Strikes

[RFR937]

Well said Ertie ,you would think with so many employed by the SIC that there would be a bit more of a sense of "community spirit " and support for the workers , at the end of the day the majority of the money is spent within the islands anyway so everyone gains !

[Fifi]

There's a ridiculously high proportion of the population of Shetland employed by the SIC - generally a non-wealth creating government agency providing local services - compared to other authorities.

[Fjool]

But I heard that if everyone gets pay rises then inflation would simply cause the money to be taken away again in higher prices. Can it really be true that to get paid more would be to earn less?

[shetlandlady]

excuse my ignorance, as an SIC employee I back the strikers although cant take part myself, but what ever happened to single status? Is that connected to this pay strike or are they completely seperate?

 

I like so many others, had a nice pay rise dangled in front of my face when the single status letters were sent out, only to have it delayed and delayed. As a mother to be with a hefty mortgage the thought of an extra 80p an hour is much appreciated and as for people saying that some council employees are overpaid and underworked - that may be true for some but please dont assume that its true across the board!! Sometimes it feels like I work my fingers to the bone for the council, and without much thanks I must say.

[JustMe]

Walked past the town hall this morning expecting to see at least a token picket line on the new £30,000 steps. No, not a single striker there to pose for photos or to explain the reasons for the strike. That, I think, is a shame.

[umph]

reason for the strike???? its been on the radio and tv for a week

[paulb]

not sure if we support the strike or not. THE WIFE is a nurse and her union RCN sorted an amazing 2.5 % for three years. that will equal at least a pay cut of 7.5 % if it stays at 5%. this follows a under inflation pay deal last year. and her union was pleased. Just wondered what would happen if all the public sector struck for at least inflation pay rises. no hospitals no fire no police lets not forget the army ect. but of course they wont strike to much of a duty of care. wounder if the council workers have this ethos.

[JustMe]

Could some brave government pass a law that gave all public sector workers earning below some sort of threshold an automatic pay rise every year linked to the rate of inflation or the retail price index or whatever?.

 

Then again it is getting hard to decide who counts as a public sector worker and who does not. Thinking about agency staff and the like.

 

Think our workers.........public and private sector........need some sort of deal that rewards staff for not striking. Thinking about something on the lines of pay increases backdated to the termination date of the previous deal with interest at 2% above the bank base rate. Certainly strikes are not good for workers or the public and something ought to be done.

[jambo6]

Surprised not to see a thread on this, maybe I'm being myopic so apologies if I've missed it.

 

Yesterday I had to take the day off work as the school was closed and the bairns needed looking after. I have no problem with that, people have a right to pursue decent wages. What I do have a problem with is it should have been my peerie boys 1st day in Primary 1, and like many other bairns throughout Shetland he found out on Tuesday it wasnt happening. Plenty of bairns will be unaffected by this but I think there are also a fair few who will have been distressed whether they showed it or not, having pysched themselves up all summer for this big step.

 

A bit thoughtless and selfish by those involved in forcing the schools to close on this particular day and my previously mentioned sympathy is somewhat diminished.

[Fjool]

Surprised not to see a thread on this, maybe I'm being myopic so apologies if I've missed it.

Merged.

[Styumpie]

Inflation is high because oil prices are high, oil prices are high because there is not enough oil being pumped out of the ground to meet demand, this is because there is no more capacity. So we cannot expect to keep our level of wealth, we all get poorer. The council workers should only get a raise in-line with private companies. As the credit crunch bites, fuel, imports and raw materials rocket, the private sector is getting hammered, job losses, stagnating pay etc etc

 

Is it fair for public workers to get inflation linked pay rises when the private sector workers, the people who pay their wages dont?

[ArabiaTerra]

The council workers should only get a raise in-line with private companies

Ah, but do you mean private companies workers? Or their bosses?

[paulb]

Inflation is high because oil prices are high, oil prices are high because there is not enough oil being pumped out of the ground to meet demand, this is because there is no more capacity. So we cannot expect to keep our level of wealth, we all get poorer. The council workers should only get a raise in-line with private companies. As the credit crunch bites, fuel, imports and raw materials rocket, the private sector is getting hammered, job losses, stagnating pay etc etc

 

Is it fair for public workers to get inflation linked pay rises when the private sector workers, the people who pay their wages dont?

 

then dont expect a decent level of service you pay peanuts you get monkeys. the SIC are paying more for a semi trained careworker than a staff nurse. in fact staff nurses are becoming careworkers to earn more with a lot less stress.

 

is the SIC paying its staff the same as mainland britain councils. i better not get started on money wasting.

 

Inflation is high because oil prices are high, oil prices are high because there is not enough oil being pumped out of the ground to meet demand

is this the reason for the price increase or is it money making by wealthy investors. gas has not become 25% rarer this year.

 

i wonder if shetland should get the same banding as london. apart from housing its probably as dear to live up here than there. in fact lets have keyworkers morgages like in the south east.

[ArabiaTerra]

... in fact lets have keyworkers morgages like in the south east.

Now that's one of the best ideas I've heard in a while.

[Styumpie]

Inflation is high because oil prices are high, oil prices are high because there is not enough oil being pumped out of the ground to meet demand, this is because there is no more capacity. So we cannot expect to keep our level of wealth, we all get poorer. The council workers should only get a raise in-line with private companies. As the credit crunch bites, fuel, imports and raw materials rocket, the private sector is getting hammered, job losses, stagnating pay etc etc

 

Is it fair for public workers to get inflation linked pay rises when the private sector workers, the people who pay their wages dont?

 

then dont expect a decent level of service you pay peanuts you get monkeys. the SIC are paying more for a semi trained careworker than a staff nurse. in fact staff nurses are becoming careworkers to earn more with a lot less stress.

 

is the SIC paying its staff the same as mainland britain councils. i better not get started on money wasting.

 

Inflation is high because oil prices are high, oil prices are high because there is not enough oil being pumped out of the ground to meet demand

is this the reason for the price increase or is it money making by wealthy investors. gas has not become 25% rarer this year.

 

i wonder if shetland should get the same banding as london. apart from housing its probably as dear to live up here than there. in fact lets have keyworkers morgages like in the south east.

 

The problem with our council is the sheer amount of staff, and I dont mean care workers, road men, plumbers, etc etc people who actually do work thats needed, we actually need more of them! its the amount of administration, management and consultants et all on bloated salaries they keep creating jobs for, thats where the problem is.

 

We dont get anywhere near the service we are forced to pay for, it gets syphoned off into nonjobs.

 

If I could opt out of council tax, and not use their services I would in a heart beat.

 

As for oil and gas, yes, it is running out, that is why prices are high, supply and demand, investors play a very small part in the price of oil and gas, due to the very nature of the futures contract.