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Do you want to discuss boring politics? (20 Viewers)

  • Thread starter mrtrench
  • Start date Jun 14, 2020
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Brighton Sky Blue

Well-Known Member
  • Jan 18, 2023
  • #25,411
skybluetony176 said:
They’d rather have a culture war at any cost than take a sensible approach to finding a solution. Divide and conquer. Although I think the majority of the country has seen through the Tories and the divide and conquer boat has not only sailed its vanished over the horizon.
Click to expand...
It's hard for them to declare a culture war on someone like Mick Lynch who they can't exactly trot out the 'cosmopolitan leftist elite' lines at. Really made a lot of them look stupid one after the other.
 
Reactions: Terry Gibson's perm and Sky Blue Pete

Terry Gibson's perm

Well-Known Member
  • Jan 18, 2023
  • #25,412
Brighton Sky Blue said:
It's hard for them to declare a culture war on someone like Mick Lynch who they can't exactly trot out the 'cosmopolitan leftist elite' lines at. Really made a lot of them look stupid one after the other.
Click to expand...


Eddie Dempsey is to clever for them as well, just typed in Mick Lynch and the mail had a headline calling him rail baron Mick Lynch
 

Sky_Blue_Dreamer

Well-Known Member
  • Jan 18, 2023
  • #25,413
skybluetony176 said:
They’d rather have a culture war at any cost than take a sensible approach to finding a solution. Divide and conquer. Although I think the majority of the country has seen through the Tories and the divide and conquer boat has not only sailed its vanished over the horizon.
Click to expand...
I'd love it to be the case but I don't think it is.

Divide and conquer and the culture war are still very much alive and conning people into thinking it's the unions being unreasonable. Obv some older people from the 70's/80's will be ingrained to believe unions are bad but even some that wouldn't remember that period are taken in by the "unaffordable and will bankrupt the country" and "it causes inflation" arguments.
 
Reactions: duffer
B

Brighton Sky Blue

Well-Known Member
  • Jan 18, 2023
  • #25,414
Sky_Blue_Dreamer said:
I'd love it to be the case but I don't think it is.

Divide and conquer and the culture war are still very much alive and conning people into thinking it's the unions being unreasonable. Obv some older people from the 70's/80's will be ingrained to believe unions are bad but even some that wouldn't remember that period are taken in by the "unaffordable and will bankrupt the country" and "it causes inflation" arguments.
Click to expand...

They may well do, but others will see what unions will ultimately win for their members and perhaps even try to start new ones in other sectors that really need them. Gig economy workers especially.
 
Reactions: Sky Blue Pete
C

CCFCSteve

Well-Known Member
  • Jan 19, 2023
  • #25,415
Brighton Sky Blue said:
Quite an interesting concession for him to make. Admitting that 'cracking the unions' is more important to the government than money.

Train strikes: Cheaper to settle, minister admits

It would have cost less to settle earlier but reforms remained necessary, rail minister tells MPs.
www.bbc.co.uk
Click to expand...

Theres not doubt the government wouldn’t want to be seen backing down straight away but as the article says the unwillingness to modernise was also another main issue.

You could argue ulterior motives from the other side as well. Out of the strikes Lynch showed his hand when he rejected the last offer. He started talking about better redistribution of wealth when asked about cost of the strikes to workers. Whilst noble, that’s not his remit. The rail workers are likely to be currently worse off in short term even if they get another percent or two due to loss of working days. I did wonder if the unions actually shared with members the comparison of what increase they’re realistically looking to achieve and the average cost per day of striking in terms of percentage of annual wage. Lynch refused to answer this on tv

Just to be clear, as I’ve said before, I’ve got different views of the different strikes. If there’s a massive shortage of workers/huge number of vacancies, difficulties with retention and where the system/workplace is close to breaking point (like nurses and nhs) that’s totally different. I understand there’s similar but maybe not quite as bad challenges in teaching. I might be wrong but I’m not aware there is in rail or postal services.
 
Reactions: rondog1973, chiefdave and Brighton Sky Blue

shmmeee

Well-Known Member
  • Jan 19, 2023
  • #25,416
CCFCSteve said:
Theres not doubt the government wouldn’t want to be seen backing down straight away but as the article says the unwillingness to modernise was also another main issue.

