More than 2 million participants put the public sector on hold in the UK, as unions stage a massive public sector strike. It is the largest of its kind in 30 years.
A public services strike called for by the United Kingdom’s Trades Union Congress (TUC), has taken effect on Wednesday, the largest work stoppage of its kind in more than 30 years. The strike targets public schools, the health sector, UK court systems and transportation systems as well. More than 2 million workers are expected to participate, in rallies and picket lines all across the country.
At the heart of the issue are cuts to public sector pension programs asking workers to contribute 3% more of their own money into the system, raising the retirement age to the age of 66 by the year 2020 and to amend pensions to be based on the average of a career rather than the final salary. Unions are strongly against the proposed reforms which the TUC argues would make workers pay more and work longer for fewer benefits.
These changes in the pensions will mean a lot to public sector workers, public sector teacher Preeti Pancsar told RT.
For more: Strike 1: UK civil servants cripple country — RT
Showing posts with label Public Sector. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Public Sector. Show all posts
11/30/11
Britain:: "Damp Squib" : David Cameron Dismisses Strikes And Brands Ed Miliband As 'Left Wing And Weak'
David Cameron has branded the public sector strikes as a "damp squib" after attacking Labour leader Ed Miliband for being "irresponsible, left wing and weak."
In a vicious war of words at PMQs he lashed out at the opposition with some commentators tweeting saying he was "trembling with rage".
According to the PM around 40% of schools are open, only 18 out of 930 job centres are closed and only a third of the civil service is on strike.
During the tense exchange the prime minister hit out at the industrial action which had led to his own press secretary volunteering to man a border at Heathrow airport.
"I don't want to see any strikes, I don't want to see schools close, I don't want to see problems at our borders", he told MPs.
Note EU-Digest: Temper, temper.....Mr. Cameron better get used to the fact that ordinary people are fed up always having to pay for the mistakes of the greedy financial industry and the Government.
For more: Damp Squib: David Cameron Dismisses Strikes And Brands Ed Miliband As 'Left Wing And Weak'
In a vicious war of words at PMQs he lashed out at the opposition with some commentators tweeting saying he was "trembling with rage".
According to the PM around 40% of schools are open, only 18 out of 930 job centres are closed and only a third of the civil service is on strike.
During the tense exchange the prime minister hit out at the industrial action which had led to his own press secretary volunteering to man a border at Heathrow airport.
"I don't want to see any strikes, I don't want to see schools close, I don't want to see problems at our borders", he told MPs.
Note EU-Digest: Temper, temper.....Mr. Cameron better get used to the fact that ordinary people are fed up always having to pay for the mistakes of the greedy financial industry and the Government.
For more: Damp Squib: David Cameron Dismisses Strikes And Brands Ed Miliband As 'Left Wing And Weak'
10/1/10
Europe's shrinking public sector - by Gavin Hewitt
It has been another bad week for Europe's public sector. Portugal announced it would cut civil servants' wages by 5%.
The Republic of Ireland has put a figure on the giant black hole in its banking sector and the public sector unions know that further cuts are on the way, when the budget is delivered in December. The Irish Finance Minister, Brian Lenihan, did not pull his punches: "a fundamental reappraisal of the public sector will have to take place".
In the UK unions are holding their breath for the spending review on 20 October.
Most of the cuts are not made from conviction that a smaller public sector would be beneficial; they are driven by necessity, the necessity to reduce budget deficits. Some like the Tea Party in the United States argue for smaller government. You don't hear much of that in Europe.
Note EU-Digest: the new Dutch government which is in its final stages of formation announced it would be cutting approximately 20% of the Dutch civil service force.
For more: BBC - Gavin Hewitt's Europe: Europe's shrinking public sector
The Republic of Ireland has put a figure on the giant black hole in its banking sector and the public sector unions know that further cuts are on the way, when the budget is delivered in December. The Irish Finance Minister, Brian Lenihan, did not pull his punches: "a fundamental reappraisal of the public sector will have to take place".
In the UK unions are holding their breath for the spending review on 20 October.
Most of the cuts are not made from conviction that a smaller public sector would be beneficial; they are driven by necessity, the necessity to reduce budget deficits. Some like the Tea Party in the United States argue for smaller government. You don't hear much of that in Europe.
Note EU-Digest: the new Dutch government which is in its final stages of formation announced it would be cutting approximately 20% of the Dutch civil service force.
For more: BBC - Gavin Hewitt's Europe: Europe's shrinking public sector
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