tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1750120863647373520.post5252832957550064728..comments2023-08-08T11:48:10.725+01:00Comments on swisslet: quench my thirst with gasoline...swisslethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16708248700851998044noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1750120863647373520.post-33633387792636640952008-04-29T22:30:00.000+01:002008-04-29T22:30:00.000+01:00Going to hang out with Billy Bragg at the Leftfiel...Going to hang out with Billy Bragg at the Leftfield in Glastonbury this year, mate? I'd maybe leave your attitude to the teachers strike at home....LBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06234702470107953581noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1750120863647373520.post-44155757859761658492008-04-29T16:35:00.000+01:002008-04-29T16:35:00.000+01:00I'm constantly surprised that more people don&...I'm constantly surprised that more people don't die on the motorway every day. People drive like idiots. It's just frightening.Rolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02103804480646939038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1750120863647373520.post-47104869554454978172008-04-29T15:55:00.000+01:002008-04-29T15:55:00.000+01:00xIf I had the power to bring the country to a grin...xIf I had the power to bring the country to a grinding halt and panic with a 24 hour strike, and someone tried to cut my wages, which is what this change in contributions is in effect, I'd strike too. Given that they haven't striked (Struck?) before, and the strike was supported by 97% of workers, this is hardly the action of militant extremists.<br><br>These aren't offshore oil workers, they're workers at a chemical plant. I would think their salaries are somewhat different, due to the risks involved.<br><br>The billionaire owners of Ineos could quite easily fund the pension fund in perpetuity from the small change in their pockets.ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13462118851964861754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1750120863647373520.post-16826820194461405242008-04-29T09:32:00.000+01:002008-04-29T09:32:00.000+01:00they're striking over the possibility that:a) ...they're striking over the possibility that:<br><br>a) the final salary pension scheme will not be made available to new joins (i.e. closed to all but existing members)<br><br>b) The possibility that they will have to start paying contributions to their own pension. Currently (and very unusually) their company pays all of their contributions for them.<br><br>They're not striking over their salaries at all. And I should imagine that even a poorly paid oil worker is better off than a well paid teacher.<br><br>STswisslethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16708248700851998044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1750120863647373520.post-81051067976582734452008-04-29T08:55:00.000+01:002008-04-29T08:55:00.000+01:00Why are they striking though?They are on phenomena...Why are they striking though?<br><br>They are on phenomenally high wages.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1750120863647373520.post-83123962279740992762008-04-29T08:00:00.000+01:002008-04-29T08:00:00.000+01:00the pension fund isn't just supporting 1200 pe...the pension fund isn't just supporting 1200 people though, is it Ian? It has to support all previous employees too, and it has to have enough funding to remain viable into the future. It also won't be being governed just by the billionaire owners, and they won't have the keys to that fund money... there are laws against that kind of thing, and the fund will be scrutineered independently. Final salary pensions are now rare because they generate a huge liability. A final salary pension that is fully contributed? Even greater liabilities.<br><br>Don't forget that the oil will run out one day.<br><br>I'm not saying that they shouldn't protest, I'm just interested in the fact that their (I think unrealistic protest) has such an effect on our lives. When my pension was changed, I had nothing like that sort of power.<br><br>STswisslethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16708248700851998044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1750120863647373520.post-73003749607370368412008-04-29T05:11:00.000+01:002008-04-29T05:11:00.000+01:00(even if my 20 litres cost me well over £20)I just...<i>(even if my 20 litres cost me well over £20)</i><br>I just did the conversion to US$ to gallon. <br><br>I had heard that the US enjoyed some of the cheapest gas prices in the world. I just filled up the tank of our New Beetle the other day. 13.2 gallons cost us $51. Your fuel price works out to be about $7.60/gallon. I paid $3.81/gallon.monogodohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08984785082196931235noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1750120863647373520.post-71985615085565026862008-04-28T23:42:00.000+01:002008-04-28T23:42:00.000+01:00So what you're saying is that these workers ha...So what you're saying is that these workers had terms of employment which included a decent pension as part of their package, (a package which pays less than contemporaries at other companies) should accept changes to that package without protest?<br><br>The move to employee contributions is effectively a wage cut. <br><br>You're not seriously telling me that the third largest chemical company in the world, or its multi-billionaire owner are short of cash? Ineos made £300M profit last year alone... Surely that could fund a decent pension for the 1200 Grangemouth workers?ianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13462118851964861754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1750120863647373520.post-65433738853151744252008-04-28T21:59:00.000+01:002008-04-28T21:59:00.000+01:00...hates self, hates self! why Cheezoid exist?...hates self, hates self! why Cheezoid exist?http://suburbanhen.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com