r/ireland • u/Much_Perception4952 • 17h ago
Cost of Living/Energy Crisis Lads, the beeping in support of the picket is something else!!! It's fantastic to hear and well appreciated. Keep it up!
Just off the picket now and honest to God I'm tempted to do a few drive bys myself
175
u/Beedle12345 16h ago
I beeped at a few protests this morning and they were delira with it, shook their placards and waved etc, I honestly got a major boost from it myself, a burst of endorphins at seeing their happiness
Call me an old hippie but im hoping they're still there for the drive home! ā¤ļø
11
176
350
u/No-Argument4885 17h ago
I've been loving seeing so many people complain about the strikes by saying stuff like "well I work 50-60 hour weeks and get paid fuck all and I just get on with it". It's mental, no one should be working those hours. This strike is a demonstration of the power of unionised labour.
110
u/theblowestfish 16h ago
Put-the-kids-back-down-the-mines attitude
50
u/erect_dragonly 16h ago edited 14h ago
The children yearn for the mines
9
u/BenderRodriguez14 16h ago
Bit of a cold snap this winter to give us the proper Frostpunk experience. Bliss.Ā
34
u/nerdling007 16h ago
You joke but there's honestly people out there who do unironically believe that
3
9
u/Normal-Option1532 15h ago
Heard from one person that someone gave the middle finger while driving past
17
u/Neither_Musician_535 14h ago
We're such a shower of bemoaning, miserable cunts at the best of times. I loathe it.
0
u/GundamXXX 15h ago
Are you sure this is in Ireland and not America?
1
u/hobes88 8h ago
Some industries are still working long hours, I'm in construction and we do 50-60 hours per week and most commute long distance on top of that.
3
u/GundamXXX 8h ago
Thats not the bit Im doubting
Its the fact that people doing those hours are ok with earning fuck all and think everyone else should just get on with it.
Sure theres people who think that but not many that Ive seen
-6
u/notarobat 13h ago
I think the problem is that the same people supporting the strikes will be the same ones complaining about rising costs and unaffordable housing. We are doing a terrible job of teaching economics in this country
1
u/boopbepboop 6h ago
The implication of your post is that people who can't afford to live due to rising costs and unaffordable housing should just accept their situation. I'm not sure how that's related to economics - are you claiming that if they understood econ they would be better budgeters, or that they are responsible for the rising costs by striking for better working conditions and pay?
-8
u/notarobat 13h ago
I think the problem is that the same people supporting the strikes will be the same ones complaining about rising costs and unaffordable housing. We are doing a terrible job of teaching economics in this country
ā¢
43
u/Velocity_Rob 15h ago
I was out with my two boys and we drove past their school and beeped their teachers. The lads were bouncing and scanning for more pickets so we could beep them.
In conclusion: Up the workers.
180
u/zeldazigzag 17h ago
I was on the picket this morning and the beeps were a great pick-me-up! I was pleasantly surprised by how many people were supporting us.Ā
23
120
u/indicator_enthusiast Sax Solo 17h ago
I'm just off it myself and it was great, almost every car that passed was beeping in support
89
u/nerdling007 16h ago edited 16h ago
Unlike what the bot and shill accounts try to claim, more people offline support workers than people think. We just get flooded with union busting propaganda online pushed by bots, shills, and businessowners who have all day to be checking in to reddit and social media.
35
u/SharkeyGeorge 16h ago
I havenāt met a single real person who would disagree with the teachers. Of course nobody wants disruption, thatās the point. But everyone I have spoken to agrees that pay is not reasonable and they support our workers and want them to earn a decent salary.
21
u/nerdling007 16h ago edited 16h ago
I met one very vocal person irl who was against it, have a guess what they did for a living. I doubt you'd be surprised. (Edit: Business owner. Was very vocal about)
Since the bots farm got bombed though the internet has been surprisingly peaceful. You see a lot more real people, for now at least
5
u/Bantersmith 14h ago
Really? I honestly find that a bit hard to believe. I always hear people moaning that teachers "have it too good already."
Those people are wrong of course, but I do come across them.
3
u/SharkeyGeorge 14h ago
I actually havenāt had any of that this time around. Thereās been some moaning about the disruption but anyone Iāve spoken to has accepted that they probably need a raise.
To be fair I heard those complaints years ago whenever the last time there was negotiation around teachers salaries but I think there was decent information and discussion around what is needed to recruit and retain qualified good quality teachers who are able to afford to live, and some of it must have sunk in.
4
u/Bantersmith 13h ago
Im very glad to hear it! Hopefully people are better informed this time around.
Every time I hear a fellow working class person bemoan about other working class people trying to stand up for their rights I want to scream.
If we dont have class solidarity, we have nothing.
1
u/SharkeyGeorge 13h ago
Agreed. We see the cost of living, house prices, energy, childcare, groceries etc all rising and for some reason like a bucket of crabs we think the best thing is to pull each other down to try to get ahead. Instead of challenging how and why energy companies can profiteer and why we donāt have any stock or houses for people to live in.
-16
u/SignificantFilm3887 16h ago
Met loads of people who disagree with it.
And agree with it.You really should broaden your circle if you only meet people of one mind.
Not good for you.14
u/SharkeyGeorge 16h ago
I know a very broad swathe of people thanks for your concern and judgment though.
7
u/nerdling007 16h ago
It's always the same account name types. You'd think they'd give it a rest.
5
u/Initial_Apprehensive 15h ago edited 9h ago
How else will they get the crumbs that drop form their political masters table. This is doing great for Chambers tough guy rep.
-18
u/ceegee84 16h ago
Surprised that everyone youve met thinks pay rises should be handed out without any discussion of adjusting work practices to the current need.
8
u/GundamXXX 15h ago
Healthcare workers and educators should be the highest paying jobs in the world.
3
u/SharkeyGeorge 14h ago
In general I think most normal people greatly value education and think that teacherās and healthcare workerās salaries should be dramatically increased. I would ideally like the people who teach our kids or work in our hospitals to be well paid, comfortable and able to afford to live.
2
u/GundamXXX 14h ago
Fuck yeah! Im out-earning my nurse and teacher friends and it does bring me shame sometimes.
I wanted to be a teacher at some point but the pay just isnt worth it, and ideals dont pay my mortgage
2
u/SharkeyGeorge 14h ago
Completely agree. The problem is that the government bets on the public conscience and vocation of these people that they are reluctant to strike and basically plays a game of chicken with them. You can see this from how difficult it was for them to decide to do this strike and the derogations like keeping emergency services running. Just contrast that with the LUAS strikes of 2016 when the private Transdev workers inflicted maximum disruption.
→ More replies (0)-4
u/ceegee84 14h ago
We might be better able to pay front line healthcare workers if their unions didnt insist on continuing to retain obsolete and duplicated middle management roles.
Same with teachers unions who moan about younger teachers being screwed over, while ignoring that it was the same unions who voted to screw them
1
u/SharkeyGeorge 14h ago
These are two different points. You can debate whether there are too many management layers. But that isnāt the same question as whether nurses or teachers should be paid properly. If there are unnecessary management positions, get rid of them and still pay nurses and teachers well.
-4
u/ceegee84 14h ago
You think it's more difficult to teach junior infants than to be a firefighter, or a prison guard, or multiple other jobs?
3
u/GundamXXX 14h ago
Really? Thats your takeaway from my comment?
A. Educators teach from 2yr to 25yr. Apparently they missed you though
B. Obviously firefighters and gardai also deserve payrises which is why they too are on strike. I just didnt realize I had to spell it out with fucking crayons for you
-1
u/ceegee84 13h ago
Ive several primary school teachers in my immediate family and friend groups. None of them find their job particularly stressful. I certainly know far more people working in private sector jobs such as accountancy who are under far more stress at work.
My friends who work as 3rd level lecturers have probably the cushiest jobs of anyone I know, and would say the same themselves.
Retail workers have to put up with far more crap than teachers do and dont get 3 months holidays for their trouble
→ More replies (0)4
u/SirGrimdark 14h ago
We had one aul fella go up to a female member of staff and berate her and call her a disgrace. Oddly had nothing to say when it it came to the ladsā attention.
And another go on a lunatic filled rant about Covid, vaccines, autism, dying children and the church.
2
23
u/S2580 Meath 16h ago
Same here. Iām in a small enough town and Iād say every second or third car was beeping.Ā
-41
u/SignificantFilm3887 16h ago
Day one - bit of crack.
Wait until the reality of impact bites if this continues.
42
u/S2580 Meath 16h ago
Thanks bootlicker. Thatās the fucking point.Ā
14
-23
u/SignificantFilm3887 16h ago
Now now. Language.
One is allowed have different opinions.At least in my kind of democracy.
23
u/nerdling007 16h ago
Clearly not, because you people try your damndest to undermine collective bargaining action all the time. Go project somewhere else
6
u/Qorhat 15h ago
Ah there it is, yet another adjective-noun-number account out to bat against the strikers.
1
u/SignificantFilm3887 15h ago
Itās the block voters !
You sound like the Eurovision lads from mullingar when they just didnāt like their song š
29
u/offaloff 16h ago
Iāve been beeping at any groups of people I saw on my way home
22
2
u/somedelightfulmoron 14h ago
Same, drove by a couple of schools after my picket at 8, up the workers!!
ā¢
u/LifetimePilingUp Crilly!! 4h ago
I nearly beeped at a group of tourists this morning! They were just on a walking tour
42
u/Large-Run-3191 15h ago
Up the Workers!!!
https://giphy.com/gifs/LZvNIUBF34Bdu8jKtH
0
-33
u/Seargentyates 14h ago
Scarlet for your ma.
2
u/CaBhfuilMoGeansai 14h ago
Why?
-14
u/Seargentyates 13h ago
Bit cringe the old gif is all.
5
u/madetosaythis_ 13h ago
Why is it any more or less cringe than your comment?
-6
27
u/PersimmonDesigner561 16h ago
Finish my slot at my picket and went the long way home to a honk to all the schools around me - great to feel the solidarity out there!
17
u/Lamake91 Calor Housewife of the Year 14h ago edited 14h ago
I literally drove around for ages while doing life admin and beeped every single picket!. Purposely diverted to drive by our local hospital, nurses and doctors are angels and deserve every pay rise.
Best of luck to all taking part.
7
u/Bean5idhe 9h ago
I work beside two pickets, I felt a bit silly beeping driving past when it was clear I was only after coming out of the driveway beside them but I couldnāt not beep either! Iām glad my beeping wasnāt (hopefully) seen as me being silly š¤¦āāļø
2
u/georgepordgie time for a nice cup of tea 7h ago
I was on one, it felt great to have the obvious public support.
15
u/Welshtramp 15h ago
We just did a small trip to the recycling center, made a small detour past some schools just to beep some support, felt good, largest picket we came across though was the RSA, who I did not know were part of this, they were more a *who the f are they"
16
u/Admirable-Deer5909 14h ago
Beeping and Whooping all over Dublin!! We are getting so many beeps at our picket in the city centre, warms my stone cold heart š„°š„°š„°
23
u/Sad-Temporary-2640 14h ago
I'm on sick leave after an operation so I can't picket but I brought up doughnuts and croissants this morning in solidarity!
1
u/ComputerSaysHello 10h ago
Iām the same (off due to operation), I was wondering how best to support as Iām not well enough to join the picket. Lovely idea!
31
7
u/CheckYourselfFool 8h ago
Shout out to the clown driving in front of me who thought I was beeping him at the hospital and decided to pull up on a roundabout to see what my problem was. He's lucky I was after 4hrs picketing and in really good form from all the support we got from pedestrians, motorists, local businesses and each other. The solidarity today felt good.
6
u/ButtonEffective 8h ago
I was a beerper and a beepee today
5
u/OfficerOLeary 7h ago
Same here. I was on the picket line first shift then had to travel across country. I honked at every picket I passed. Solidarity, brothers! (And sister).
18
u/Odd-Neighborhood-231 16h ago
I'd nearly do another stint on the picket just for the thrill of the beeps!Ā
14
u/KestrelHath1 Clare 15h ago
Brilliant! I beeped at a group outside a school this morning so I'm glad it was a good thing to do š
3
15
u/No-Author5530 13h ago
I drove by pickets on my way to my picket and honestly it was so good to join in on all the beeps. The people walking by saying fairplay or giving us the thumbs up. Everyone besides the rich are feeling the cost of living crisis. The government need to do more and thanks to the mostly wonderful teachers in this country majority of us are not going to fall for their shit of trying to get the private sector to begrudge us it
24
u/Effective-Review-780 15h ago
Myself and my 18mo took a spin around the local area this morn just to beep at schools, hospitals, etc. She had a great time š
3
u/Much_Perception4952 9h ago
Aw that's such a lovely thing to do
3
u/Effective-Review-780 9h ago
It got us out of the house without being out in the wind š She loved it because I had to take my husband's van, so she was facing outwards for once and could see everyone š
2
u/georgepordgie time for a nice cup of tea 7h ago
I was on a picket in a town, we had so many cars driving past beeping with kids waving out the back windows just delighted to be off school.
9
u/Ok-Sign-8602 12h ago
I did an hour on my own workplace picket and appreciated the beeps we got, I then took the long way home to beep at other's pickets. The responses were great. Support is high from what I can see.
19
u/LordyIHopeThereIsPie 16h ago
On my way home after my picket duty and we got nothing but support from the public.
6
u/Jebediah-Sprungfeld 12h ago
Beeping at striking teachers all over Connemara today. Go on lads and ladies ā¤ļø
7
u/Ciaranire 14h ago edited 13h ago
I had a 75 odd year old woman, who was waiting to cross the road, politely tell me she doesnāt support us because everyone in this country is ādoing fineā and āweāre not going hungryā.
Also had a local Fianna FĆ”il councillor walk RIGHT BY US with his wife, child and dog looking really sheepish. (But heās actually a nice enough fella)
5
u/Suncroft56 12h ago
There is a roundabout outside my local primary school, so I took advantage of it and went round twice beeping!
4
u/marklydon expert in bird law 12h ago
Was going between the back gate and front gate of hospital in galway and it was constant beeping on both sides . Was mad
4
u/throwaway_fun_acc123 11h ago
There was one lady outside the local school when I was passing. Gave her the full salute šÆšÆšÆ
6
2
2
u/Darth_Memer_1916 6h ago
Loved beeping at other pickets on the way to my own picket.
Spent my whole time there encouraging buses and lorries to honk at us and got a good buzz out of it!
7
u/Massive_Echidna 15h ago
Aw I wanted to beep at a picket this morning on the way to work but they were just around a corner and I didnāt expect to see them! Will make sure to beep on the way home, hopefully theyāre still there
5
4
3
3
u/poronga_rabiosa More than just a crisp 13h ago
waved towards a public primary school protest and they were very happy. Hope they in the good fight.
9
u/Gemini_2261 15h ago
Then most of them will go and vote for the same-old-shite parties at the next election.
6
u/wascallywabbit666 Hanging from the jacks roof, bat style 15h ago
Misery guts
-6
u/Super-Cynical 13h ago
I'll be more misery and saying that economic experts were already worried about the budget being too expensive without the government being pressured into increasing public salaries
5
u/wascallywabbit666 Hanging from the jacks roof, bat style 11h ago
All I'm seeing is support for public sector workers. They deserve a decent pay deal. It's not like they can go to their bosses and ask for pay rise: they have to negotiate collectively
2
u/Super-Cynical 11h ago
Sure but my point was that it has to come out of state revenue.
The unions do have a point though that current pay increases aren't keeping up with inflation
0
u/Pure-Ice5527 14h ago
SF will be running the same country and budget if/when theyāre in power and wonāt suddenly increase public pay by 25%.. agree we need a change but expecting something wildly different is setting yourself up for disappointment IMO
0
1
1
u/joe1337s 6h ago
Real living wages have been in decline relative to housing for decades, time we took action
ā¢
u/Rare-Thing-9197 5h ago
Great show of solidarity. Very overdue Glad didn't back down. (Normally nursing unions back down at the last minute) Definitely well supported by most people. There's always 1 miserable passer by
3
-9
u/Markitron1684 16h ago
Iām going to be that cynical cunt and say that about 70% donāt care one way or another and are just enjoying that they get to beep as much as they want to for once
1
-3
-6
u/submergedzero boards.ie refugee 15h ago
There's a measure of novelty still around this and coping for 1 day is easy enough. Public mood can turn very quickly though, especially if it becomes an inconvenience and people start to lose out on leave or other losses.
7
u/Hides-inside 13h ago edited 12h ago
Saw some woman on the news saying she'd have to take a day off to mind her 1st and 5th year kids...what if you can leave two secondary aged kids alone for one day sheore than a strike to worry about haha. Beeped every picket I saw you could pay me enough to be a teacher so...
-8
u/PuzzleheadedRoof4227 14h ago
The more we give the more our economy (the people) is going to be completely screwed once the American money dries up which it will once the AI bubble inevitably bursts.
Nothing against any of the strikes but our government are driving towards a cliff at high speed and nobody is telling them to take the foot off the accelerator or avoid it, in fact Sinn Fein et al are telling them they are not going fast enough and thereās no cliff!
0
u/IrishCrypto 11h ago
Not going to be a popular post but totally correct. Costs have got so far out of control we are about to ramp up wages to levels that will near bankrupt the state if there is a sudden change in corporation tax receipts.
-2
-14
u/PurpleWomat 15h ago
My dog is a nervous wreck. Cars never beep on my road, now there's one doing it every five minutes. Poor little chap is convinced that the world is ending.
-22
u/romanroarer 14h ago
Itās shocking people have no decency. My pupperās been crying in a ball all day weāre near a picket line.
4
u/Ultraviolence2Die 9h ago
Is this a shitpost š sorry but your dog does not matter more than the welfare of our vital workers
-13
u/PrimeDirectiveLover 14h ago
Remember when farmers did this and the top minds of reddit called them terrorists?
Protests and strikes are a cornerstone of freedom and democracy.
10
7
u/sinriabia 12h ago
No, they didnt; that was a protest.
This is a democratic and legally mandated strike where people in the unions voted to take action and gave notice that it was happening.
-1
-40
u/barbie91 And I'd go at it again 16h ago
Can anyone tell me why the lads in the revenue office are striking too? I know its public sector, but their job and conditions are hardly comparable to a healthcare worker. What am I missing?
49
u/Bohemian_Dub 16h ago
Unions collectively bargain for public sector pay
10
u/barbie91 And I'd go at it again 16h ago
That's fair enough, thank you! Fully support anyone demanding better, I was just genuinely wondering if it was literally ALL public sector jobs, as the emphasis really has been on healthcare and education.
15
u/Bohemian_Dub 16h ago
I think they're used because school attendance and outpatients appointments affect most of the public but firefighters, tax collectors, social workers, driving testers are all on the line today to name a few.
9
u/Comfortable-Jump-889 16h ago
Main reason huge emphasis on education from media is that they are a soft target
5
u/nerdling007 16h ago
The easiest targets to pearl clutch over will always be the focus of the media
2
5
4
u/Adderkleet 13h ago
Teachers and nurses are in different/individual unions. So their spokespeople are getting more air time. And to be fair to them: they're the ones working more unpaid hours than most other public sector workers.
But FĆ³rsa (the biggest public sector union) is also on strike today. The admin staff in hospitals/schools tend to be in that union instead of the teachers/nurses/doctors ones. Since FĆ³rsa cover more than half of the civil service (at least the lower grades, since managers have a different union) it's a full-on public sector picket. Even our embassies abroad are picketing (or at least striking - if the staff are in the union).
3
u/LurkerByNatureGT 12h ago
Itās public sector workers. The entire civil serviceās pay agreement expired in June too. People on higher scales are in solidarity with their younger lower scale colleagues.Ā
Itās not semi-states which have separate pay agreements.Ā
10
u/LordyIHopeThereIsPie 16h ago
17 unions are taking collective action across the civil and public service.
18
21
u/iverifynothing 16h ago
Do people who work for revenue or other civil service roles also not deserve their salaries to keep up with inflation?
-45
u/mohirl 16h ago
It's really not. I'm stuck working from home with possible COVID and I'm about to drag myself to the office just to get away from it. I've had five hours of muppets constantly fucking beeping just down the road and my brain is about to explode.
I was fully in support of the strike this morning, to hell with that now.
26
u/Velocity_Rob 15h ago
"People are showing support of striking workers in the wrong way, so I'm going to give the people I work with COVID."
18
u/rgiggs11 15h ago
It's really not. I'm stuck working from home with possible COVID and I'm about to drag myself to the office just to get away from it.Ā
I'm sure your coworkers will thank you for bringing a an infectious bug to the office.
11
u/GundamXXX 15h ago
Imagine a few hours of honking changing your mind on a fundamental issue...cant have believed in it that strongly
6
-32
u/IrishLad1002 Resting In my Account 15h ago
Im against it because most of the people striking donāt produce the necessary value that would warrant an increase in pay
19
u/Initial_Apprehensive 15h ago
If it's so easy why do not you join the public sector
-23
u/IrishLad1002 Resting In my Account 15h ago
The lack of work would bore me to death. Besides Iām too busy running my own company.
13
u/Velocity_Rob 15h ago
A graduate of the University of Hard Knocks no doubt.
-16
6
3
4
u/sinriabia 12h ago
You're welcome to my job!! All you need to do is 10 years of studying at university (about ā¬60k), a BA, MSc, PhD, work your way through the ranks of University roles to get a proper job, and then be prepared to work 10- 12-hour days, be available to students when they want you to be, do research, get funding, do committee roles, think of fun teaching to engage your students, create new assessments that work around AI, do marking, and meet criteria set by the university.
Easy peasy!! Let's do a swap!!
-4
u/IrishLad1002 Resting In my Account 12h ago edited 12h ago
Iād rather not Iām happy running my own company. Youāre clearly well educated, what subject is it in may I ask ?
If itās in a valuable subject with real world application like maths, economics, finance, etc then Iād recommend you get, and you will get, a highly paid job in the private sector. If itās not then Iād ask why did you go through 3 degrees and 60kās worth of an education where your only employment prospects are in a supposedly poorly paid public sector job.
3
-9
161
u/Irishwol 15h ago
Good. I didn't hear many other people beeping. Solidarity!
Felt especially sorry for the solitary lad outside the local graveyard. Funny none of the people giving him a hard time seemed to realize that they only have the access they do and the place is kept the way it is because of that solitary lad every other day of the bloody year.