I'll still be working in the Police Force and probably have a blue light attached to my Zimmer Frame or electric cart!
That's assuming I'm still alive of course! Thanks to Lord Hutton there's a good chance that I'll still be chasing after criminals a damn sight younger than me at the age of 60 and to make matters worse, the decent pension I thought I would have received, is a lot smaller than it should have been and I've paid a lot more for it.
Whilst the banks are declaring major profits and bonuses, the suckers that are us public sector workers have taken yet another hit, this time with our nest egg, the pension.
I did not join the Police Force in order to retire early, as stated in a previous blog entry, I joined to help and make a difference. The reason we only tend to do 30 years as a police officer is because of the stress and strains that come with the job.
It used to be an average of 5 years a police officer would live after retirement. Thanks to appropriate support in place that is no longer the case. However, upping our retirement age and taking away our final salary pensions in place for "career average earnings" is probably going to see that death age creep back as retired officers cannot afford to heat their homes or are so burnt out from the job life style that ill health rapidly over takes them.
Hutton basically states because of the rise in life expectancy people are living off of pensions longer and are a drain on resources.
The government have said they are grateful for his work [Hutton's] and will give it careful consideration. Which you and I know means that they will go along blindly with every word he says.
Well, thanks to the government's major cut backs to the funds for the NHS, Armed Forces and Policing we can see that rise in life expectancy being only short lived.
Dave Prentis the general secretary of Unison said:
"This will be just one more attack on innocent public sector workers who are being expected to pay the price of the deficit, while the bankers who caused it continue to enjoy bumper pay and bonuses."
I agree whole heartedly, however, your members can strike, we cannot unless some line in the sand is drawn by the Federation now.
On the talk of strike, the problem with being a police officer and strike is two fold:
One. The public suffers, not those that make the stupid decisions.
Two. Can any officer, honestly say that they could sit there and ignore calls from people who need our help?
Well, there is the Army of course but they're all off fighting a pointless war in a far off land and anyway, those who are stationed here will probably have to cover any Fire Brigade strike because someone woke them up during a night shift.
Matt Wrack, Fire Brigades Union general secretary, said: "This is the great pension's robbery and is completely unacceptable to firefighters across the UK."
So that's that, they'll be out on strike along with everyone else and we'll have to pick up the pieces
He also stated: "Expecting firefighters to work until they are 60 is wrong. Firefighting is a physically arduous job. Peak fitness is essential where seconds can cost lives. The public will not want an ageing frontline fire and rescue service."
What about the Police?Do we really want to be The REALLY OLD Bill?
1 comments:
Fire Fighter here. You guys do a good job, just like we do. Should Police Officers be on the beat running after criminals at 60 years old? Of course not, should Fire Fighters be running into burning buildings at 60 years old? Of course not. Simply put it is dangerous.
Let me make one thing clear however, trying to imply that Fire Fighters are selfish enough to go on strike because someone woke us up during a night shift, doesn't help your arguement, nor is it correct. I highly doubt we would go on strike over this pension issue, the FBU talks a good game, but in reality, it has no back bone. Fortunately the FBU has spoken up about the issue, maybe the Police Federation should do the same.
You seem slightly bitter that other public services can go on strike but yourselves cannot, to be honest I can understand that, but again that's not something you should hold against other public services, that is something you should hold against your union.
We all need to stick together on this issue, you know aswell as I do, the public will be at risk if the government just follows Huttons recommendations blindly.
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