The post you are reporting:
I thought I'd post something and these are purely personal views.
I really am quite sad today, I can honestly say I have been dreading this awful event for weeks. I personally do think the pensions need some reform, but this easy for me to say as the amount I have contributed so far is so little I have time to think and plan. However this is me just thinking of myself, knowing of what I currently have, can do and want to do. Others do not feel like this and I support them 100%.
The current pension in teaching was last reviewed in 2005, with changes implemented in 2007 to make them viable and sustainable for the future. I should imagine similar processes applied to other pensions schemes. I have no intention of trying suggest that public sector workers 'deserve more pension' or are 'worth more money' because I do not believe that to be the case, everybody should be valued. However, I do believe some jobs in society are 'more worthwhile' - this sense of 'worthwhile' is obviously personal, much like the gauge of whether or not someone is paid 'too much'. I personally think Nurses, Doctors, health workers, Teachers and many other that work in the name of the state (albeit as a way to earn money) are essential. That is why I retrained at the grand age of 26, took a pay cut and became a teacher (sorry about that last bit about ME, at least I wasn't sanctimonious enough to mention my charity work...oops). As a result I find my job very rewarding. Yes there are useless people in the public sector, some doing what WE perceive to be 'pointless' jobs but they are everywhere.
When I think about this whole public sector vs private sector it makes me think that this a skillful divisive way of the government trying to privatise more by turning us all against each other, when ultimately we all want the same, wellbeing for all. Constantly using this 'well they should feel what it's like for us in the private sector' is not achieving anything. In defense I could tell you about a colleague that has just left to teach in a private school, less contracted contact with students, same pay, good pension- oh and her class sizes have gone from an average of 28 to 8. I could say 'that's not fair' but I won't because I have absolutely no problem with it.
David Cameron announced his desire to reduce the public pensions as far back as 2008! No relationship to a recession or anything else, just that HE, as many do on this thread believe the pension to be too high. What this actually about is just taking away something that he intended to do anyway, actually as Tom points out, a tax. It just so happens he has the perfect excuse and as so many are suffering as the result of global capitalism, people are happy to lay the boot in. People have planned around this and are unhappy that this could happen again and again and again, until perhaps there is nothing to try and save at all. I do think the unions have stirred things up and they are in some cases no better than Cameron himself.
I personally voted in favour of my union striking, for others that have had their plans ruined, some facing the prospect of being in a classroom until 67 (do you have any idea how ludicrous this is?!). However my main reason was a change in conditions that is also included in the reform that would most definitely effect the education of children, also the result of Conservative ideology. I am frustrated that more has not been made of this, perhaps a ploy of the unions or the media.
I am upset by some of the ignorance displayed here, and also that this has happened at all.
On a sanctimonious note and slightly less sincere: I made a point of doing lots of work on the day of the royal wedding, so for all you people feigning concern for the education of children, congratulating schools for staying open, I would like to point out they ALL closed that day. A celebration of A family that would hold a position in society regardless of ability or education. Royalists tend to overlook this rather hilarious contradiction. It also cost the economy more.