Pay Rise on 1st April 09?
we are one of the few occupations that have money left to burn at the end of the month
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The Armed Forces don't actually number that many any more. If it is decided that the Country must reduce the Pension Bill to be paid from the 'Public Purse', then I suggest the first port of call should be the 'legions' of Civil Service or Local Government employees. As Melchett01 said, our supposed Big Fat Pensions are all well and good providing you make it past Go in order to receive one!
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Arguably, the AFPRB should reduce the married quarter rents if our pay is to remain unchanged. Mortgage interest has reduced, and so has the cost of living in some other aspects, which has increased my disposable income. So, on the basis of equality, our colleagues in MQs should receive a rent reduction, IMHO.
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Utter tosh: FMQ rent did not go up when I was paying 7% mortgage rate recently. You choose who owns the roof over your head. Energy costs for homeowners have gone ballistic in the last 2 years, and the govt would do well to get these costs back to realistic levels. The real vultures at the moment are credit card interest rates, and nobody will buy again until these are brought into line.
There should be a public outcry if the armed forces do not receive a reasonable pay rise. ....and should anybody have any doubt, visit the arrival part of BZN when the walking wounded get off their TriStar, a most humbling experience.
There should be a public outcry if the armed forces do not receive a reasonable pay rise. ....and should anybody have any doubt, visit the arrival part of BZN when the walking wounded get off their TriStar, a most humbling experience.
The real vultures at the moment are credit card interest rates....
In the old days, if you wanted something you either 'saved up' for it (remember that quaint concept?) or entered into a HP agreement. Whereas the 'want it now' culture and the irresponsibility of credit card companies in letting virtually anyone have a card have lead to people running up huge debts - which they take for ever to pay off and on which the card companies collect considerable interest fees.
Other countries don't allow such financial irresponsibility. And neither should the UK.
As for a pay rise, I hope you do get something. But perhaps a modest pay rise with a large 'danger' allowance for OOA operations would be more appropriate?
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Thanks for the fatherly words of wisdom, but my point is: Western culture is dependent upon credit and the philosphy of live for today. An element of the solution to the present economic crisis is for people to make purchases, and people will not do that whilst card interest rates are unrealistically high. If the rates are brought down the public will again spend money, and eventually the tide will/may turn.
The oil/petrol companies eventually towed the line under govt pressure, and IMHO this should be extended to the financial sector.
The oil/petrol companies eventually towed the line under govt pressure, and IMHO this should be extended to the financial sector.
No - not all Western culture is dependent upon credit! Stupid kids who run up huge credit card bills in the UK would wonder what hit them if they tried to do the same thing in Germany!
Personal debt and the 'Never never' (as HP was once termed) were once considered rather infra dig. Whereas nowadays the concept of 'save first, then spend' is alien to many.
I used to use a debit card until the bank started charging for its use in other countries, so now I use an airline Visa card. My income gains interest (not much now, thanks to Incapability '$hit' Brown and the idiot Darling) during the month, then I pay off my monthly bills at the end of the month by automatic direct debit - and the airline also gives me 1 mile for each £ or € spent....
Anyway, the moral is not to spend what you haven't got - so I hope that a reasonable payrise will make things easier for the Armed Forces over the coming months.
By the way, in what way were oil companies obliged to toe the line under government pressure?
Personal debt and the 'Never never' (as HP was once termed) were once considered rather infra dig. Whereas nowadays the concept of 'save first, then spend' is alien to many.
I used to use a debit card until the bank started charging for its use in other countries, so now I use an airline Visa card. My income gains interest (not much now, thanks to Incapability '$hit' Brown and the idiot Darling) during the month, then I pay off my monthly bills at the end of the month by automatic direct debit - and the airline also gives me 1 mile for each £ or € spent....
Anyway, the moral is not to spend what you haven't got - so I hope that a reasonable payrise will make things easier for the Armed Forces over the coming months.
By the way, in what way were oil companies obliged to toe the line under government pressure?
so now I use an airline Visa card. My income gains interest (not much now, thanks to Incapability '$hit' Brown and the idiot Darling) during the month,
then I pay off my monthly bills at the end of the month by automatic direct debit - and the airline also gives me 1 mile for each £ or € spent....
Anyway, the moral is not to spend what you haven't got - so I hope that a reasonable payrise will make things easier for the Armed Forces over the coming months.
