Pay frozen for third year running
 

www.skynews.com Just announced on Sky, that 1.6 million council workers have there pay frozen for third year in a row.

That will also effect myself, what the hell is going wrong with this government, l blaming them for this terrible clamp down on local authorities on the budgets they apply to paying staff.

In my job l have not had a pay rise in three years and been told that from 2013 l will get 1% rise.

We are now struggling to pay bills, which l am now finding financial problems, what is important to pay and what not to pay, you go to car parks, these have all increased, everything has gone up.

This government has no idea on what is happening to the voter, they are forcing to work FREE for there benefit, with some companies pulling out of this arrangement as it is causing tensions.

Electric, water, petrol, coal all important materials that we all use and have to pay for, but pay is frozen - how the hell does the voter survive.

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

Personally no payrise is better than no job.

Unfortuneately back in 2009 I got not payrise then redundancy.

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

Some years ago my pay was frozen for 4 years then I was made
redundant. :(

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

I work in private sector and had a drop in pay and no rise for 2 years, get over it. ;)

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

Mmm, not had one for 4 years now and it's starting to bite, it's like taking a 20% cut on when I started if you take the cost of living into account, can see a time soon when it actually costs me money to go to work by toping up my wages through savings. Still we're all in this together :rolleyes:

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

A council worker next door has had his hours cut to under 20, so Working Tax Credits will be withdrawn from April... a large lump of his income stripped on top of the pay freeze.

Overtime is also plain time from April, but there has been an overtime ban for some time already, except to senior staff of course.

He's been looking for another job, but there are none about in his skill set.

A Polish company has been winning contracts that council workers used to do, then bringing over Poles to do the work!

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

Now that is tough we are always told the local government unions are strong i wonder if that is the case where he works? For all their faults they are or can be a good go between.

If he is working under 20 hours a week its hardly worth getting up for IMO depending on his pay level which does not sound that high as he got tax credits.

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

His workplace had 8 people doing the job, it's now just him and a "roving supervisor" who trolls about the locations in taxis to check that the work is being done.

He recently had to sign a new contract with the simple choice of "sign or leave". The union suggested strongly that he "sign and stay".

His supervisor is on a payscale over £40k.... so at least the "bosses" are raking it in.

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

His union sound as though they are not doing a very good job.!

I agree with your point though as these days the bosses do tend to rake it in at the same time as lower level employees lose out big time,any connection though is purely coincidental.:rolleyes:

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

Strange, it's the other way around at our place - managers can't claim overtime, only non-managerial staff.

And on the topic, I've not had a pay rise since 2008.

On your second post, how can one person do the job of eight?

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

Work harder and faster I suppose. He did say that there used to be lots of tea breaks with the extra staff. Now there are none.

It could be the others were all employed to massage the employment figures.

At another location, a cleaning team of 12 council workers has been replaced by a team of 4 Poles on private contract.

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

What is a pay rise :confused: Can't remember when I was last given one of them, a bonus or whatever. I'm private sector and ultimately my salary relates to the fee income I can generate and in the climate of the last few years with increasing competition there is always someone who is undercuting you. When one considers the effects that everything else is going up, including the taxes being charged by local government, I've been getting worse off.

So OK it's not right for me to be saying just because I haven't got a pay rise, then nobody else should have one either but, if private sector incomes aren't rising then how can we afford any increased costs that would allow public sector workers to be more comfortable?

Oh and as for overtime, ever since I started my "career", I've never received a penny and yet staying late in the office has always been a regular occurance, as has sitting at home of an evening or weekend writing reports.

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

:clap: Well said

---------- Post added at 14:52 ---------- Previous post was at 14:50 ----------

Question one Arthur. Who said YOU are entitled to get a automatic pay rise each year,

Question Two Arthur. Care to tell me why you think you should be any different than the millions of non public sector workers who don't get a pay rise ?????

Question Three Arthur. Look at everyone else and then tell us why YOU should be any different to those of US who are not getting a pay rise

I dont think you will have the good grace to answer but hey you never know

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

So the first year of pay freeze was under the previous incumbent then?

Not just the public sector either

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

If you have only had a pay freeze then think yourself lucky Arthur .I've had year on year pay cuts ,couple that with constant price rises which effectively make the pay cut bigger i wholeheartedly wish that all i had to worry about was a pay freeze .....pay freeze ,i bloody wish

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

Let me solve so many questions that have been asked of me.

