Nurses striking

[Polythene Pam]

Sorry but do you live in the real world or some sort of weird film reality? Your sense of how people really live is astonishing, I guess like a politician viewing from their towers telling people to get better paid jobs instead of claiming benefits. You have no idea clearly.

In the same sentiment, why don’t nurses just get better jobs, go private or agency. Why are they striking because they feel they must be a nurse, they must serve the public? (This is not my view just going off your post!)

How on earth did you get that from this post?!

 

[Rosie glow]

I find people who wear “I worked through the pandemic” as a badge of honour, really odd.

most people in the U.K. worked through the pandemic. Myself included. I’ve never mentioned it as a bragging right though.

the difference between people who worked during the pandemic and nurses (and other medical professionals in general) is that nurses were exposing themselves to the sick, covid patients and working in environments were there was a much higher risk of covid. If they did catch covid, they got it worse than others because of viral load exposure. Their workload increased overnight, for a consistent period of time.

on top of that, they often didn’t have the correct equipment, were dealing with higher death rates (ergo more stressful, more traumatic etc, requiring more pastoral care).

that just isn’t comparable to someone who say, worked on a supermarket checkout through the pandemic. Neither is better or worse than the other, both jobs are important. Both carried risks and exposure to covid. But the risks aren’t the same.

Retail work (and I say this as someone who has worked as a cashier!) is a low skilled job. You can train for it within days. It’s wonderful that you have 11 quals, but you don’t need any qualifications to work in retail. The responsibilities are low.

For nurses, it takes years of training and the risks are high (both to themselves and their patients). Not comparable really.

I support the strike, I support all public sector strikes and wish there were more private sector ones. Strikes protect all of us. Even if the requests seem unfeasible, or if the outcome is less tangible - it still sends a strong signalling message. So yep nurses, strike away. I know they only do it if they feel they have no choice as the vast majority of nurses are committed to their profession and their patients.

Nobody is bragging stay on you're self made pedestal you have put yourself on it must be great to be as wonderful as you

 

[Polythene Pam]

It's undeniably true that the 0.01% hord the majority of wealth but I don't think they can easily be tapped for money, especially in this globalised world.

Sadly throughout history it persists that a few hold the wealth.

People vote with their wallet and continue to buy stuff from companies like Amazon and apple.

Why is this problem more prevalent in the UK than other places though? The problem is we want to have a European style welfare state paid for by US style taxes.
The rich definitely need to pay more tax. Are we not being held to ransom by threats they'll leave?

 

[gigilouxx]

I’m absolutely over this “xyZ isn’t comparable to nursing”
Plenty of degree educated people work in supermarkets etc because they need a job quickly when they graduate and in some areas the jobs for specific skills are simply not there
Can we not moan now about crappy customers, understaffing and the crap wages we have no choice but to just deal with because nurses have it worse?
Probs me being picky but I cannot stand hearing the phrase low skilled workers, it feels degrading

 

[cee-bee]

Nobody is bragging stay on you're self made pedestal you have put yourself on it must be great to be as wonderful as you

huh? I’m not self made? I didn’t even talk about myself in my post other than saying I worked in retail in the past. Wtf?

I’m absolutely over this “xyZ isn’t comparable to nursing”
Plenty of degree educated people work in supermarkets etc because they need a job quickly when they graduate and in some areas the jobs for specific skills are simply not there
Can we not moan now about crappy customers, understaffing and the crap wages we have no choice but to just deal with because nurses have it worse?
Probs me being picky but I cannot stand hearing the phrase low skilled workers, it feels degrading

why is it degrading? Some jobs require specific skills and training. It’s not a reflection on the individual or even their role in society, it’s a comment on the job.

I’m a middle management role that’s decent pay and I’ve got a lot of experience. I wouldn’t say it’s highly skilled but it does need a lot of experience. it would take more than a few days training to do what I do so it isn’t low skilled either.

ive worked a ton of low-skilled jobs in my life, again, it’s not a comment on an individual or group of people - it’s a comment on the risks, responsibility and training required for a specific job. Many low-skilled jobs are vital for the running of the country and are hugely important. Some of them can be very fulfilling.

