missconduct (well I'd try, warnings etc) if they went on strike.
My wife is like most public sector types, she has absolutely no idea where the money comes from, sort of thing, or doesn't really care, she'd be quite happy for the private sector to work until they are 80, paying more taxes etc, so she can retire at 60 on a full pension.
My wife is junior management level, and if the private sector types could see what the public sector types get up to, what benefits they have, how they cheat the system, off work with stress, regarding sick leave as annual leave etc etc etc.
The public sector types I know are clueless, if possible I'd sack the lot of them, and take people from the dole who want to work !
NoNeed said:
i like the idea of doing a 4 day week for a year so the public sector will have to get used to losing another 20%.
Maybe then they may start to get the message that i dont work just to provide thier gravy train.
And with rising living costs you can afford to do that? Maybe then they may start to get the message that i dont work just to provide thier gravy train.
...maybe apply to be a teacher if they've got it so good? Chances are, like the rest of us you don't have the intelligence nor the qualifications. And if you have, the probability is that you're on a higher wage than most public sector workers other than doctors and dentists anyway!
SpeedMattersNot said:
...maybe apply to be a teacher if they've got it so good? Chances are, like the rest of us you don't have the intelligence nor the qualifications. And if you have, the probability is that you're on a higher wage than most public sector workers other than doctors and dentists anyway!
It's not that. It's the fact I couldn't do what I do for the public sector. I also don't think I could earn what I earn either.Nigel Worc's said:
This us & them is an interesting issue in my house.
My wife is public sector, in a union, on strike tomorrow etc etc etc, I'm private sector, and would sack mine for gross missconduct (well I'd try, warnings etc) if they went on strike.
My wife is like most public sector types, she has absolutely no idea where the money comes from, sort of thing, or doesn't really care, she'd be quite happy for the private sector to work until they are 80, paying more taxes etc, so she can retire at 60 on a full pension.
My wife is junior management level, and if the private sector types could see what the public sector types get up to, what benefits they have, how they cheat the system, off work with stress, regarding sick leave as annual leave etc etc etc.
The public sector types I know are clueless, if possible I'd sack the lot of them, and take people from the dole who want to work !
You speak very highly of your wife. My wife is public sector, in a union, on strike tomorrow etc etc etc, I'm private sector, and would sack mine for gross missconduct (well I'd try, warnings etc) if they went on strike.
My wife is like most public sector types, she has absolutely no idea where the money comes from, sort of thing, or doesn't really care, she'd be quite happy for the private sector to work until they are 80, paying more taxes etc, so she can retire at 60 on a full pension.
My wife is junior management level, and if the private sector types could see what the public sector types get up to, what benefits they have, how they cheat the system, off work with stress, regarding sick leave as annual leave etc etc etc.
The public sector types I know are clueless, if possible I'd sack the lot of them, and take people from the dole who want to work !
Fortunately my partner has worked longer in the private sector than she has in the public sector. She's exceptionally bright too...she got a B at A-Level maths 3 years early. But she adores music...and teaches it very well and enjoys her job, even if it is more effort than a similar wage for her would be if she utilised her software programming HND in the private sector.
She's willing to put her effort in for a good cause, she has done for the past 4 years. Despite multiple area's of her working situation changing she's been happy...until the government have set-up her workforce and it's unions and used them as scapegoats. Suddenly she's the victim? Brilliant...
I'm still in support of her though..!
SpeedMattersNot said:
NoNeed said:
i like the idea of doing a 4 day week for a year so the public sector will have to get used to losing another 20%.
Maybe then they may start to get the message that i dont work just to provide thier gravy train.
And with rising living costs you can afford to do that? Maybe then they may start to get the message that i dont work just to provide thier gravy train.
...maybe apply to be a teacher if they've got it so good? Chances are, like the rest of us you don't have the intelligence nor the qualifications. And if you have, the probability is that you're on a higher wage than most public sector workers other than doctors and dentists anyway!
FFS if you want to strike then f
king well strike but do it in a proper way...Teachers... They sit in lessons and then don't teach anything, that way you don't f
k off the private sector who need to take a day off work to look after their kids cause they can't work from home.Tube/Rail/blah... sit there with the barriers open and don't accept any money and hurt them that way, don't stop people who need to get into work from working and expect them to support you.
I could go on... but Im not.
The unions are just a complete disgrace, they do more bad then good and Im trying to think of the last thing they did that was worthy of them being in existence.
All they are doing is asking for pay rises and better pensions in a country were the private sector is slashing wages... most of my friends have had a wage cut of 10-15% in the last 2 months again!! Yet the Public sector want a pay rise, etc....
Please... its an absolute joke.
Wonder how many striking even turn up to protest?
