More from the race to the bottom.

[morticia]

The reason for the risks are that safe bonds are now paying less than the rate of inflation, meaning that the fund loses money if relying entirely on US or German bonds, for example.

Public sector pensions are paid entirely from current tax revenue. The pensions reserve fund was invented as a way to get away from that; sadly, it will be long gone before the bulge in retirements occurs. Which is why I slightly resent the lack of reform for current pensioners; the next generation will have worked harder for far, far less

[fluffybiscuits]

The reason for the risks are that safe bonds are now paying less than the rate of inflation, meaning that the fund loses money if relying entirely on US or German bonds, for example.

Public sector pensions are paid entirely from current tax revenue. The pensions reserve fund was invented as a way to get away from that; sadly, it will be long gone before the bulge in retirements occurs. Which is why I slightly resent the lack of reform for current pensioners; the next generation will have worked harder for far, far less

We do make a contribution too but do admit it is paid from the public purse. Why dont private pensions go for at least medium risk options (if there is such a thing??)

[Baron von Biffo]

We do make a contribution too but do admit it is paid from the public purse. Why dont private pensions go for at least medium risk options (if there is such a thing??)

It's actually the other way round, the PS pension scheme is a cash cow for the state. Whenever you hear someone going on about the generosity of your pension scheme, ask them why it is that you have to be compelled to join it.

Why is it that when Howlin was changing the terms for new entrants he didn't allow them to opt out? If the scheme was as costly as PS bashers maintain then the state couldn't lose - no extra cost would be incurred if no-one took up the option and we would make a saving on everyone who did.

On another site I went through the numbers for clerical officers and gardaí and showed that even without tax relief on contributions they would be better off if they'd been allowed to put all their pension contributions into Post Office savings over their careers.

[Baron von Biffo]

Pregnant women are now in the HSE firing line. It seems that getting sick while pregnant is a lifestyle choice now.

http://www.independent.ie/national-n...s-3140481.html

It would be nice to think that some of the comments on the article were trolling but I fear they could be quite genuine.

'Janeyjane' said - "disgraceful abuse of the system. no one should be paid when they are sick and we should not pay people on maternity leave, why on earth should we pay people to do nothing "

And 'Sarah' claims - "The female dominated Public sector is being destroyed by maternity leave. Women are bringing this country down! Half of the staff in my department are off now- most for over a year at a time with sick leave and annual leave added on... "

A year ago, when a PW member described the pregnancy of a named woman as a stroke to defraud the exchequer, I put it down to his being a lowlife. It seems that his disgusting views are more commonplace than I imagined.

[morticia]

The whole point of maternity leave isn't to make a current profit out of an employee's work, or to raise productivity. It is to help raise a newer generation of taxpayers who will be funding those irate posters retirement ( everyone gets the State pension, don't they?). It is also to ensure there is a younger generation of workers, some of whom will be wiping that lot's @rses when they are mouldering away in a nursing home.

Why is it that people without children (or who can afford stay at home spouses) seem to think they shouldn't have to pay for the next generation in any way whatsoever? Parents are the most discriminated against class at the moment; the most likely to own negative equity properties, the most likely to experience employment discrimination ( employers don't like maternity leave either), and belong to the generation most likely to be living on next to nothing owing to mortgage issues, unemployment and the cost of child care.

As a society, we are likely to pay for this lack of investment in the young.

Scrimping on training the next generation is going to impact of profitability in 10-20 years time. Let's put that argument in terms the capitalist pig classes understand

Ye shall reap what ye sow.

[Baron von Biffo]

Baby Brute wants to screw €50 out of people taking a case for unfair dismissal.

http://www.independent.ie/national-n...e-3146370.html

Welcome to planet IBEC.

[bormotello]

H

It's actually the other way round, the PS pension scheme is a cash cow for the state. Whenever you hear someone going on about the generosity of your pension scheme, ask them why it is that you have to be compelled to join it.

Why is it that when Howlin was changing the terms for new entrants he didn't allow them to opt out? If the scheme was as costly as PS bashers maintain then the state couldn't lose - no extra cost would be incurred if no-one took up the option and we would make a saving on everyone who did.

On another site I went through the numbers for clerical officers and gardaí and showed that even without tax relief on contributions they would be better off if they'd been allowed to put all their pension contributions into Post Office savings over their careers.

If it PS pensions are so unfair, why unions don't want to raise a question why people cannot opt out for private pensions?

