Who was at the demo today?

Firstly, far fewer private sector workers (estimates seem to vary from 15-30%) get *any pension at all. *It's hugely offensive watching relatively well-off and job-secure people protesting to keep taxpayers topping up their contributions.

Dan the sole point of private sector jobs is to make shareholders richer. Providing pensions doesn't make money so they don't do it. If you want a public sector style pension, work in the public sector, for the people rather than the MAN!

Secondly, stop blaming "the bankers" for everything. It's immature and overly simplistic. Private debt, China/India et al's competetiveness and the resulting impact on employment and inflation, our demographic crisis and numerous other factors mean everyone is having to tighten their belts. Would you prefer your kids to pay for your pensions?

Blaming the bankers for everything is overly simplistic. But suggesting that public sector workers need to shut up, 'tighten their belts' and sign off benfits they are contractually obliged to while company directors and bankers pay themselves dividends and moan about how much tax they pay is a bit shit. Its certainly not the fault of teachers is it? Its already been shown that even the Conservative projections for pension costs are wrong, and that the cost of pensions is set up to reduce over the years, not cost more and more.

Thirdly, if what you want is higher pay, argue for that, not pensions as some sort of vague compensation.

As far as I'm aware, they're arguing for the same pay rather than a pay cut, which is what they're experiencing at the moment.

Fourthly, if you want public support, don't strike while negotiations are still on-going. You just lost the moral highground.

The government has already stated that the negotiations won't change anything.