Du1point8 said:
If we don't have the intelligence nor the qualifications how come we can see that all this is just blackmail and holding the government to ransom?
Intelligence is questionable, but do you have the qualifications? Anyway...the government are equally to blame for blackmailing the public sector. As said, they're using the teachers as a scapegoat.
Du1point8 said:
FFS if you want to strike then fking well strike but do it in a proper way...
Teachers... They sit in lessons and then don't teach anything, that way you don't fk off the private sector who need to take a day off work to look after their kids cause they can't work from home.
Tube/Rail/blah... sit there with the barriers open and don't accept any money and hurt them that way, don't stop people who need to get into work from working and expect them to support you.
I could go on... but Im not.
Hmm, why should they go into work and still not get paid? If they only disrupt the children...what is the sense in that aswell? I can tell your rage has got the better of your judgement here...the idea of the teachers striking, IMO is they have to let parents know they actually exist and if it disrupts their lives - that is the aim. But the issue is with the government for the teachers and unions...not with the general public. But it's the general public who have a problem with the teachers, not with the government. Truth is, the government is stating "we're in this together" but ACTUALLY no one politician is going to be affected by a) the strikes or b) the public sector cuts. What Cameron actually means is; "You're all in this together!". Teachers... They sit in lessons and then don't teach anything, that way you don't fk off the private sector who need to take a day off work to look after their kids cause they can't work from home.
Tube/Rail/blah... sit there with the barriers open and don't accept any money and hurt them that way, don't stop people who need to get into work from working and expect them to support you.
I could go on... but Im not.
Do1point8 said:
The unions are just a complete disgrace, they do more bad then good and Im trying to think of the last thing they did that was worthy of them being in existence.
All they are doing is asking for pay rises and better pensions in a country were the private sector is slashing wages... most of my friends have had a wage cut of 10-15% in the last 2 months again!! Yet the Public sector want a pay rise, etc....
If the Unions didn't exist, the government would just enforce much harsher chances on the public sector. Effectively, the unions are trying to protect these services and prevent us from becoming a 3rd world country where no one wants to work for the public sectors. All they are doing is asking for pay rises and better pensions in a country were the private sector is slashing wages... most of my friends have had a wage cut of 10-15% in the last 2 months again!! Yet the Public sector want a pay rise, etc....
Do1point8 said:
Please... its an absolute joke.
Wonder how many striking even turn up to protest?
TBH, I wouldn't want my partner doing a "protest". Chances are the same, usual bunch of yobs would show up, cause a riot against the establishment and have nothing to do whatsoever with the teachers opinions and create more harm than good. Wonder how many striking even turn up to protest?
The private sector needs to wake up and "live in the real world...We (as in the general public, public sector or private) are in this together"
SpeedMattersNot said:
Paradox much?
You mention saying that the private sector needs to join the real world as we are all in this together...Yet the private sector have had the pay cuts, the pensions slashed, work longer hours, don't take the piss with sick leave, etc... this was all in 2008 and now its happening again in 2010 and they are going through it whole circle. (least with the pay at the moment)
What have the public sector done in that time?
Strike for better pensions
Strike for more pay as they want payrises
Strike for less hours but same pay, due to union regulations.
Still take the piss with sick leave that would see you get sacked in the private sector.
And you come on this thread and tell me the private sector need to live in the real world???
I think you need to take a long hard look at yourself if you are thinking that its the public sector living in the real world and not some union fantasy.
When I saw that statement off you the rest of your message was instantly null and voided.
Du1point8 said:
SpeedMattersNot said:
Paradox much?
You mention saying that the private sector needs to join the real world as we are all in this together...Yet the private sector have had the pay cuts, the pensions slashed, work longer hours, don't take the piss with sick leave, etc... this was all in 2008 and now its happening again in 2010 and they are going through it whole circle. (least with the pay at the moment)
Do1point8 said:
What have the public sector done in that time?
Strike for better pensions
Strike for more pay as they want payrises
Strike for less hours but same pay, due to union regulations.
Still take the piss with sick leave that would see you get sacked in the private sector.
And you come on this thread and tell me the private sector need to live in the real world???
I'm being facetious...Strike for better pensions
Strike for more pay as they want payrises
Strike for less hours but same pay, due to union regulations.
Still take the piss with sick leave that would see you get sacked in the private sector.
And you come on this thread and tell me the private sector need to live in the real world???
I can't speak for the entire public sector. But I can speak for those who I know and relatively, they're much harder working and have harder working environments than those in the private sector. I've got friends working for the AA and British Gas who earn more than half the teachers I know and like myself - couldn't get a degree let alone an A-Level! (though I plan to adjust that this year)
-My partner has had her own work budget cut, but better grades expected.
-The number of students she teaches has gone up.