You could argue ulterior motives from the other side as well. Out of the strikes Lynch showed his hand when he rejected the last offer. He started talking about better redistribution of wealth when asked about cost of the strikes to workers. Whilst noble, that’s not his remit. The rail workers are likely to be currently worse off in short term even if they get another percent or two due to loss of working days. I did wonder if the unions actually shared with members the comparison of what increase they’re realistically looking to achieve and the average cost per day of striking in terms of percentage of annual wage. Lynch refused to answer this on tv

Just to be clear, as I’ve said before, I’ve got different views of the different strikes. If there’s a massive shortage of workers/huge number of vacancies, difficulties with retention and where the system/workplace is close to breaking point (like nurses and nhs) that’s totally different. I understand there’s similar but maybe not quite as bad challenges in teaching. I might be wrong but I’m not aware there is in rail or postal services.
Click to expand...

The teaching challenges don’t get publicity but for example my daughter is no longer taught Computing because they simply can’t find any staff. Even asked if I’d be willing to work one day a week for them.
 

shmmeee

Well-Known Member
  • Jan 19, 2023
  • #25,417
Only over sixties voting majority Tory now…

 

clint van damme

Well-Known Member
  • Jan 19, 2023
  • #25,418
shmmeee said:
The teaching challenges don’t get publicity but for example my daughter is no longer taught Computing because they simply can’t find any staff. Even asked if I’d be willing to work one day a week for them.
Click to expand...

This country is a fucking shambles.
 
Reactions: chohan
B

Brighton Sky Blue

Well-Known Member
  • Jan 19, 2023
  • #25,419
CCFCSteve said:
Theres not doubt the government wouldn’t want to be seen backing down straight away but as the article says the unwillingness to modernise was also another main issue.

You could argue ulterior motives from the other side as well. Out of the strikes Lynch showed his hand when he rejected the last offer. He started talking about better redistribution of wealth when asked about cost of the strikes to workers. Whilst noble, that’s not his remit. The rail workers are likely to be currently worse off in short term even if they get another percent or two due to loss of working days. I did wonder if the unions actually shared with members the comparison of what increase they’re realistically looking to achieve and the average cost per day of striking in terms of percentage of annual wage. Lynch refused to answer this on tv

Just to be clear, as I’ve said before, I’ve got different views of the different strikes. If there’s a massive shortage of workers/huge number of vacancies, difficulties with retention and where the system/workplace is close to breaking point (like nurses and nhs) that’s totally different. I understand there’s similar but maybe not quite as bad challenges in teaching. I might be wrong but I’m not aware there is in rail or postal services.
Click to expand...

This response doesn’t surprise me in the slightest.
 
B

Brighton Sky Blue

Well-Known Member
  • Jan 19, 2023
  • #25,420
clint van damme said:
This country is a fucking shambles.
Click to expand...

I see a lot of French unions striking over Macron wanting to raise their pension age up from 62. In this country we all seem to passively accept that it’ll go up to 70 only in a matter of time.

The consequence of repeated failure by the left to win elections
 
Reactions: chiefdave
C

CCFCSteve

Well-Known Member
  • Jan 19, 2023
  • #25,421
shmmeee said:
The teaching challenges don’t get publicity but for example my daughter is no longer taught Computing because they simply can’t find any staff. Even asked if I’d be willing to work one day a week for them.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I was suggesting teaching does face challenges and was differentiating it from rail and postal
 
Reactions: shmmeee
P

PVA

Well-Known Member
  • Jan 19, 2023
  • #25,422
shmmeee said:
Only over sixties voting majority Tory now…

View attachment 28138
Click to expand...

I really hope that's them fucked for a generation.
 

shmmeee

Well-Known Member
  • Jan 19, 2023
  • #25,423
CCFCSteve said:
Yeah, I was suggesting teaching does face challenges and was differentiating it from rail and postal
Click to expand...

Yeah I know. Was just pointing out you don’t hear about them. Schools have a habit of just cracking on and “kid misses Computing” isn’t as sexy as “lady dies on trolley”
 
Reactions: Sky Blue Pete
C

CCFCSteve

Well-Known Member
  • Jan 19, 2023
  • #25,424
Brighton Sky Blue said:
I see a lot of French unions striking over Macron wanting to raise their pension age up from 62. In this country we all seem to passively accept that it’ll go up to 70 only in a matter of time.

The consequence of repeated failure by the left to win elections
Click to expand...

We live a lot longer as well. Theres a massive pension/aging population timebomb that nobody wants to discuss. It’s also a massive problem with public sector pensions
 
Reactions: Sky Blue Pete
B

Brighton Sky Blue

Well-Known Member
  • Jan 19, 2023
  • #25,425
CCFCSteve said:
We live a lot longer as well. Theres a massive pension/aging population timebomb that nobody wants to discuss. It’s also a massive problem with public sector pensions
Click to expand...