 

[Merpedy]

I’m absolutely over this “xyZ isn’t comparable to nursing”
Plenty of degree educated people work in supermarkets etc because they need a job quickly when they graduate and in some areas the jobs for specific skills are simply not there
Can we not moan now about crappy customers, understaffing and the crap wages we have no choice but to just deal with because nurses have it worse?
Probs me being picky but I cannot stand hearing the phrase low skilled workers, it feels degrading

RE the whole degree thing:
Chances are that the people without degrees struggle to change their career paths or find 'better' jobs as a lot of doors are closed to them. Unless they're in a line of work that performs some service society deems vital enough (even if in reality it is vital) it seems to me that they don't even really have the option to stage an effective strike action most of the time to get better working conditions/wages

 

[Rosie glow]

huh? I’m not self made? I didn’t even talk about myself in my post other than saying I worked in retail in the past. Wtf?



why is it degrading? Some jobs require specific skills and training. It’s not a reflection on the individual or even their role in society, it’s a comment on the job.

I’m a middle management role that’s decent pay and I’ve got a lot of experience. I wouldn’t say it’s highly skilled but it does need a lot of experience. it would take more than a few days training to do what I do so it isn’t low skilled either.

ive worked a ton of low-skilled jobs in my life, again, it’s not a comment on an individual or group of people - it’s a comment on the risks, responsibility and training required for a specific job. Many low-skilled jobs are vital for the running of the country and are hugely important. Some of them can be very fulfilling.

I didn't say you're self made I said you're self made pedestal you have put yourself on looking down at the rest of us sorry if you don't understand me I'm unskilled retail worker remember

 

[JoeBloggs]

Why is this problem more prevalent in the UK than other places though? The problem is we want to have a European style welfare state paid for by US style taxes.
The rich definitely need to pay more tax. Are we not being held to ransom by threats they'll leave?

But they will take their money out of economy and their businesses. They will run them from tax havens and then what do we do, tax the poor more?

 

[Tui]

Also should add that 90% or

This right here is what is wrong with people and why my respect is dwindling.
Already the “we are better and therefore deserve more” is starting.
I couldn’t even get past the first few sentences before what you said showed how little you think of others.

I’m confused as to how you have come to that conclusion personally. For example, a band 5 staff nurse *is* highly skilled and specialised with a lot of responsibility and years of training. Some have been nurses for many years, some are working in ICU looking after the sickest patients in the hospital. They do deserve better than what they are getting right now. It’s not a race to the bottom. Wages across the board are crap but improving living standards for all is really beyond the remit of the RCN. If you took my comments personally that’s on you but it’s not controversial to point out that many health care professionals are highly skilled and not easily replaced. When they leave nursing to work in another field or go to Australia or NZ what are we going to do then?

You have a childcare bill because you have had a child and decided to return to work. It’s not compulsory.

bleeping hell let’s just get the women back in the kitchen where they belong shall we?

I’m absolutely over this “xyZ isn’t comparable to nursing”
Plenty of degree educated people work in supermarkets etc because they need a job quickly when they graduate and in some areas the jobs for specific skills are simply not there
Can we not moan now about crappy customers, understaffing and the crap wages we have no choice but to just deal with because nurses have it worse?
Probs me being picky but I cannot stand hearing the phrase low skilled workers, it feels degrading

Retail is low skilled work. The people doing the work may not be low skilled, but the job they are doing is low skilled. A nurse can go work in a shop but the reverse isn’t true without substantial training. This is my point.
Also, we have far too many people going to university studying for useless degrees which don’t improve their employability but that’s a story for another day.

 

[cee-bee]

Sorry but do you live in the real world or some sort of weird film reality? Your sense of how people really live is astonishing, I guess like a politician viewing from their towers telling people to get better paid jobs instead of claiming benefits. You have no idea clearly.

In the same sentiment, why don’t nurses just get better jobs, go private or agency. Why are they striking because they feel they must be a nurse, they must serve the public? (This is not my view just going off your post!)

huh? I never said at any point, that anyone should just get a different job. I don’t think that’s right at all. Where in my post did I even hint at that?

I was entirely critical of corporations who treat their retail employees as disposable and basically manipulate them into feeling they are less valuable than they actually are.