-The facilities around her have been diluted (external county music services).
This is on top of the main 5 points, everyone including yourself is already aware of. Previous changes to how teacher pensions are calculated, their pay freezes etc, etc.
They're striking out of a last resort. Not out of greed - Wake up!
Do1point8 said:
I think you need to take a long hard look at yourself if you are thinking that its the public sector living in the real world and not some union fantasy.
When I saw that statement off you the rest of your message was instantly null and voided.
As said, I'm playing devils advocate. I personaly believe those on the opposite ends of the spectrum are both being highly inconsiderate based on lack of knowledge. You've got moronic teachers painting their faces in their unions colours, waving flags and blowing air-horns on one side...and a high proportion of the other end of the spectrum on this forum, being quite offensive about the public sector - including teachers! When I saw that statement off you the rest of your message was instantly null and voided.
I believe it's the general publics job, whether it be private or public sector to unite - but unfortunately the governments doing a good enough job, combined with the biased views of the media and unions which are preventing a positive attitude in this country.
If the unions and public sector fell inline, you've been brainwashed if you honestly believe your life would be better off.
SpeedMattersNot said:
If the Unions didn't exist, the government would just enforce much harsher chances on the public sector. Effectively, the unions are trying to protect these services and prevent us from becoming a 3rd world country where no one wants to work for the public sectors.
Public services that aren't fit for purpose and that we can't afford - and which the electorate have communicated that they don't want by voting the current coalition in. What right of these dinosaurs have to go against the democratic process?Not even going to comment on the 'all in this together' quote. That is so spectacularly far from the truth that t has demonstrated to me just how far out of touch the public sector is.
Vytalis said:
SpeedMattersNot said:
If the Unions didn't exist, the government would just enforce much harsher chances on the public sector. Effectively, the unions are trying to protect these services and prevent us from becoming a 3rd world country where no one wants to work for the public sectors.
Public services that aren't fit for purpose and that we can't afford - and which the electorate have communicated that they don't want by voting the current coalition in. What right of these dinosaurs have to go against the democratic process?Not even going to comment on the 'all in this together' quote. That is so spectacularly far from the truth that t has demonstrated to me just how far out of touch the public sector is.
Don't think so.
IMO the coalition by implementing cuts are effectively saying they can't manage the public sector divisions any better than the previous government and it is embarrasing.
SpeedMattersNot said:
ducation service not fit for purpose? Not wanted by the electorate that communicated a coalition government?
Don't think so.
IMO the coalition by implementing cuts are effectively saying they can't manage the public sector divisions any better than the previous government and it is embarrasing.
Well I and many others DO think so. Education is not fit for purpose (sample evidence: enormous rate of youth unemployment).Don't think so.
IMO the coalition by implementing cuts are effectively saying they can't manage the public sector divisions any better than the previous government and it is embarrasing.
The coalition IS managing the public sector - it has analysed it as unfit for purpose and unaffordable and therefore needs to change. Previous government didn't do that.
SpeedMattersNot said:
IMO the coalition by implementing cuts are effectively saying they can't manage the public sector divisions any better than the previous government and it is embarrasing.
No what's embarrasing is that the public service can't see how adding 1 million jobs to the public sector ranks in the previous administration had a large impact on government spending.Osborne should give the public sector a 10% payrise, and then axe 20% of them - that will make the union bosses heads implode. Do more with less - it's what the provate sector have done for the past few years.
Vytalis said:
SpeedMattersNot said:
ducation service not fit for purpose? Not wanted by the electorate that communicated a coalition government?
Don't think so.
IMO the coalition by implementing cuts are effectively saying they can't manage the public sector divisions any better than the previous government and it is embarrasing.
Well I and many others DO think so. Education is not fit for purpose (sample evidence: enormous rate of youth unemployment).Don't think so.
IMO the coalition by implementing cuts are effectively saying they can't manage the public sector divisions any better than the previous government and it is embarrasing.
The coalition IS managing the public sector - it has analysed it as unfit for purpose and unaffordable and therefore needs to change. Previous government didn't do that.
Someone I knew, bought their 3year old son an iPod Touch - for their 3rd birthday! He will no doubt be the father who complains the teachers arn't doing enough when his son can't do his Year7 English home work...
Employers have the pick of the bunch right now. Do you pick someone who has a years experience and the same qualifications...or the one with less experience? It's naturally going to happen. Unemployment is up altogether...
Something has to be done, but slagging off the public sector and pin-pointing teachers who have a difficult job enough is disgraceful. By all means, slag off bin men (most earn more than I did as a mechanic - but then oily arm-pits are bad enough, let alone picking up nappies for a living) but people personally attacking the teachers I know and have massive respect, is detrimental to the entire country IMO.
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