[Baron von Biffo]

H

If it PS pensions are so unfair, why unions don't want to raise a question why people cannot opt out for private pensions?

An excellent question and one I can't answer.

I'm likewise stumped about why unions (public and private) went along with the Social Partnership model long after it was obvious that it wasn't delivering for workers.

Why PS unions meekly accepted Lenihan's cuts to their members pay and accepted the Croke Park scam is equally a mystery.

My best guess is that just like politics, leadership in unions can also be won by people who are not up to the job.

[ang]

Now that workers have had time to assess the Croke Park agreement, there is still no anger being directed at Union leaders.

That may (hopefully) change before Croke Park II

[C. Flower]

Pregnant women are now in the HSE firing line. It seems that getting sick while pregnant is a lifestyle choice now.

http://www.independent.ie/national-n...s-3140481.html

It would be nice to think that some of the comments on the article were trolling but I fear they could be quite genuine.

'Janeyjane' said - "disgraceful abuse of the system. no one should be paid when they are sick and we should not pay people on maternity leave, why on earth should we pay people to do nothing "

And 'Sarah' claims - "The female dominated Public sector is being destroyed by maternity leave. Women are bringing this country down! Half of the staff in my department are off now- most for over a year at a time with sick leave and annual leave added on... "

A year ago, when a PW member described the pregnancy of a named woman as a stroke to defraud the exchequer, I put it down to his being a lowlife. It seems that his disgusting views are more commonplace than I imagined.

Imo, all women and men public and private sector, should get the same terms of maternity and paternity leave, it should be based on the welfare of the parents and child, and it should all be publicly-funded. A minority of women are seriously ill and hospitalised during pregnancy. It's outrageous that they should be pressured to work when sick. Some types of work are physically more demanding or require shift work, so a higher level of health and fitness is needed to work and it may be that they are not suited to pregnant women. I'm not surprised a higher proportion of nurses than other staff are taking sick leave. The proportion of women on sick leave after giving birth doesn't strike me as unexpectedly high.

I presume that Medical Certificates are required for the sick leave - is the HSE suggesting that doctors are either lying or incompetent ?

[fluffybiscuits]

Imo, all women and men public and private sector, should get the same terms of maternity and paternity leave, it should be based on the welfare of the parents and child, and it should all be publicly-funded. A minority of women are seriously ill and hospitalised during pregnancy. It's outrageous that they should be pressured to work when sick. Some types of work are physically more demanding or require shift work, so a higher level of health and fitness is needed to work and it may be that they are not suited to pregnant women. I'm not surprised a higher proportion of nurses than other staff are taking sick leave. The proportion of women on sick leave after giving birth doesn't strike me as unexpectedly high.

I presume that Medical Certificates are required for the sick leave - is the HSE suggesting that doctors are either lying or incompetent ?

Medical certs are needed where the person is out for more than three days sick in the PS

Have a look at what they get in Sweden and its also very favourable to the father...

http://www.sweden.se/eng/Home/Work/T...arental-leave/

[morticia]

Totally agreed on the paternity leave, at least in theory. In practice, however, I would be very concerned that it will
mean employer discrimination against all persons of parental age, not just women of 25-45. Of all sectors of society, parents perhaps need most access to earnings; the current system at least maintains those of one parent.

Unfortunately, the US has better levels of female representation at upper echelons of the work force than most of Europe. I suspect that this is because they get shorter mat leave which is not paid by employers, meaning less discrimination. Places like Norway do well, too, on much more generous terms, but they are so bolstered by oil wealth I would consider their financial status atypical.

[Baron von Biffo]

IBEC wants child benefit paid on a smart-card rather than cash with penalties for those who don't spend it all immediately.

http://www.independent.ie/national-n...t-3242123.html

A first step on the road to introducing something like the notorious and disgusting Australian 'Basics Card'.

[fluffybiscuits]

IBEC wants child benefit paid on a smart-card rather than cash with penalties for those who don't spend it all immediately.

http://www.independent.ie/national-n...t-3242123.html

A first step on the road to introducing something like the notorious and disgusting Australian 'Basics Card'.

Absolute joke of an organisation. What would the impact be of such a move? People would end up not being able to shop at stores and have the freedom of choice. What about school uniforms, books, shoes ,clothes? What about if bills need to be paid (these are necesseities). Extremely ill thought out commnet there from IBEC, fuckin eejits....

[Baron von Biffo]

Tom Parlon from the CIF on News at One now explaining why they want to slash wages to boost his members earnings.