[Stanaccy]

During the last rosy 10 years for the economy (and it has been) private industry gave reasonably high wage increases. Unfortunately public sector nad civil servants have had their increases tied to roughly 2.3% per annum. (Mine for instance has gone up 12.4% over the last 6 years). Now with inflation, mortgages and fuel costs I cannot tighten my belt any further as I have had to for "the good of the economy" for the last 10 years, this along with the reduction of staff by 30% over the last 4 years.

As it is difficult to live on the salary paid (this year I am due 1.3% increase) I agree that as negotiations have not so much broken down but a refusal by the employers to even negotiate through ACAS. Strike action has to be taken to force action on this impasse. Not to get the fabled 6% but to renegotiate a deal into something realistic.

For those of you who say "well if you don't like the salary get another job" I do my job to serve the public firstly and for renumeration secondly, however having been treated abysmally for years the increases in my outgoings has forced the issue to where we are today.

I haven't voted as the simplistic answers above do not deal with any of the major issues. I would vote for binding arbitration.