Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Trending
    • Interview with the Vice-Chancellor
    • Country Highlight: The Netherlands
    • If You’re Moving Back Home After Uni …
    • Jane Austen in Lockdown: How her six novels are more relevant than ever
    • All About … Period Poverty
    • My Veggie Journey: How not being strictly Vegetarian is OK
    • Watch with Pride: Your Top TV Picks this Pride Month
    • Globe Trotting on Screen: Your Guide to Summer 2021
    Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube Flickr
    Seren
    • News & Politics
      1. Local News
      2. UK News
      3. Uni News
      4. World News
      5. Politics
      6. Comment
      7. Business
      Featured

      SABB Election: The Full Result Breakdown

      By Emily ReadMarch 20, 20210
      Recent

      Interview with the Vice-Chancellor

      May 23, 2022

      Retro? Chip shortage may bring vintage tech to your car.

      May 6, 2021

      Manizha – the artist causing a stir as the Russian representative for Eurovision 2021:

      May 6, 2021
    • Arts & Culture
      1. Books
      2. Games
      3. Film
      4. Music
      5. TV
      6. Creative Corner
      Featured

      Bangor alumni podcast earns Hollywood cameo & BBC features

      By Amelia SmithMarch 7, 20210
      Recent

      Jane Austen in Lockdown: How her six novels are more relevant than ever

      July 7, 2021

      Watch with Pride: Your Top TV Picks this Pride Month

      May 17, 2021

      Globe Trotting on Screen: Your Guide to Summer 2021

      May 16, 2021
    • Lifestyle
      1. Fashion
      2. Food and Drink
      3. Social
      4. Health and Beauty
      5. Travel
      Featured

      Country Highlight: The Netherlands

      By Emily ShoultsMay 6, 20220
      Recent

      Country Highlight: The Netherlands

      May 6, 2022

      If You’re Moving Back Home After Uni …

      August 3, 2021

      All About … Period Poverty

      May 17, 2021
    • Discovery
      1. Science
      2. Environment
      3. History
      4. International
      Featured

      Brewing up a Storm: The History of Guinness

      By Emily ReadMarch 20, 20210
      Recent

      Manizha – the artist causing a stir as the Russian representative for Eurovision 2021:

      May 6, 2021

      Japan plan to release radioactive water into the ocean

      May 6, 2021

      The link between the AstraZeneca vaccine and blood clots

      April 29, 2021
    • Sport
      1. Varsity 2019
      2. Varsity 2018
      3. Varsity 2017
      4. Varsity 2016
      5. Varsity 2015
      6. Varsity 2014
      7. Varsity 2013
        • Varsity 2013 Results
        • Varsity 2013 – In tweets
      Featured

      Bangor Muddogs’ American Football: a young woman finding her place

      By Jade HillMarch 23, 20210
      Recent

      The 48-hour rise and fall of the European Super League

      April 27, 2021

      The European Super League is announced

      April 19, 2021

      Formula 1’s ‘Drive to Survive S3’ is released

      April 7, 2021
    • Students’ Union
      1. Union News
      2. Societies
      3. Volunteering
      4. Clubs
      Featured

      INTERVIEW: Be Period Positive

      By Caroline CartmillMarch 17, 20210
      Recent

      Bangor University Feminist Society

      March 30, 2021

      INTERVIEW: Be Period Positive

      March 17, 2021

      LGBT History Month in Bangor

      March 4, 2021
    • Issues
      • Current Issue
      • This year’s issues
      • Last year’s issues
      • Seren Archive
      • Seren Teams
    Seren
    Home»News & Politics»Politics»Public Sector Strikes
    Politics

    Public Sector Strikes

    Anna HatfieldBy Anna HatfieldDecember 2, 2011Updated:December 5, 2011No Comments3 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    Wednesday 30th November will see the biggest mobilisation of public sector workers in decades; they are all going to be at it: Heathrow, Schools, NHS workers, Border Forces. In other words, disrupted services right, left and centre. Pensions,  that is where it starts and ends. When the NHS was implemented in 1945 it promised a Welfare Service looking after to you from cradle to grave. Generations down the line and that sentiment still remains noble if not completely realistic. Of course everyone wants it, and damn right expects it. Whoever is the first to propose scrapping elements of the welfare system would see catastrophic opinion polls. Who wants to lose their comfort blanket? But that was before a 60 million plus population combined with everyone living into infinity and beyond. Yes, I want a pension and a ruddy good one! But I know aged twenty that I can’t solely rely on the state to take care of me when I’m old and wrinkly. Plus I hope to be old and wrinkly for a while,  especially if I pay my National Insurance for all my working life!

    Understandably the public sector wants what their bosses have got and what everyone presumes they will have. But with the estimates of the strike causing £500million to our ludicrously fragile economy, surely it is a wee bit irresponsible to be holding such a debt boosting strike when we’re already rocketing towards calamity? They have had a year of negotiations but when you look at the actual figures, it works out (including percentage of turn out and percentage of actual votes) that only 20% of Union members want to take strike action at all. They might want to go on holiday or need an emergency surgical operation. Oh wait. They can’t! Is any worker ever completely satisfied? The answer, in all probability is no. But you don’t see the private sector walking out and causing colossal damage to our economy.

    The Government cannot afford to keep paying out for public sector pensions the way it has been. Simple. I wish it wasn’t but it is. This is only showcased by Ed Miliband’s refusal to publicly back the strike which will see over two million people activated.  If the Union safe guarder is against them striking who can they count on for any political support or lee way?

    Yes, the dispute over pensions needs to be solved, there definitely needs to be a compromise between government and the public sector, but I’m just asking if now is the right time? Instead of building up to the festive season, people are faced with cancelled flights, cancelled operations and cancelled lessons.

    economy issue221 NHS pensions public sector strikes UK
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Anna Hatfield

    Related Posts

    Has lockdown in halls caused a mental health crisis among students?

    February 8, 2021

    Looking After Your Mental Health at University: Priory expert offers advice

    October 23, 2020

    Llandudno Junction Cineworld to close along with others across the UK

    October 18, 2020

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    MORE INFORMATION
    • ABOUT
    • ADVERTISE
    • CONTACT US
    • GET INVOLVED
    • MEMBERS
    Links
    • Bangor University Bangor University
    • Google+ Google+
    • Undeb Bangor Undeb Bangor
    About

    Seren is Bangor University Students’ Union’s English Language Newspaper

    We have editorial independence from both Bangor University and Bangor Students’ Union. Seren is written by students for students and we’d love you to get involved!

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.