The answer of taxing the rich and big business more is one that the Tories know is what’s required but are held back from admitting.

Last time I checked French life expectancy was higher too.
 
Reactions: duffer, chiefdave and Sky Blue Pete
C

CCFCSteve

Well-Known Member
  • Jan 19, 2023
  • #25,426
shmmeee said:
Yeah I know. Was just pointing out you don’t hear about them. Schools have a habit of just cracking on and “kid misses Computing” isn’t as sexy as “lady dies on trolley”
Click to expand...

Probably not quite as important either . I’ve got views around salaries etc but don’t know enough about set up in public sector pay levels etc so some of these might already happen…

Increased rewards for higher performance (what’s the pay differential between a great teacher and a shit one excl heads of department etc ?)
Higher salaries for subjects where there’s shortages
Much higher salaries to attract best teachers into poor performing/less attractive schools
Offer nurses (and potentially other public sector) a chance to flex emp’er pension contributions by 5% or so for period of time to increase basic in short term
More bursaries for areas where there’s shortages
 
C

CCFCSteve

Well-Known Member
  • Jan 19, 2023
  • #25,427
Brighton Sky Blue said:
The answer of taxing the rich and big business more is one that the Tories know is what’s required but are held back from admitting.

Last time I checked French life expectancy was higher too.
Click to expand...

That’s why Macrons had to do something
 
Reactions: Sky Blue Pete
C

CCFCSteve

Well-Known Member
  • Jan 19, 2023
  • #25,428
Brighton Sky Blue said:
This response doesn’t surprise me in the slightest.
Click to expand...

You’ve got to remember, I come from a private sector background where if I wasn’t getting rewarded I’d change careers or go to a different firm. I appreciate its different in public sector and the last thing the country needs is a load of nurses and teachers leaving the profession, especially when vacancies are high, which is why there is more justification for the strikes. I just can’t get onboard with the rail and postal ones in particular, as I don’t think the same reasonings or justifications apply
 

shmmeee

Well-Known Member
  • Jan 19, 2023
  • #25,429
CCFCSteve said:
Probably not quite as important either . I’ve got views around salaries etc but don’t know enough about set up in public sector pay levels etc so some of these might already happen…

Increased rewards for higher performance (what’s the pay differential between a great teacher and a shit one excl heads of department etc ?)
Higher salaries for subjects where there’s shortages
Much higher salaries to attract best teachers into poor performing/less attractive schools
Offer nurses (and potentially other public sector) a chance to flex emp’er pension contributions by 5% or so for period of time to increase basic in short term
More bursaries for areas where there’s shortages
Click to expand...

It’s really hard to say what a good teacher is TBF. Results? Massively dependent on exam choice and cohort. Ofsted rating? Very variable and subjective. I’ve been everything from Requires Improvement to Outstanding depending on the school and the class and the inspector.

I’ve seen schools try this sort of approach but it doesn’t really work for knowledge workers. It’s fine if you’re a widget maker or salesman, but really most teachers aren’t motivated by pay and those that are are incentivised to cut corners and cheat the system. Same with league tables really, it created all kinds of perverse incentives for schools.

The fundamental problem is that generally Teacher pay has dropped, but in certain subjects it’s significantly lower than industry pay for that qualification. If you’ve got Maths, Physics, Computing backgrounds you’d have to be a saint to work as a teacher.


It’s easy to say “get rid of bad teachers” but until you’ve got a surplus that’s pretty much impossible.

The whole system needs a rethink because right now it forces anyone with any options at all out through stress and frustration.
 
Last edited: Jan 19, 2023
Reactions: duffer, Ian1779, Sky Blue Pete and 1 other person

Sky_Blue_Dreamer

Well-Known Member
  • Jan 19, 2023
  • #25,430
CCFCSteve said:
Theres not doubt the government wouldn’t want to be seen backing down straight away but as the article says the unwillingness to modernise was also another main issue.

You could argue ulterior motives from the other side as well. Out of the strikes Lynch showed his hand when he rejected the last offer. He started talking about better redistribution of wealth when asked about cost of the strikes to workers. Whilst noble, that’s not his remit. The rail workers are likely to be currently worse off in short term even if they get another percent or two due to loss of working days. I did wonder if the unions actually shared with members the comparison of what increase they’re realistically looking to achieve and the average cost per day of striking in terms of percentage of annual wage. Lynch refused to answer this on tv

Just to be clear, as I’ve said before, I’ve got different views of the different strikes. If there’s a massive shortage of workers/huge number of vacancies, difficulties with retention and where the system/workplace is close to breaking point (like nurses and nhs) that’s totally different. I understand there’s similar but maybe not quite as bad challenges in teaching. I might be wrong but I’m not aware there is in rail or postal services.
Click to expand...
This post pretty much backs up what I wrote about people having their focus pulled away from the issue of wages consistently over a period of time not keeping up with inflation to talk about other issues like modernisation and efficiency. Even got the "unions are too pushy" in there for good measure.

