Teachers vote for pay strikes
Monday 30th November 2009, 2:56PM GMT.
TEACHERS have moved closer to taking strike action in January over the States pay freeze.
Members of the Jersey Teachers’ Association, the local branch of the National Union of Teachers, have voted overwhelmingly in favour of action over the States decision not to give public sector workers a pay rise. It is understood that other unions are also on the verge of industrial action.
Mediation with the States Employment Board will take place in January, but if it is unsuccessful the Island’s 900 teachers could walk out by the end of the month.
JTA president Anne Southern said that the result of the indicative ballot showed that members were not prepared to accept what she called an effective pay cut.
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Well done, teachers!
It is high time that you stood up for yourselves.
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An effective pay cut because….teachers are being taxed more as they fall under the 20 means 20 changes? I am astonished that Mrs Southern suggests that when tax rates go up, everyone should have pay rises to compensate. (Which for the public sector means everyone has to pay even more tax.) Incredible attitude which beggars belief. Just imagine if tax rates come down and an employer says to its employees I’ll give you less pay as a result.
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From a purely selfish point of view-I hope they strike should ease road congestion if they close schools!!!
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Ah! yes! 20 means 20, that is right. Teachers! listen up! …this is known as a “tax system” or sometimes known as “fiscal policy” ….or otherwise understood to refer to the spending of tax revenues.
You may find this mentioned in the old “O” Level text books on ECON-OM-ICS.
New words …..Inner-City-Schools, these are not to be found in Jersey. This is where less well paid souls work and do not strike. Come on! 0/10
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2 and 4 – tell me if I am I missing something but I have not seen/heard Mrs Southern refer to taxation policy when talking about the pay freeze being an effective pay cut for states employees. I think you are both forgetting that by talking about an effective pay cut, she is saying (along with all the other states employees) that by freezing pay, spending power is being reduced rather than staying the same – inflation anyone? Look that up in your economics text books if you are not sure about the relationship between wages and cost of living!
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Guess what teachers – noone I know of who works in the private sector has had an inflationary payrise either this year or last year for that matter. Many have taken paycuts to avoid redundancies. We don’t have bargaining rights. Payrises should be given out for exceptional performance or promotion, but that is all. So tell me why I should have to pay more tax so you can earn more. Why do you deserve special treatment?
You are teaching children that if they don’t get what they want then they should throw their toys out of their prams! Many people are loosing jobs right now. It sounds cliche, but just be grateful you have recession-proof jobs. Going on strike right now makes you look like spoiled brats and will win you no sympathy from most quarters.
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#(1) agree and hope the other manuel workers support them up too.
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Dear Disheartened – please read yesterday’s JEP re comments on 20 means 20. And, um, RPI Index fell last time. Back to school!
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Mike – I do not have access to yesterday’s JEP so I accept your comments there if that is the case. However, I would not rely on statistics regarding RPI as we all know statistics can be used to prove/disprove anything those using them want. Instead, rely on your personal shopping bill. My personal experience is that prices of the food items I buy (fruit, veg, bread and milk – nothing fancy!) have gone up if only slightly.
In terms of the fall in spending power we are all experiencing (be it through taxation increases, pay cuts, price rises) I would just like to say that is (sort of) acceptable for those who were enjoying a certain quality of living to have to make cut backs during this time. However, many states workers are already “on the bread line” struggling to pay rent, nursery fees (so they can go to work and not live off of income support) and to buy food. It is these people who cannot afford to absorb the extra costs of living without an increase in pay. Ultimately, a public sector pay rise means more spending in the local economy by those who receive it. This in itself could help to safeguard jobs in sectors such as retail.
I do empathise with those in the private sector who are in a similar or worse position. I would say though please don’t knock the public sector for using the unions to try to improve their situations. Perhaps the private sector workers could consider union membership too?
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#6 Matt
If payrises are to be given out for “special” occasions in reward for hard work then you need to get some people together to stop the RPI going up and the JEC putting up their prices (24% +3% GST) in January this year..
Your comments are somewhat harsh in we are fully aware that people are losing jobs and if you dont know ANYONE that has had a payrise (maybe they just aint telling you cos you are moaning about it so much!!) then that is a sad case. I know lots who have still had a normal payrise and a bonus too!
