Teachers, Headmaster’s, Public Sector Workers go on strike tomorrow in an unprecedented action, not seen in this country since the 1970′s. In a straight up fight against the Government over changes to their Public Sector Pension arrangements.
Its interesting watching these two behemoths match up. Both sides have completely mis-handled the PR on this.
For instance, the Union’s have made it just about the Pension’s, shaky ground when attempting to tune in the general public to their cause – especially the Private Sector. The original rally by the Union’s was around job losses and paycuts aswell.
They also haven’t got the message across well that they are not against workers contributing more to their pensions, persay. The real problem is that according to PCS – Public Commercial Services, the Government want Public Sector workers to contribute more to the deficit black hole and not into the pension pot. So if the extra money isn’t going into the pensions pot – where is it going? Ask the Government.
The Government on the other hand have came up with a national figure lost to the economy of £50 million but admit that this isn’t based on any hard figures. Cabinet Minister Francis Maude suggested to the Union’s that if they really wanted to strike they could go out and do it for “15 minutes” and then go back to work, WTF?
The Government have said it is terrible the Union’s are going ahead with the strike, when negotiations are still on-going. But TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said that he had not spoken to the Goverment for a month. Why aren’t they speaking? Who is lying?
Predictably, on the back of the £50 million quote, the Government on Wednesday will play down the effects of the strike saying it was negligible – after all of their scaremongering about the impact on the economy.
Its difficult to wade through all of the crap between the Government’s and Union’s claims and counter claims. Especially with Pension’s quotes thrown in the mix, which for the vast majority of Public Sector workers is hypothetical. Both have an agenda.
The one thing which seems certain is that people are spoiling for a fight with the Tory Government over the cuts and for this fact, good on ‘em for rising to it.