1984 all over again (possibly)

Go on strike on Thursday at the wonderful Work Permits (UK) and indeed, throught the Home Office (of which we are but a small and humble part), Department for Work and Pensions and other places as well. The reason? A rather derisory 1.something% pay offer this year, which would take my pay to a little over £13k. From a little over £13k. Not very much at all (I forget the exact figures, but it's not very much).

Never been on strike before, so it's all (almost) exciting. To be honest, I can't see the union winning this one: less than 10% of those eligible to vote in the ballot for strike action actually voted in favour of this, as the Home Office was very keen to point out on Monday. Still, we shall be the eternal optimists and take up our right to withold labour and hope that the Treasury sees sense. Can't see it happening, though.

To be honest, I don't think a civil servants' strike is going to have much effect; it's not quite the same as doctors, nurses, firefighters etc. I would imagine that most people would see it as simply well-paid office pen-pushers looking to rake it in a bit more (as someone said to me at church last week "only 8% or something?"). In actual fact, the civil service doesn;t pay all that well and many of the lower-paid people are on benefits themselves. So, I don;t think the perception would meet the reality, if that is the perception.