Your tax is paid based on what you earn, not what I earn. the tax deficits are not down to public (as a whole) issues, but poor money spending at the top of the tree.
Yes teachers should get special treatment, as should front line staff, nurses etc as they are grooming through education the future icons of this island, we cannot afford for a day of that to be wasted.
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Can I have more money too? Pleasssseee?
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I’d like more money too, but this is not cloud cuckoo land. There is only so much money going around and more to teachers means cuts elsewhere such as hospitals and emergency services.
Perhaps a salary comparison of nurses pay and holidays should be made to teachers pay and holidays?
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I am not a teacher but I completely disagree with the comments regarding teachers holidays on this and another thread.
1. Teachers holidays are fixed – they have no degree of choosing when to take leave like the vast majority of the rest of us do.
2. I am on the understanding (because a few of my friends are teachers in the UK) that these so called holidays are actually full of hard work for them – marking, lesson plans, other preparations sometimes needed like research, putting together presentations, making demonstration pieces and purchasing the required material (usually with funds from their own pockets), writing reports on the kids so the parents know about their progress, attending teachers meetings, undertaking their CPD requirements (yes teachers sometimes have to undertake more courses themselves!). All of these things take immense amounts of time outside of the classroom! Perhaps instead of striking they should reclaim their own time instead by refusing to do these extra things! Perhaps then the States and anyone else who is anti-public sector pay increase will realise they are deserving of a pay rise!
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“1. Teachers holidays are fixed – they have no degree of choosing when to take leave like the vast majority of the rest of us do.”
Err – anybody with children is not allowed to take them out of school for holidays. I presume therefore you are saying that parents should be given a dollop of extra cash from the States to compensate them for this “hardship”.
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‘manuel’ workers,Bella?? A bit racist surely!
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#15
Why,are they different cultures?
thats not racist.
manual workers can come from any part of the world no difference to me.
They all work for THE FIRM and should stick to
gether thats the only way they will get results.
A racist is some-one who hates foreiners and i certainly do not hate people because of their colour, culture or creed.
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@ Disheartened #13
“…these so called holidays are actually full of hard work…”
I’m sure lots of professionals working in the private sector do some work during their much shorter holidays too. Of course nobody is contracted to work in their holidays, so that can’t (or shouldn’t) be used in pay negotiations.
@ bella #16
“…A racist is some-one who hates foreiners…”
Actually you’re thinking of a xenophobic: and I think Johnnie H was referring to somebody who, if Sachs, we’d all laugh at rather than who if sacked we’d all moan and threaten to strike over! but I don’t want to add to your confusion.
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J Lamborrari #17
I think Johnnie H #15 was making a low comment on Bella’s spelling of manual, she wrote manuel.
He obviosly wants to be spelling monitor, but is just not up to the job.
He has enough sarcasm but Manuel is spelt with a capital M.
Does this make me a hypocrite or am I just fed up with holier than thou prigs correcting others oversights.
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bella 16
Take no notice Bella! A racist is someone who is tormented by ‘HATE’ and you’re too nice for that!
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PJG 18
Well said! I’d much rather read an interesting comment with a few typing errors, etc., than a perfectly written one which says nothing!
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Jeez, PJG. Any chance Johnny was joking!? Lighten up.
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@ PJG #18
I think it’s fairly obvious what Johnnie H was getting at, and that he was being at least a little light hearted; as was I.
Not sure why your post was directed at me? are you thinking that I was criticising bella’s spelling of ‘foreiners’? I wasn’t, I share your ambivalence to people’s spelling, so long as the message can get across; but where the wrong word is used and the meaning of the message is altered then I think clarification is worthwhile.
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#Thanks 18,19.
I,m human,I make mistakes.
Wonder what it feels like to be near to perfect?
One thing i claim with pride is that i am very sympathic to my fellow beings and have always sided with the underdog,the put upon the bullied and have spoke out for them when nobody else have.
I,ve seen a lot of bullying in the workplace over the years with patients unable to speak for themselves i could,nt hold back and do nothing.
often getting myself into trouble for my efforts in trying to protect the vulnerable(have i spelt this right)
Those that keep belittling me must have sad lives as we all know bullies are cowards at heart,so i say to them keep it up,better having a go at me than kicking the cat or the dog.
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Whatever 21.
