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Post by Russ Greaves on Jun 22, 2011 18:58:26 GMT
Let's hear the vitriol then.
Bonus points for mentioning how much holiday time they get and what an easy job it is, etc.
My limited understanding of the dispute leads me to believe teachers have a valid excuse for strike action, though I don't expect deep sympathy from other sectors due to the current financial climate.
It seems to be a stock response of many to compare teachers' pay and conditions with their own in order to illustrate they (teachers) have no cause to complain.
Others with less pay, or even the unemployed, like to point out that they have it worse.
I think that misses the point somewhat, as strike action frequently occurs when pay, working conditions and pensions are changed in a way that is at odds with what has previously been promised.
Some people are completely against strike action, but I think we'd become very easy to manipulate if that weapon was removed from our armoury.
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Post by kdwyellow on Jun 22, 2011 19:31:37 GMT
It's an easy job though and they get loads of holidays!
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Post by Russ Greaves on Jun 22, 2011 19:33:19 GMT
*Within the context of an otherwise valid argument
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Post by El Goodo on Jun 22, 2011 19:45:02 GMT
The prevailing anti-teacher attitude on confforum (which is what I am assuming prompted this post) baffles me.
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Post by bamberamber on Jun 22, 2011 19:50:23 GMT
To be honest my daughters school is in my bad books for quite a few reasons, so out of hatred and spite I have no sympathy for the staff at that particular school.
Being a teacher is my idea of a bloody living nightmare, I'd rather disembowel myself with a rusty teaspoon. They deserve better pay than they get and the holidays they get are a perk of the job, although I know they have lessons to prepare for upcoming terms so it's not as long of a holiday as some might imagine.
Personally I hate the idea of strikes in any way, shape or form, I feel that they are blackmail and an irritation for people that aren't the root cause of the strikes in he first place. So I don't support the strikes at all. Why should my child suffer for the sake of adult politics?
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Post by Russ Greaves on Jun 22, 2011 19:51:59 GMT
I actually saw that thread afterwards and have since contributed to it.
There's a lot of mock ignorance on there and a fair few people who have very little interest in entertaining ideas which don't conform with their own, largely unfounded views.
That said, there are plenty of valid arguments that can be raised in opposition to a teachers' strike, but it rests on the rights of those individuals concerned.
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Post by El Goodo on Jun 22, 2011 20:04:51 GMT
There is a lot of mock ignorance but there's also a lot of very narrow-minded and selfish individuals.
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squibbon
Reserve team regular
Posts: 3,497
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Post by squibbon on Jun 22, 2011 20:11:03 GMT
I have no problem with them wanting to strike. It takes the piss a bit though when we are told that we shouldn`t be taking them out of school during term time, because the time is valuable, and then they have to take days off for the teachers to go on strike.
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Post by bamberamber on Jun 22, 2011 20:16:05 GMT
I was going to say the same as you squibbon, I still resent Katie's school for blocking me from taking her on holiday.
She's top set in all lessons and I can't afford to go away during the triple priced school holidays.
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KaiKai
Reserve team star
Posts: 4,131
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Post by KaiKai on Jun 22, 2011 20:36:06 GMT
I don't understand it.
One of the only jobs to pay out a full pension still, they are only brining up the retirement age to European averages and the government dont have the money!
People dont seem to think about the bigger picture. Countries in debt.
That and I could do without them striking when i'm in my A level years!
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Mark of Carnage
Reserve team substitute
Responsibility, Resilience, Respect
Posts: 2,559
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Post by Mark of Carnage on Jun 22, 2011 21:20:14 GMT
Only a third of private sector workers are in a pension scheme while ONS shows 87% of public sector workers are in a pension scheme. The coalition are proposing increasing public sector pension contributions from 6 1/2% to 9% of gross. Someone on a modest £25k is going to have to find another £70 pcm to pay for that or they could opt out altogether and have £200 extra in their pocket to feed their family or meet all these inflated prices. Dont forget inflation is running at around 5% and public sector workers are enjoying pay freezes. It doesn't take much to realise the tories are going to price a lot of low and middle earners out of being able to afford a pension. There is no provision for paying less than the 9%. Its either opt in or opt out. Recipe for disaster. I'm unison and will be voting to strike when our lot are ballotted later in the summer. What we seeing now is just the first wave of action. Tories don't care about ordinary working people's pension provision they just want to force people to opt out and spend. These are fighting times and we got to stay united against them or they will drag this country down with their daft anti growth strategy. We need to protect existing worker's rights and improve the rights of those in private sector. They are attacking us and we have to defend ourselves. Teachers aren't the enemy here. They need supporting. Kai's A levels might lose a bit of currency if he can't meet his fees to go to uni. That's always the intention of Tories to keep the working classes down. Attacking services is always at heart of any tory government. Industrial action like this can't be seen in isolation. There really are loads more of us than them. Together we can unite to stop the tories. We just need to stand up and be counted.
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Post by bamberamber on Jun 22, 2011 21:23:27 GMT
Labour would most likely have raised tuition fees considerably as well, Lib dems said they'd oppose it and then let it slide after all.
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Post by Russ Greaves on Jun 22, 2011 21:29:49 GMT
There is a lot of mock ignorance but there's also a lot of very narrow-minded and selfish individuals. That forum is probably just a place where some people go to espouse the views they can't express anywhere else.
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Mark of Carnage
Reserve team substitute
Responsibility, Resilience, Respect
Posts: 2,559
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Post by Mark of Carnage on Jun 22, 2011 21:30:45 GMT
I don't recall the tory wankers or LD wankers being voted in!
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KaiKai
Reserve team star
Posts: 4,131
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Post by KaiKai on Jun 22, 2011 21:32:00 GMT
Everyone found out there was no choice but to raise tuition fees as theres not enough money to keep funding universities on tax.
It's not an awful system, as you don't pay anything back until you are earning over £20k. Something like, 1p for every £1 you are over £20k. And you won't notice it really, as it will be an automatic thing that any uni graduate will become used to. Until its all paid back.
It doesnt mean less-fortunate people can't go to uni. Because no money is paid upfront...
Uni fee's system is not as bad as Labour tried to make out.
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