Anyway, the moral is not to spend what you haven't got - so I hope that a reasonable payrise will make things easier for the Armed Forces over the coming months.
If not, the UK Armed Forces Moneysaving forum may be of interest...
Before we get too carried away with the plight of the British public, in the interests of balanced argument, it is worth reminding ourselves that nobody forced them to take out huge mortgages or run up huge credit card debts.
In quite a few cases, these are the same people who have bored us with repetitive anecdotes about the housing market, and how much their house has gained in value.
I do genuinely feel sorry for those who have lost their jobs, due to what is effectively banking industry greed, and governmental incompetence. I wish them the best of luck, though fear it may be some time before we hit rock bottom.
In the current climate, I do not expect a huge pay rise (which is probably just as well) but there will be some who argue, with some justification, that Forces pay has been on the backburner for some time now due to concerns over inflation.
I think a large pay award would be innappropriate given the current climate, and unlikely to retain those wishing to leave anyway. However, we do need to remember that the Armed Forces are not the cause of the Global Financial Crisis that started in America (Is that one word Gordo?), and that our workload and general underfunding continues unabated.
In quite a few cases, these are the same people who have bored us with repetitive anecdotes about the housing market, and how much their house has gained in value.
I do genuinely feel sorry for those who have lost their jobs, due to what is effectively banking industry greed, and governmental incompetence. I wish them the best of luck, though fear it may be some time before we hit rock bottom.
In the current climate, I do not expect a huge pay rise (which is probably just as well) but there will be some who argue, with some justification, that Forces pay has been on the backburner for some time now due to concerns over inflation.
I think a large pay award would be innappropriate given the current climate, and unlikely to retain those wishing to leave anyway. However, we do need to remember that the Armed Forces are not the cause of the Global Financial Crisis that started in America (Is that one word Gordo?), and that our workload and general underfunding continues unabated.
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Can you not simply give some MP's a bung to get your pay issues ammended in parliament ? A bung of about 72,000 pounds should see you right....... now lets see, with the way the armed forces are being reduced, that should cost those of you left about 3 pounds each 
or am I just being cynical ?
As read on another site, this made me smile....
Due to recent budget cuts, the rising cost of electricity, gas and oil, as well as current market conditions, for the foreseeable future the Light at the End of the Tunnel has been turned off.
or am I just being cynical ?
As read on another site, this made me smile....
Due to recent budget cuts, the rising cost of electricity, gas and oil, as well as current market conditions, for the foreseeable future the Light at the End of the Tunnel has been turned off.
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well NHS Nursing is locked into a 3 year pay deal with the Government. Last year it was well below inflation this year (Year 2) it should now be above inflation or so many of my peers beleive. Personally I think that Gordon will renage on the deal as its "not in the countries economic interest" yet it would have been if their fairytale economics had continued and inflation was 5% and our pay rise was 1.75 like last year.
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I can't see us not getting an inflation matching pay rise - the government are trying hard to say they value us and all that guff. The AFPRB recommend the award, they will clearly recommend something at least at inflation and the government would have to ignore that. Not very likely.
Remember the pay cuts and job losses in the private sector are to do with fall off in the level of business - we are busier than we are established to be, doing more without enough people or kit. Gordon knows he would be remembered ass the man who paid soldiers less to get killed......
It wont be much but it'll be better than a lot, and we deserve it, 10 years ago we would probably not have but it's today and right now as I write this some soldier, sailor or airman is in very immediate harms way and is earning a hell of a lot more than will be in his bank on Friday (at opening time, before his wife goes shopping anyway....)
Remember the pay cuts and job losses in the private sector are to do with fall off in the level of business - we are busier than we are established to be, doing more without enough people or kit. Gordon knows he would be remembered ass the man who paid soldiers less to get killed......
It wont be much but it'll be better than a lot, and we deserve it, 10 years ago we would probably not have but it's today and right now as I write this some soldier, sailor or airman is in very immediate harms way and is earning a hell of a lot more than will be in his bank on Friday (at opening time, before his wife goes shopping anyway....)
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Agreed but when the tabloids start screaming about overpaid public servants with their index linked pensions and you're behind in the opinion polls guess what a good idea it seams to cut public sector rises. Not of course mentioning it covers Armed forces or front line NHS staff.
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If they are cutting the Def Budget what chance do we have...