One, Yes l do have a job and yes l am glad l do have one, Two, l am not different to anyone else who has not had a pay rise or an automatic one. Three, I don't know what is happening to everyone else, BUT my council rent has gone up by 8%, my bills have gone up drastically, and continue to go up.

VM prices have gone up by £3.00 per month, car parking has gone up, everything is going up in price, food prices have risen, need l say more.

The United Kingdom is not a third rate country, where poverty is starting to bite, you go onto the High Street and see how many businesses are closing.

Wages need to rise to cover costs for families to live on.

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

i work there i'm getting a pay rise and a bonus .

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

Strikes, strikes, and a little bit of angry people being angry, then I suppose.

something to look forward to in the coming months.

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

prices have gone up for everyone.................what hits one person hits another - how much depends on financial circumstance but it hits all not just selectively.

as for a pay rise well pah. i've not had a proper payrise for a few years.....................in fact i can't remember the last better than cost of living rise i had. i got laid off from my last job a couple of years ago and didn't i notice it - since then my average monthly income is about £5-600 a month down on what i was earning. so out went the luxuries, one car went and cut back on things. been self employed since then and no way in hell can i afford a rise and at the moment earning just enough to cover the bills and stuff and leave a little left for the unexpected.

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

Why should public and private sector workers pay the price for the mistakes of incompetent managers and politicians as well as the wealthy? :mad::td:

I mean we did not cause thus economic crisis and yet we are paying the price while the wealthy, managers and politicians still get huge wages and enjoy luxury lifestyles!!! :mad::td:

It is about time we set up a radical movement demanding radical reform to democracy and capitalism!!!

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

Next time I see Boris Johnson, I will be ready! :D

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

I can see why people see the funny side of this, But we all need finance to survive, you are not going to tell me that you will go into a garage, supermarket, electrical, gas supplier and say, can l have the goods at last years prices - as the answer will be no.

Is the government telling the utility companies and council's you must bring your prices down as the voter is suffering, course they won't.

We have today had to make sacrifices to accommodate these increases, BUT we shouldn't have to, As l have said we are not a third rate country, we pay more taxes than any other country in the world, but we are being treated like one by a government who is quite prepared to give billions of pounds of OUR money to other countries.

But this is what the Tories are about, look after the rich, and go to hell the workers of this country.

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

I agree with you, we need to teach the government (and Labour) a lesson by voting for any other party apart from Labour/Tories/Lib Dems, only them will they make the radical reforms needed to reform capitalism and demcracy!!!

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

-Life isn't fair.
-If we could figure out a way to claw back the money from the incompetent managers and politicians, we would! Starting with G Brown & T Bliar perhaps?
-How the hell can you blame 'the wealthy'? Simply having been financially successful in life makes someone guilty of ruining the economy? :confused:

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

Unfortunately Alan seems to forget that without wealthy people we would have no factories,no shops and no jobs .He also thinks that as soon as someone satisfies his definition of wealthy they must be taxed untill they have no wealth .He is of the opinion that people are owed a living ,that it is the governments job to create jobs whilst removing wealth from wealthy people

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

Life is even more unfair than before for starters (look at the wealth gap), the mistakes of the rich and the wealth gap have caused this economic crisis and that needs to change!

They have held down our wages and benefits and forcing us to pay the price for their mistakes, They have also taken jobs from this country and have backed our politicians to help them do that, what you do not realise is that Capitalism and Democracy is not working and needs to reform, not just here, but worldwide!

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

Yes, let's have a world-wide autocratic government, where everyone in charge will be selfless, and look after the interests of others before themselves and their countries.

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

Unfortunately Alan seems to forget that without wealthy people we would have no factories, no shops and no jobs .He also thinks that as soon as someone satisfies his definition of wealthy they must be taxed until they have no wealth .He is of the opinion that people are owed a living, that it is the governments job to create jobs whilst removing wealth from wealthy people! :mad::td:

The wealthy are not paying their fare share of taxes (helped by their many attempts to help them evade them!); they (and the government) are also not creating the decent jobs that are needed and if this not fixed, eventually, people will lose faith in democracy and capitalism and will turn to religious, left wing, and right wing extremism!

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

I think its a valid question to ask why is inflation so high whilst wages are static.

The extra money is going somewhere.