The fact is that these workers, many of whom not that long ago were consider frontline and vital, are now being castigated for wanting wages increases that match their increasing costs.

There are huge numbers of vacancies to be filled in places like the NHS and teaching. Even most unfilled posts in general are relatively low skilled. Economics would say high demand, low supply = wages get higher. But apparently that doesn't matter.

I don't see a huge number of unfllled executive posts or consituencies without anyone wanting to be the MP. So where is the uproar when MP's give themselves massive pay rises? Where is the call for an institution that still works from rules set out hundreds of years ago to modernise and be more efficient instead?
 
Reactions: duffer and chiefdave

Sky_Blue_Dreamer

Well-Known Member
  • Jan 19, 2023
  • #25,431
CCFCSteve said:
We live a lot longer as well. Theres a massive pension/aging population timebomb that nobody wants to discuss. It’s also a massive problem with public sector pensions
Click to expand...
There is the issue of increasing life expectancy so therefore a pension would have to provide for longer and therefore need a bigger pot.

But the correct response, as has been pointed out, is distribute wealth more fairly and people will be able to better provide for their old age.
 
Reactions: Sky Blue Pete
B

Brighton Sky Blue

Well-Known Member
  • Jan 19, 2023
  • #25,432
shmmeee said:
It’s really hard to say what a good teacher is TBF. Results? Massively dependent on exam choice and cohort. Ofsted rating? Very variable and subjective. I’ve been everything from Requires Improvement to Outstanding depending on the school and the class and the inspector.

I’ve seen schools try this sort of approach but it doesn’t really work for knowledge workers. It’s fine if you’re a widget maker or salesman, but really most teachers aren’t motivated by pay and those that are are incentivised to cut corners and cheat the system. Same with league tables really, it created all kinds of perverse incentives for schools.

The fundamental problem is that generally Teacher pay has dropped, but in certain subjects it’s significantly lower than industry pay for that qualification. If you’ve got Maths, Physics, Computing backgrounds you’d have to be a saint to work as a teacher.


It’s easy to say “get rid of bad teachers” but until you’ve got a surplus that’s pretty much impossible.

The whole system needs a rethink because right now it forces anyone with any options at all out through stress and frustration.
Click to expand...

As I am finding in trying to leave the profession, my pay as a teacher is actually on par with what I can get in the chemicals sector, even with a PhD. Which does to be honest come as a bit of a shock.
 

shmmeee

Well-Known Member
  • Jan 19, 2023
  • #25,433
Brighton Sky Blue said:
As I am finding in trying to leave the profession, my pay as a teacher is actually on par with what I can get in the chemicals sector, even with a PhD. Which does to be honest come as a bit of a shock.
Click to expand...

I took a pay hit initially, but very quickly moved up both internally and by moving jobs, which isn’t really possible in teaching.
 
Reactions: Sky Blue Pete
B

Brighton Sky Blue

Well-Known Member
  • Jan 19, 2023
  • #25,434
shmmeee said:
I took a pay hit initially, but very quickly moved up both internally and by moving jobs, which isn’t really possible in teaching.
Click to expand...

I’m talking about what is pretty much the peak salary in pharma or related roles. It pretty much flattens out at 50k.
 
C

CCFCSteve

Well-Known Member
  • Jan 19, 2023
  • #25,435
Sky_Blue_Dreamer said:
This post pretty much backs up what I wrote about people having their focus pulled away from the issue of wages consistently over a period of time not keeping up with inflation to talk about other issues like modernisation and efficiency. Even got the "unions are too pushy" in there for good measure.

The fact is that these workers, many of whom not that long ago were consider frontline and vital, are now being castigated for wanting wages increases that match their increasing costs.

There are huge numbers of vacancies to be filled in places like the NHS and teaching. Even most unfilled posts in general are relatively low skilled. Economics would say high demand, low supply = wages get higher. But apparently that doesn't matter.

I don't see a huge number of unfllled executive posts or consituencies without anyone wanting to be the MP. So where is the uproar when MP's give themselves massive pay rises? Where is the call for an institution that still works from rules set out hundreds of years ago to modernise and be more efficient instead?
Click to expand...

