So it would seem that I'll be taking an effective pay cut this year as inflation outraces my pay packet. Unison (which, for better or worse is the main ambulance union) as agreed to a below inflation pay rise, staggered over the year.

I don't belong to a union because I begrudge giving them my subscription dues when they agree to stuff like this, so I don't get a vote. Much like I didn't get a vote to decide this current Prime Minister.

Still, what do I expect when our Prime Minister has cosy little chats with the Milk-thief.

It's an incredibly cheery thought, as I get ready for a run of twelve hour night shifts this Friday, Saturday and Sunday that the government values me so much. I'll bear it in mind as I destroy my body through shift work and unhealthy eating that, in order to protect inflation, I have to suffer a reduction in my quality of life by getting paid less in real terms than I did last year. I'll think of this as my back starts to ache from being stuck in an ambulance for twelve hours straight, only getting exercise as I carry people younger than myself down several flights of stairs.

And then our Health minister comes out with garbage like this,

"What is important is that we build on this, involving the workforce in the key decisions about the future of the NHS as we modernise patient care. Involving staff in this way is the key to boosting morale."

I can picture him smirking inside as he spouts this bullshit.

It seems that more and more often I think about getting out of this job and instead do something more reasonable, like writing for a living or working with computers. Unfortunately my computing 'A' level dates back to the years of the 8086 processor, and while I'm fairly smart about computers, I have nothing formally useful on my CV. That and starting on the bottom of the ladder (again) is just too depressing to consider.

And if I'm depressed now, I can imagine how I'll feel after my run of nights...

Job offers to the usual email address.

At least one of the Lib Dems has had a reasonable idea. Nothing will come of it of course, but it is a nice idea that gets him some news coverage.

UPDATE : Mousethinks points out an even better way of looking at the problem. One that in my blaise acceptance of abuse I'd completely forgotten about.