 

[gigilouxx]

My gripe with the phrase low skilled workers isn’t to do with anyone on here, should’ve clarified, it just seems to be the fave phrase of hole customers when they’re on one haha

 

[Tui]

My gripe with the phrase low skilled workers isn’t to do with anyone on here, should’ve clarified, it just seems to be the fave phrase of hole customers when they’re on one haha

I’m well aware people in retail are treated like tit having been on the receiving end of it when I worked in retail, I always do my best to be pleasant and polite as a result!

 

[JoeBloggs]

huh? I never said at any point, that anyone should just get a different job. I don’t think that’s right at all. Where in my post did I even hint at that?

I was entirely critical of corporations who treat their retail employees as disposable and basically manipulate them into feeling they are less valuable than they actually are.

‘move to a head office/corporate role’ you said exactly that.

 

[cee-bee]

I’m well aware people in retail are treated like tit having been on the receiving end of it when I worked in retail, I always do my best to be pleasant and polite as a result!

working in retail will keep you humble for the rest of your life!

I worked in law enforcement for a while and even then didn’t receive as much abuse as I did when working retail

‘move to a head office/corporate role’ you said exactly that.

Youve totally misread my point. I meant it as a criticism. A criticism to the double standard in that corporate/head office are treated totally different, in that they aren’t constantly being told the lie they are lucky to have a job and aren’t constantly being threatened with redundancy, within the same organisation.

I wasn’t saying anyone should just move to corporate, I was saying that the attitude and treatment of workers there is usually different and it’s an conscious secession made by those in corporate roles to keep the lower ranks subdued.

 

[Rosie glow]

Also should add that 90% or

I’m confused as to how you have come to that conclusion personally. For example, a band 5 staff nurse *is* highly skilled and specialised with a lot of responsibility and years of training. Some have been nurses for many years, some are working in ICU looking after the sickest patients in the hospital. They do deserve better than what they are getting right now. It’s not a race to the bottom. Wages across the board are crap but improving living standards for all is really beyond the remit of the RCN. If you took my comments personally that’s on you but it’s not controversial to point out that many health care professionals are highly skilled and not easily replaced. When they leave nursing to work in another field or go to Australia or NZ what are we going to do then?


bleeping hell let’s just get the women back in the kitchen where they belong shall we?


Retail is low skilled work. The people doing the work may not be low skilled, but the job they are doing is low skilled. A nurse can go work in a shop but the reverse isn’t true without substantial training. This is my point.
Also, we have far too many people going to university studying for useless degrees which don’t improve their employability but that’s a story for another day.

Retail is not no or low skilled work its bloody hard work anyone who thinks otherwise is welcome to come do my shift tomorrow I'm not comparing it to the knowledge nurses have but I'm fed up of people thinking it's so easy its not

 

[cee-bee]

Retail is not no or low skilled work its bloody hard work anyone who thinks otherwise is welcome to come do my shift tomorrow I'm not comparing it to the knowledge nurses have but I'm fed up of people thinking it's so easy its not

no one said it was easy, why are you taking it as a personal attack?

being a low skilled job just reflects the amount of training required for it, it’s not a reflection on how hard or labour intensive it is. They are totally separate attributes.

 

[Rosie glow]

no one said it was easy, why are you taking it as a personal attack?

being a low skilled job just reflects the amount of training required for it, it’s not a reflection on how hard or labour intensive it is. They are totally separate attributes.

I'm not taking it as a personal attack I'm simply saying it's not an unskilled job

 

[gigilouxx]

I wish they’d do away with this low skilled tit. Because the above poster is exactly how it makes people feel, as though they’re lesser. Also I’m working in Costa on Boxing Day with a 6am start so if anyone wants to pray for me I’ll take it

 

[JoeBloggs]

No job is low skilled, all of them have their own skills be it talking to be people, the way to do the role etc.

Yes to be a nurse takes more training but it does not make them better than anyone else.

 

[Rosie glow]

No job is low skilled, all of them have their own skills be it talking to be people, the way to do the role etc.

Yes to be a nurse takes more training but it does not make them better than anyone else.

Exactly this