We agree on the main point. It’s down to supply and demand and the government/pay bodies need to better recognise there is a shortage of staff and retention issue in certain areas and reflect that in better pay or numbers

The problem was the pay body met before the massive increase in inflation. This should’ve been easily resolved with a bonus payment to tide workers over until next pay review

ps I’d gladly reform the Lords to save money. Aren’t they up to 900 now ?! WTF ?! I haven’t got an issue with MP salaries but think they should wa them if they have second salaries about a certain amount (or stop second incomes if it’s above certain hours)
 
Reactions: shmmeee
C

CCFCSteve

Well-Known Member
  • Jan 19, 2023
  • #25,436
Brighton Sky Blue said:
As I am finding in trying to leave the profession, my pay as a teacher is actually on par with what I can get in the chemicals sector, even with a PhD. Which does to be honest come as a bit of a shock.
Click to expand...

You wait until you pro rate it taking holidays into consideration and add the pension

Next rounds on you BSB
 
Reactions: Brighton Sky Blue

shmmeee

Well-Known Member
  • Jan 19, 2023
  • #25,437
Brighton Sky Blue said:
I’m talking about what is pretty much the peak salary in pharma or related roles. It pretty much flattens out at 50k.
Click to expand...

Jeez.

Is there anything else you’d like to do?
 
D

Deleted member 9744

Guest
  • Jan 19, 2023
  • #25,438
CCFCSteve said:
We live a lot longer as well. Theres a massive pension/aging population timebomb that nobody wants to discuss. It’s also a massive problem with public sector pensions
Click to expand...
The life expectancy in here and in France is roughly the same.
 
D

Deleted member 9744

Guest
  • Jan 19, 2023
  • #25,439
Brighton Sky Blue said:
I see a lot of French unions striking over Macron wanting to raise their pension age up from 62. In this country we all seem to passively accept that it’ll go up to 70 only in a matter of time.

The consequence of repeated failure by the left to win elections
Click to expand...
It is staggering how in this country people time and again vote against their best interests.
 
Last edited by a moderator: Jan 19, 2023
Reactions: oakey, clint van damme and Brighton Sky Blue
D

Deleted member 5849

Guest
  • Jan 19, 2023
  • #25,440
£50k is not a bad salary of course, let's just remember that too
 
Reactions: Sick Boy and Sky Blue Pete

rob9872

Well-Known Member
  • Jan 19, 2023
  • #25,441
Any chance you teachers could strike on teacher 'training days'? I assume you could do your marking and lesson planning whilst on the picket line too
 

Grendel

Well-Known Member
  • Jan 19, 2023
  • #25,442
Deleted member 5849 said:
£50k is not a bad salary of course, let's just remember that too
Click to expand...

No it isn't.

Also often there are two spouses earning money so 2 professionals can end up with close to £100k together
 
D

Deleted member 9744

Guest
  • Jan 19, 2023
  • #25,443
CCFCSteve said:
Probably not quite as important either . I’ve got views around salaries etc but don’t know enough about set up in public sector pay levels etc so some of these might already happen…

Increased rewards for higher performance (what’s the pay differential between a great teacher and a shit one excl heads of department etc ?)
Higher salaries for subjects where there’s shortages
Much higher salaries to attract best teachers into poor performing/less attractive schools
Offer nurses (and potentially other public sector) a chance to flex emp’er pension contributions by 5% or so for period of time to increase basic in short term
More bursaries for areas where there’s shortages
Click to expand...
Performance related pay is a disaster. It's time consuming to administer; creates a divisive team culture; demotivates the majority of employees and is often used to reward people who don't deserve it. Anyone who is good and would get the additional pay is obviously motivated anyway so it's a waste of money.

Under performance should be dealt with through capability or disciplinary procedures. Just not paying such people as much leads yo further under performance.
 
Reactions: Sky Blue Pete

rob9872

Well-Known Member
  • Jan 19, 2023
  • #25,444
Deleted member 9744 said:
Performance related pay is a disaster. It's time consuming to administer; creates a divisive team culture; demotivates the majority of employees and is often used to reward people who don't deserve it. Anyone who is good and would get the additional pay is obviously motivated anyway so it's a waste of money.

Under performance should be dealt with through capability or disciplinary procedures. Just not paying such people as much leads yo further under performance.
Click to expand...
Would you give Viktor a goal bonus in his contract or suggest that as a striker he doesn't need one because his job is to score goals?
 
D

Deleted member 9744

Guest
  • Jan 19, 2023
  • #25,445
Deleted member 5849 said:
£50k is not a bad salary of course, let's just remember that too
Click to expand...
It's nearly twice the average no? Which is appalling of course.
 
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