---------- Post added at 10:24 ---------- Previous post was at 10:22 ----------

What happens when mr billionaire A is living with 1 million other people all jobless except the people he employs himself.

The welfare state is scrapped to keep his taxes nice and low.

Who buys his goods?

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

We need real answers to real problems not crazy fantasies from Alan that don't have a chance in the real world we live in. I sometimes wonder if Alans constant change of subject is down to which lesson he has been attending at university this week. ;)

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

Lets be realistic here, Many employees in this country works hours for NOTHING, when not taking the rightful time off ie tea breaks, lunch breaks and also given up there free time to make companies successful and yet get treated like crap by there employers.

I make no apologies by saying that some companies don't deserve there staff, when they ask for more money, they are told they cannot afford pay rises.

I have over the years asked for an increase, and told in return l cannot have it, yet they will waste thousands of pounds on stupid products.

This pay freeze is typical of a Tory government, and it does not help when the stupid Lib Dems don't stand up for the voter, by saying that we should do this and that.

What are they doing with all that money they are saving, quite simply giving out in hand outs to other countries.

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

This is the first year we have had a pay rise in the last 5 (we got standard (same amount per employee pro rata for hours) one off bonuses instead before). Only 1.5% up though.

Hubby has had an increase of sorts every year but only on the basic pay. Shift allowance has not budged.

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

The money is going to billionaires and (at this rate) would be trillionares!

---------- Post added at 12:31 ---------- Previous post was at 12:27 ----------

My plan is to replace all the Currencies of the world, my idea of a global government would not recognize past national debt, also Inflation might be lower becuase the wealthy would no longer be spending as much, my point is take the money out of the rich and into government!

In other words a fresh start

---------- Post added at 12:32 ---------- Previous post was at 12:31 ----------

The only crazy fantasies I see are people that continue to defend and promote a failed economic and social system! :td:

---------- Post added at 12:33 ---------- Previous post was at 12:32 ----------

NO, it was casud by the mistakes of the rich (along with their tax evasion) and the cost of bailouts!!! :mad: :td:

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

The rich? You can call them Tony and Gordon.

The bailouts aren't the only reason the country is broke, a welfare system that penalises work, a ridiculously complex tax system with more holes than a colander that's been hit by a shotgun blast, an intrusive nanny state that sucks up huge amounts of cash and military procurements that are basically money pits are other reasons.

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

Derek you paint a very dull,negative and soul destroying picture :erm:

i am happy to say i share the same city as yourself and tbh i have a nice life here and it is not as dark and hopeless as you say . yes of course i no you are not only talking about Glasgow and that you are talking about the uk on the whole,but if i am honest, the uk is a good country to be in at the moment for various reasons and i am not sure their is any other country or city i would rather be in :):)
.
.
.
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Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

Since this coalition has come to power, prices have gone up, student fee's have gone up, pay rises have been frozen, there have been severe budget cuts, people have lost there jobs, armed services have been cut drastically, unemployment has risen higher than in 17 years, we have had more rallies concerning jobs cuts.

The NHS is now in crisis, and the coalition are being battered by all fronts on trying to push through bad idea on pushing new laws through.

Was this brought on by Tony and Gordon, no it was brought on by a Tory/ Lib government who don't care about the voter, its about trying to save money to give to countries they think can make them money.

I am waiting for the coalition to come up with an Olympic tax, so they can make a fortune on the millions of people coming to London, just think of all that money they will make of people using the bus lanes that are being put in place for the special athletes.

We have a Tory paper that does not tell the truth,

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

Obviously you have forgotten just who put this country up crap creek without a paddle Arfur! Whilst the cuts may be harsh its the coalition that are trying to mend this broken country left by Labour.

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

Well, student fees certainly went up due to Tony and Gordon too, given that it was New Labour which introduced Tuition Fees in the first place (and at the same time scrapped the Grant, and lowered the salary threshold for repaying Student Loans), and New Labour which then later introduced Top-up Fees too (despite a previous Manifesto commitment not to do so ;) ).

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

Rubbish Gordan Brown is not that rich

---------- Post added at 06:48 ---------- Previous post was at 06:45 ----------

And would your paper be called " The Rose" as in rose tinted spectacles ?

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

The reason that the welfare system penalises work, is that wages have not increase by much thanks to the government’s crackdown on union power and the fact there has been a lot of tax evasion!