Gents,
With the pre-reported reduction in funds for carriers and other much needed equipment in the Telegraph last week I think we are deluding ourselves if we think we will be given an increase. The best we can hope for is to keep pace with the rate of inflation, but I doubt that we will even get that. It is a sad state of affairs that the politicians havent yet woken up to - more and more of the public recognise our efforts and would support a reasonable rise. The only reason I have money left over at the end of the month is because I am OOA for 6 months and Mrs SLC is living overseas. Were it not for that and we wanted to maintain a reasonable standard of living we would be like everyone else.
Come on Fat Gordon give us what we deserve.
With the pre-reported reduction in funds for carriers and other much needed equipment in the Telegraph last week I think we are deluding ourselves if we think we will be given an increase. The best we can hope for is to keep pace with the rate of inflation, but I doubt that we will even get that. It is a sad state of affairs that the politicians havent yet woken up to - more and more of the public recognise our efforts and would support a reasonable rise. The only reason I have money left over at the end of the month is because I am OOA for 6 months and Mrs SLC is living overseas. Were it not for that and we wanted to maintain a reasonable standard of living we would be like everyone else.
Come on Fat Gordon give us what we deserve.
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Any more firm news on a subject close to my heart? How about 5%? Realistic or pie in the sky?
Also, I have heard RAF ground trades are list 1 or 2. Is there a difference and if so where do I find out online which trades fall into which list?
Many thanks.
Grabbers
Also, I have heard RAF ground trades are list 1 or 2. Is there a difference and if so where do I find out online which trades fall into which list?
Many thanks.
Grabbers
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If the government think they are headed for deflation they are DELUDED!
Inflation has been near or at 2X the target for the past year(CPI), and although faling recently, I reckon is going to rocket in the not too distant future, especially with all the extra cash they are pumping in.
Examples? Recent price of petrol/diesel back on the up
Commodity prices recovering on the markets
Ford and other manufacturers increasing car prices by 10% recently.
Shop price inflation rises in January
So, where is this goddamn deflation that is supposed to be making my money become more valuable?
Gordon Brown is going to go down as the worst Chancellor in this countries history.
Inflation has been near or at 2X the target for the past year(CPI), and although faling recently, I reckon is going to rocket in the not too distant future, especially with all the extra cash they are pumping in.
Examples? Recent price of petrol/diesel back on the up
Commodity prices recovering on the markets
Ford and other manufacturers increasing car prices by 10% recently.
Shop price inflation rises in January
So, where is this goddamn deflation that is supposed to be making my money become more valuable?
Gordon Brown is going to go down as the worst Chancellor in this countries history.
I know some people on this thread have announced that in these times of recession we shouldn't be getting a pay rise, we are well paid enough, etc... Well, leaving that particular discussion aside for now, and assuming we do get a pay rise, consider this possible scenario:
Last year the AFPRB report was released on Thurs 7 Feb, the equivalent day this year would have been yesterday. Nothing heard so far, not in itself unusual.
However, consider this. The AFPRB, and most public sector pay bodies, use the September inflation figure when taking inflation into account in their deliberations. However, inflation has been falling quite rapidly recently. The next inflation results are due to be announced on 17 Feb. Could the government be waiting until after 17 Feb before announcing the pay award they will actually make in order to make it seem better.
For example, say on Feb 17 the headline inflation figure is now 1.5%, government announce a 1.75% rise for the armd forces, trumpeting it as "...another above inflation pay rise for our valued armed services...". Convieniently ignoring the fact that inflation has been higher than 1.75% for most of the year.
I wouldn't put it past the "spin doctors" of this government. Any thoughts?
Last year the AFPRB report was released on Thurs 7 Feb, the equivalent day this year would have been yesterday. Nothing heard so far, not in itself unusual.
However, consider this. The AFPRB, and most public sector pay bodies, use the September inflation figure when taking inflation into account in their deliberations. However, inflation has been falling quite rapidly recently. The next inflation results are due to be announced on 17 Feb. Could the government be waiting until after 17 Feb before announcing the pay award they will actually make in order to make it seem better.
For example, say on Feb 17 the headline inflation figure is now 1.5%, government announce a 1.75% rise for the armd forces, trumpeting it as "...another above inflation pay rise for our valued armed services...". Convieniently ignoring the fact that inflation has been higher than 1.75% for most of the year.
I wouldn't put it past the "spin doctors" of this government. Any thoughts?