From the public yes, although where it gets messy is what improvements need doing. There are several problems in our democracy not suitable for this discussion that explain why those in charge don't really do enough/anything about it.
Yep still open, here you go:
Well it's chickens coming home to roost now, the public were calling out for lockdowns at the time, they wanted furloughs, wanted the government to be cautious but didn't seem to stop to think that at some point this would need paying for. I also work in public sector and could see the no pay rise coming months ago. Why is everyone so surprised now?We can also afford lockdowns but not a pay rise for nurses.
With places around here operating bookings only from 12th April you are finding that every day of the week is filling up rather than Thu - Sat night so at least initially they may get closer to average income for time of year. However, I suspect it will drop off after a few weeks as people take the opportunity to get out.
I reckon a lot of public sector workers think the Government can pay for all the lockdown measures
Why do you think inflation is inevitable? I'm not going to claim to be well read in economics so it's a genuine question as would like to understand more about it. I get the reason for raising interest rates if inflation gets too high and why it's also problematic.
Restrictions easing will create pent-up demand, directly leading to inflation increasing, and all the stimulus through QE and, in the case of the US, the $1.9tn aid package about to cleared through Congress and Biden's desk, will encourage spending on top. From our perspective, dare I bring up that Brexit supply chain disruption will become more apparent as less restrictions mean more activity and demand for imported supplies, which from July will get the added setback of import checks being applied. It's also possible the Bank of England hasn't finished its QE programme yet, so more stimulus maybe being applied on top of pent-up demand being unleashed.
Also Englands hospital admissions are at 487 (5/3 update) which is lowest since 5/10/20 and even more extraordinary is that total hospitalised is continuing to fall at c30% / week and is not following exponential decay. So by the end of March and the review date will be around 3k but guess that will still be too high for Hancock and the scientists but surely if cases hasn't moved much from the return of education the CRG really need to up the ante and opposition well Labour really need to consider there position.
@brad465 and @bramling have answered from a conservative, relatively monetarist, perspective. I largely agree with their analysis, but think they discount the constraints of under and unemployment at a macroeconomic level on firms ability to raise prices.
There was a past thread on other viruses' behaviour impacted by Covid but is long locked, but there maybe some relevance here: Dr Susan Hopkins says we must prepare for a 'hard winter' of flu, citing reduced immunity to them given their almost non-existence this year:
Covid: UK must prepare for 'hard winter' of flu - expert
The population immunity to viruses other than Covid could be lower than usual, a top medic warns.www.bbc.co.uk
While it's not certain I can certainly see how this is possible, and should really throw in question whether the long term pain of lockdowns is not just limited to economic damage and ignoring things like mental health and cancer, where here other viruses that Covid shut out "learn" to be more infectious to be in with a fighting chance once again.
Regardless of what if any restrictions are necessary though, I'm sure there is almost universal acceptance our health service must be ramped up as quickly as possible to cope, as well as issuing as many flu vaccines (and maybe covid boosters at the same time) as possible. I know staff take a long time to train, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't do it, and the last year should have seen more staff complete education already ongoing, with more in the following year. We need to make sure more training capacity exists and pay and conditions are good enough to retain existing staff too.
Exactly, I had a conversation with some of my colleagues back in the summer when restrictions were first eased. They were convinced that lockdowns / furloughs should continue, and that the money would just be found somewhere. I on the other hand was not so optimistic, and predicted deep cuts & pay freezes for the public sector including the NHS.
It's the same in the private sector - at least in my company.
Firms may try to push prices up, but this monetarist questions how far their target markets will be willing or able to bear such increased prices. With increased unemployment and, as importantly, underemployment, I think there will be mitigation against inflationary pressures.
As one of the unions has asked for 12.5%, and there have been placards demanding 15%, you may have your answer.
I don't thinks its fair to compare private and public sector and here lies a regular problem
There are benefits of working in the public sector, more holidays, better (perceived anyway) job security, grades and progression mean pay rises are at least predictable (compared to the private sector companies I've worked for anyway which have all been small, large companies will probably be different).