---------- Post added at 09:21 ---------- Previous post was at 09:20 ----------

It is time we scraped Tuition and Top-Up fees and brought back grants, along with a massive investment in higher and further education!!! :mad: :td:

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

There's a pay freeze this year for all managers and above at Virgin Media.

This is after years of previous pay freezes and rises of no more than 2 - 2.5%

This is on the back of some continuing good results.

However, there is no moaning and whinging, not that I hear anyway, because we understand that we are in a precarious position still, if we're going to get through this period with jobs intact then we have to suck it up.

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

The reason there are pay freezes is that union power has been weakened! :td:

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

Ballcocks,

The company isn't in a position to award a pay increase, it needs to keep it's cash reserves at an appropriate level and it is also investing heavily in it infrastructure to enable it to keep competeing in the future.

If there was a union that tried to impose a pay award, it would weaken the company and would probably damage the company and affect its ability to compete and make profits which would result in job losses or worse.

People such as yourself really wind me up, you have no clue.

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

:tu:

Short memory syndrome is a classic feature of Labour ideology.

---------- Post added at 11:07 ---------- Previous post was at 11:03 ----------

I refer the honourable gentleman the explanation I have given above.. :D

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

And how are all those industries that had strong unions, such as British Leyland, mining, steel, etc?

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

Hugh germany have strong unions and they still have a decent manufacturing base.

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

That was caused by underinvestment, high energy prices and the decline of Britain's power!!! :mad: :td:

---------- Post added at 12:31 ---------- Previous post was at 12:23 ----------

So why some companies are giving out large dividends then, also the government should be investing into the economy!

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

Even more rubbish. I have been informed i am getting a pay rise and the Union had nothing to do with it.

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

Yes, but a lot of people will not, take Tube Driver for example, they have strong unions and they are reciving may rises!

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

I can answer that ......what industries ......the unions killed them

Germany also produce quality goods ,British Leyland for example ,produced a pile of crap for top wages

And look at how high the wages are compared to the skill set required to do the job and the disruption caused by the unions in gaining such high wages

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

The Unions did not kill those industries, underinvestment, bad management and bad products did, along with rising competition and the decline of Britain’s power!!

The Reason there is disruption on the tube is that the GLA would rather have a fight with the unions rather than co-operate with them!!

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

stop talking twoddle and go back to fairyland

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

Why don'y you go back to your Ultra-Weathy Feudal dreamland they you live in! :td:

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

:tu:

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

I haven't had a pay rise in 4 years this year will be 5 last Christmas we didn't get a Christmas bonus we lost our overtime we had to exept 10% pay cut

Last week I was told work extra hours longer but didn't get paid their was a report by the trade unions few weeks ago. 1milion hours of over time are worked in the uk without pay
The owner has just comeback from a sking holiday and company director just came back from Italy nice holiday
These days the worker has no rights at all
It's either you exept the cuts or you loose your job plain and simple

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

It is about time we have stronger unions and the abolish all Anti-Trade Union Laws and create far more Pro-Trade Union Laws!

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

So are you saying we should capitulate every time the union demands something ?

---------- Post added at 16:24 ---------- Previous post was at 16:23 ----------

I forgot how idiotic your posts are.

---------- Post added at 16:25 ---------- Previous post was at 16:24 ----------

:clap:

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

Well until Unions demand Rolls-Royce cars and 7 figure+ salaries, i do not see why we should not capitulate every time the union demands something!!

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

:rofl::rofl:

Any other crazy ideas

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

The only one posting crazy ideas is people who defend a failed social and economic system!! :D

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

In Germany, the Unions work with the companies, not against them - for example, in Workers' Forums, which work to prevent strikes and reach mutually acceptable outcomes, rather than being combative.

---------- Post added at 16:43 ---------- Previous post was at 16:42 ----------

How is that Authoritarian Democratic World Government coming along? ;)

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

Mere details my boy...... :D

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

In the mind of our resident fantasist it's here, working and saving the world and there kittens :LOL:

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

How far does this coalition have to go down the plughole before realising that there nothing else we can give up.

We are always giving up something, so when there is nothing left, then will this coalition say, well thats it, we cannot take anymore.

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

Government spending is forecast to grow from £683 billion last year to £760 billion in 2015 - new definition of "giving something up" I hadn't come across before, Arthur.

