Theresa May announcement

[Kwacky]

Praise the emergency services week in and week out.

Then deny them the right to a pay rise above inflation.

Fecking heartless bastards.

[Cav]

I can't believe this is what people vote into power - are they complete brain dead homophobes?

[Monty]

Public service workers are the first victims of the DUP and Tory deal.

To be fair to the Tory back benchers, they didn't really have any choice. Just imagine what would have happened if they'd lost the the first vote.

Interesting times ahead.

[Cav]

They do have a choice but they choose to look after themselves than do their job of looking after the public

[Perkles]

Clinging to power and don't care who they tread on to do it

[Blade]

Praise the emergency services week in and week out.

Then deny them the right to a pay rise above inflation.

Fecking heartless bastards.

Probably going to regret this but why should they be given a raise above inflation ?

Is there renumeration package not competitive?

Genuine question as I don't know. If it isn't competitive then fair enough but if they are fairly paid I have to ask why should they be given a rise above inflation.

Many people on here are probably like my wife and I who have not had any pay rise for a number of years.

They do an amazing job and in no way am I being negative towards them or what they do.

[Kwacky]

A few bullet point reasons.:-

We're told there's no money for them, despite their numbers and stations being dramatically slashed.
Police, Firecrews and paramedics are being asked to do more and more of their role.
MPS have given themselves massive pay rises over the last 5 years
£1billion was found to support May's government to get the vote in to cap pay to 1%
If you're a public servant then a pay rise in line with inflation is just and equitable, otherwise you're poorer in real terms
Tax evasion costs £16billion so the money is available, just not collected (uncollected tax is estimated at £34billion a year -this includes evasion)
It attracts good staff - the NHS is losing nurses at an alarming rate

[Cav]

They need to increase pay above inflation if you ask me - paramedics barely make the UK average salary yet face huge responsiblity. There is a shortage of people learning those 'trades' and that's only going to get worse while they keep reducing staffing numbers and the burseries involved in the Uni courses.

They're killing off the root and soon the forest will die

[Blade]

How much do paramedics earn Cav just out of interest as your right a lot of responsibility and totally agree on that point.

[Cav]

Early 20's.. I believe it's around £23k.

To put that in respective, I'm earning about the same as paramedics the year after I finished my apprenticeship

[Kwacky]

Firefighters start at £22k

I accept that people have a choice what they do, but we need these people. I think they should be looked after. They're shitty jobs and I couldn't do them. Paramedics and nurses are being attacked as they do their work. Fore engines get false calls so kids can chuck rocks at them. We all know the crap the police have to face.

Imagine having no police, nurses, firefighters or paramedics.

[Blade]

I'll be honest Kwacky I know a few firefighters who are on very good money and drive porsches and merc's and also comment how easy there job is 80% of the time.

22k sounds quite reasonable as a starting salary tbh. I bet most engineering apprentices don't earn that and having done both jobs I know which is the harder of the two.

Attacks on any emergency services is bang out of line and people committing these acts should be suitably punished but I think these incidents are quite rare fortunately.

[Monty]

I'll be honest Kwacky I know a few firefighters who are on very good money and drive porsches and merc's and also comment how easy there job is 80% of the time.

Most firefighters have more than one job. Next time you see your mates ask them about their pensions and if they'll still be running into burning buildings in their 60s?

[Monty]

They do have a choice but they choose to look after themselves than do their job of looking after the public

The backbenchers don't have any choice, but I take your point.

[Cav]

Firefighters earn more than paramedics and police officers - average salary £29k

[Cav]

Just learned that the average salary in 2015 was £27,600... paramedics earn significantly less and that was 1.6% up on the year before so no, a 1% pay rise is not in line with inflation and they are way under paid for the sh!t they put up with

[D41]

These people that go into vocational jobs like this...they are actually aware of how much they're going to make before they start, correct??

[Perkles]

These people that go into vocational jobs like this...they are actually aware of how much they're going to make before they start, correct??

Yes it's made quite clear to them
I applied to the police force and dropped out after the third round because I didn't fancy it and the money was shit
If I ever need a nurse doctor paramedic soldier firefighter or copper I hope they are well trained well equipped and not to tired or stressed to do their job properly
The government should look after them so they can look after us

[Blade]

I'll be honest Kwacky I know a few firefighters who are on very good money and drive porsches and merc's and also comment how easy there job is 80% of the time.

Most firefighters have more than one job. Next time you see your mates ask them about their pensions and if they'll still be running into burning buildings in their 60s?

Some have second jobs your right but my mates on 45k as a fire fighter and jokes he plays pool, lifts weights and sleeps for his living most of the time. I know he plans to work in Dubai on mega bucks for the last few years to top up his pension and retire in his 50's.

I know a few fire fighters and yet to meet a poor one tbh.

If the government is skint where are they supposed to get the money from ? Nice idea and I support it in the good times but if the national debt is sky high, we have to live within realistic expectations is the hard reality.

I have hadn't a wage rise for 2 years and my wife for 5 years so we are effectively poorer. Should we tell our employers we are worth more and they should go into debt to to pay us generous wage rises above inflation?

There is no fantasy money tree guys and the state can't fix everything we would like fixing in an ideal world. Easy to say people are worth more but a lot more difficult to generate the revenue to pay people more.

[Kwacky]

If the government is skint where are they supposed to get the money from ? Nice idea and I support it in the good times but if the national debt is sky high, we have to live within realistic expectations is the hard reality.

If only someone had set out in bullet a response to that.