It’s obvious that Johnny was joking and being a fan of ‘Fawlty Towers’ it made me smile…but…his quip was at the expense of someone else and it hurts to be on the receiving end of derision.
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J Lamborrari #22
My apologies, I thought you had misunderstood the foundation of Johnnie H’s comment at #15.
I still stand by my comment though, to make sarcastic remarks about the command of English and spelling ability of someone whose history you have no knowledge of can be hurtful and is pathetic to say the least.
Whatever#21
Perhaps you would like to answer Bella’s excellent question #23,Wonder what it feels like to be near to perfect?
Funny old world isn’t it, here we are talking about peoples lack of grammar and spelling ability on a thread about the teachers wanting more money for this failure.
I empathise with a lot of people who have difficulty with the 3 R`s as I left school at 14 to start work. I have been on the receiving end of “being at a little light hearted”.
Far from perfect I had to put a lot of my precious spare time and effort into getting to what I can do today.
Remember some learn easily, others may put a greater effort into learning, but achieve less.
Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit.
God bless the Microsoft spellchecker
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Flaming Nora Bella; it was just a bit of a larf. I’ve seen far more vindictive posts on here before.
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Hands up! I did,nt notice the ‘ ‘ in johnnie H comment of “manuel”
The reason is I have cataracts in both eyes and I am waiting to see optician at hospital to see if it can be treated with lasers.
Even the zoom gadget doe,nt make much difference every thing is blurred and I cannot see any small symbols on the screen or keyboard.
This one,s for Lambsy(your name is too complicated for me to spell)ewe are getting on my nerves.
Ewe are acting like a cyber stalker,if there is such a thing
Every site i comment on ewe try and deride me.
I know sometimes I shoot from the hip and put the first idea that comes in my head on here but there is no need to pull me up all the time.
PJG I left school at 14 as well.It was a tough old world in those days.
We were mostly all in the same boat and had no option but to work and stand on our own two feet. Gee I hope to god i hav,nt made any spelling mistakes writing this.
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To all those people who correct others
Can you raed tihs?
Aoccdrnig to rscheearch at Cmabrigde uinervtisy it deosn’t mttaer waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteres are at rghit pclae. The rset can be a tatol mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm, Tihs is bcuseae we do not raed ervey lteter by itslef but the wrod as a wlohe.
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“God bless the Microsoft spellchecker”
Too right PJG. That applet is responsible for an endless supply of howlers and malapropisms getting published.
Accept a suggested correction and you get something like “He pedalled drugs whilst peddling his bike”. Mistakes like that have become rife since spellcheckers came along.
Bella, your eyesight restrictions must make things difficult if, like me, you don’t touch type and have to look for the punctuation keys.
If it helps look for the @ key and that will get you your apostrophes.
Born Warrior, I like your example. I imagine that it would be harder to understand by someone who doesn’t scan read or if printed in upper case.
I’m sure many have seen ditties like the following pinned to office notice boards or filling space in boring newsletters:
“Eye have a smelling chequer, it came with my pea sea. It clearly Marx four my re view miss takes eye can knot sea … my chequer tolled me sew” (I’ve skipped most of it for brevity)
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#28
LOL,that means i am off the hook!!
I,ll rty adn rebemrem atht nxte temi I psto a cemontm heer.
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Wlel siad Bron Wariror!
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#29.
No I don.t touch type,tried it once but gave up.
Too much to remember when new at the game.
I don,t know much of what the keys are for,just the main ones.
I am btteer Wirtnig lkie tihs tahn the perpor way.
I wnot hvae to wcath my Q,s and P,s.
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Don’t worry bella just ignore the flak thats what I do. I hope your eyes get sorted soon.
As per the teachers I would expect action soon in the new year if they are serious about their decline in spending power.
If I had children at a states school I would be planning to spend more time with them.
Unless the CoM collapse in the face of increasing voter pressure that is, which wouldn’t come as any surprise to me.
As per the spelling issues I prefer p1ss pronounciation my self. It can be really funny. The “forkandles” sketch by the two Ronnies is still one of the funniest sketchs to this day.
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@ bella #27
“…Ewe are acting like a cyber stalker,if there is such a thing
Every site i comment on ewe try and deride me…”
There is such a thing, but I’m not yours! This is the only site I can think of that I’ve posted on, and I’m afraid I don’t spend too much time looking at who I reply to or whether I’ve replie to them before; I reply relating to the comment they’ve made. There are some exceptions where the poster is consistant in some odd style or subject, but as a rule I don’t care who you all are, no offence.