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

Yep, real hardship. :)

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

Now now - you know adding facts to an Arthur rant is just not fair ;)

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

The only resident fantasist round here are defenders of a failed economic and social system! :td:

(that would be a lot of CF posters) :D

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

:LOL:

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

You've been on the radishes again, I see...;)

If it's you against the world - bet on the world. :D

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

Which system are you referring to?

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

Free Market Capitalism and NeoLiberal Democracy

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

Dunno, I've always liked an under dog... :D

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

If Britain were Greece - BBC

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

Makes you glad we've got what we've got .Anybody whining about work schemes ,NHS and welfare reforms designed to save money and make the various depts more efficient need to have a look at that and start thinking themselves lucky because it won't take much to tip the scales so we end up on that track

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

Did you read that off the back of a box of rice krispies :LOL:

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

It would be a lot bloody warmer :D

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

I was in Athens last April (at a conference) and it was snowing....:D

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

Why should we save money when hundreds of billions worth of tax are being evaded each year from the UK government, the NHS reforms will cost money and we have a failed economic and social systems. It is about time we ended the era of the rich "never having it so good"!!! :mad: :td:

We need to create real decent jobs, not work work schemes and welfare reforms!!! :mad: :td:

---------- Post added at 08:44 ---------- Previous post was at 08:42 ----------

No, I did not, you (and your friends) should be consigned to the history book becasue you defend a social and economic system that is not working and is outdated!!! :mad: :td:

In other words:

THE WORLD IS NOT WORKING!!! :td:

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

Alan I don't think that being fixated on Tax issues will solve the worlds issues.

All that's happening is that you are sounding like a broken record.

I'm in no doubt that part of solving the country's problems would be helped by this but then there are other things that can be done too.

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

It is not just tax issues, it is union rights, law and order, wages, benifits, LGBT rights and labour standards, along with a radical change in the way businesses is run!

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

What do you suggest replacing it with?

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

A form of Capitlism and Democracy that works in favour for us, not the rich, and that is just the start!

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

Good luck with that :D

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

In the meantime, our costs go up, we are undercut by China, Vietnam, Thailand and any number of other countries that can provide cheap labour, and the country ultimately goes the same way as Greece.

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

You're forgetting, Alan's great plan involves forcing (by "SANCTIONS!!!") the likes of China et al to pay the same wages as Western countries.

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

Yes, but there will be a global government to global labour, wage, and benefit standards!

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

Want to buy a bridge? ;)

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

Got any better ideas?

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

How do you propose to establish this "global government" with standardised wages and benefits?.Do you wish to remove countries own sovereignty and if so how? without having all out war on a global scale

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

Better ideas than global dictatorship?

I /know/ I don't have all the answers but trying to get the whole world to do as I want is neither practical or sensible. Maybe YOU could come up with a sensible suggestion?

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

I will offer them a vote, if most of the worids population agrees then the whole world will become one nation!

People in Developing Nations would agree to this becuase then they can have higher wages and benefits!

Some Nations will be foced to do it, but they can have their own state!

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

I'm speechless,how you could think that such an idea is workable let alone the solution is beyond me

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

In your opinion that is.:rolleyes:

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

But if they have higher wages, this will make prices of goods and services go up, so people will need higher wages to manage that, and repeat ad infinitum.

You may not have thought this all the way through....

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

Yes, but they will have a better lifestyle, because they will get better healthcare and education!

The price of goods and services will be compensated by higer wage rises!

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

...and presumably the adoption of the leaf as a monetory unit? (with apologies to Douglas Adams).

basic economics = higher wages = increased cost of goods = rising inflation = higher wages = increased cost of goods.....need I go on.

And as for a World Government...!! If culture of Germany & Greece barely 1000 miles a part appears irreconcilable how do you actually believe that there is enough common ground between Sharia Muslim states, communism, military dictatorships, a republican USA & African warlords ?

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

There will be thousands of federal states, so that they can still run their own affairs, all communist states (bar North Korea) have become capitalist, military dictatorships and war lords can be dealt with by force or money (much to the relief of the local people), the same will apply to Sharia Muslin states (a large number of people do not like their governments, hence the Arab spring)!

In other worlds, all nations will become part of a world government, whenever by choice or force!

In this global government, companies will become will either be state owned or become co-operatives and the co-operatives will depend on loans from the state development bank, so the government will reduce profit margins without raising prices

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

Excuse me, I appear to have been transported to a different planet.... :confused:

Re: Pay frozen for third year running
 

A much better one! :angel: