[Acrylic-bob]

600 pampered jades are about to pick up their handbags and bottles of designer H2O, and waddle their pricey fat backsides out of Scaitcliffe House in High Dugeon to stage a one day strike over the plans by HM Government to change their pension entitlements. The poor dears are incensed that the change in retirement age from 60 to 65 should apply to them as well as to the rest of us mere mortals. Let's hear it for them, altogether now, AHHHHHHHH!

Oh, but that's not right, is it? Us mere mortals already have to work till we are 65.

Unison Branch Secretary, Area Councils Manager, and Sh*t Stirrer in Chief, Steve Watson said: "We feel that we are getting a poor deal. It's planned to strike for a day and we hope it won't be too disruptive for residents". Coming a week after what I discovered of the deal this lot are getting, I think that this is a bit rich. A pity his scruples about being disruptive to residents doesn't extend to the people of the borough who are compelled to apply for Council Tax and Housing Benefit. Because of the incompetance of the people who are about to go on strike - his members - benefit claims are to suffer delays of 80 days. For those of you in private rented accommodation, perhaps you could try explaining the stress that council employees are under when the landlord comes banging on the door demanding the rent.

But the thing that really gets me about this whole sorry story is the revelation that most council employees only joined the council's workforce for the pension. Not because they have any particular vocation or desire to serve the people of the borough, just for the pension.

And then you wonder why the service they provide falls so far short of anybody's standards.