Link to this page: http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/369/6049
From The Socialist newspaper, 6 November 2004
"Why I Am On Strike"
The "Pensions Crisis" - The crisis for me is that I will have to work till 65 or 70 instead of 60, possibly without those extra years' contributions being added to my benefit.
Joe Foster, OFWAT (Office of Water Services - Water Regulator)
There is no pensions crisis for MPs - after discovering a possible shortfall in their pensions, taxpayers' money (our money) was pumped into it to plug the gap. I don't see MPs rushing to decline the "handout" to balance Mr Brown's books.
Sickness - previous generations have fought for sick pay, especially as it was work that made them sick, which is still true today.
Redundancies - I have nothing in writing to say that I cannot be made redundant. And WaterVoice/Consumer Council for Water (a Consumer Watchdog) colleagues in the North and West could still be under threat of redundancy.
I do not see why I should make sacrifices to increase senior civil servants' pay by up to 90% and shore up MPs' pension schemes.
Also, should I be made redundant or have to claim a pension, I do not want to communicate with robots or a call centre because the government have reduced the "face to face" staff in other departments. I don't want my benefits office to become a trendy wine bar!
Finally - I do not want to die at work aged 70.
Work to live! Don't live to work.
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In The Socialist 6 November 2004:
PCS Striking To Save Jobs And Services
For A One-Day Public-Sector Strike
Understaffed, Stressed And Under Threat
Socialist Party news and analysis
Is there an alternative to global warming?
International socialist news and analysis
Big events will shake Bush win
Arafat And The Palestinian Struggle
Fourth general strike in ten months in Nigeria
Volkswagen: Workers Stage Warning Strikes
Ministers Paper Over Growing EU Crises
Musharraf's Hypocrisy Won't End Violence Against Women
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