@Rozel Aubin #29
“…If it helps look for the @ key and that will get you your apostrophes…”
This won’t work on all keyboards, notably Apple use a different layout.
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#34 Lambsy, you can bleat and baa all you like but I have two more who keep nit picking on every comment I write.
I am not suggesting that you 3 are the same person but you all try and bring me down in one way or the other.
Is it too much to ask you to just skip over my comments?
ps
Just butt off and leave me alone.
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There you all go again – bashing poor old teachers. Try and get inside their heads. A life spent working 5 hour days and having 12 weeks holidays is not like your life. Yes, WE are all being told that we won’t get pay rises this year -but for a teacher who is used to the sanctity of public life this is particularly hard to bare.
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If Bella (# 35) cannot take the heat (“Is it too much to ask you to just skip over my comments?
Just butt off and leave me alone”) she should stay out of the kitchen.
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#33 Adrian.
I really will try and take your advice but find it very hard,as instead of thinking before acting I act first and think after.
Sometimes my eyes are not too bad other times everything is contorted and blurred.
I laughed at reply I gave to Johnie ,s letter when the penny dropped.
Those 2(34 and 37)are the same person I shall ignore them from now on or any other that give me hassle.
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Magnolia Man 37.
I don’t think the ‘heat in the kitchen’ is the problem at all. I think the real problem is the frequency with which some of the more ‘opprobrious’ kitchen staff try to push others out of the kitchen!
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some people will do anything to get out of work. i work in a hard job, long hours and minimal pay. i enjoy my work, and would love a teachers salary. ok they have to work with our horrible children, but we have to work with horrible adults. maybe they should count their blessings, paychecks and holidays, and get back to work!
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Well said bron wiorrar!
Even though I don,t know what opprobrious means I shall look it up.nevertheless it must fit him
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expressing contemptuous reproach scornful or abusive,disgraceful or shameful conduct.
Yes born warrior you got it right.
Just goes to show it is never too late to learn something new!
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@ bella
#35
“…you can bleat and baa all you like…”
Why thank you for recognizing my freedom of speech, but I hardly think that denying your ridiculous, unfounded accusations is bleating and baying!??
If you don’t want me to comment on what you post I suggest you cease posting, if you want to ignore my posts that is your choice; but if you choose to react to what I say I’d appreciate you back up accusations with proof.
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J Lamborrari/Magnolia Man – I would just like to refer to a conversation on a thread a couple of weeks ago where issues about belittling the opinions of others came up. It’s pathetic and amounts to (cyber) bullying/harassment. Accept that others sometimes have opinions which differ to your own. Debate is healthy! The problem lies with the manner in which you disagree with others (particularly bella). The snide remarks you make in response to her posts are just not necessary!
Also in regard to spelling and grammar – I suppose you are both blessed with being 100% perfect and immune to the odd typo are you?
Chin up bella! You make some very valid points so please do not let the bullies get you down!
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Disheartened 44.
Maybe those who have the habit of pointing out the ‘errors’ of others are ashamed of their own ‘poor’ language capabilities.
Could it be that spelling and grammar are THEIR weak points?
However, I have come to the conclusion that they do it mainly for convenience. It is their way of passing more rapidly over what is disputed and avoiding the real issue.
Still, if they find the ‘little slips’ others make so frustrating (so much so that they must bring the error to the attention of the ‘culprit’), they should really ask themselves: “What does this say about me?”
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@Disheartened #44
“…The snide remarks you make in response to her posts are just not necessary!…”
Please show me where I’ve made a snide remark aimed at bella. I can’t see an example in this thread, although I see more than one unfounded accusation aimed by her toward me. Bella seems to have taken a disproportional amount of offence to my having made a suggestion that she had mis-defined a word; which I happen to still believe to be the case.
“…Also in regard to spelling and grammar – I suppose you are both blessed with being 100% perfect and immune to the odd typo are you?…”
I certainly am no expert in grammar or spelling, nor have I ever claimed to be, perhaps direct your argument elsewhere.
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Please accept my apologies J Lamborrari you are quite right. Can find nothing in this thread. Will go and find somewhere quiet to eat humble pie…
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