Sir, – The time has come for the Government to stand tough on public service pay. We know that 37 per cent of all current public expenditure goes on public sector pay, a public sector that has consistently failed to deliver: large health waiting lists, emergency department overcrowding, a healthcare system that is still predominantly 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday, failure on emissions targets, a housing crisis and crowded classrooms, to name but a few.
On the very week that the public sector trade unions decided to take industrial action, a shocking report on child poverty was published. James Connolly will be turning in his grave at the priorities of middle- and upper-middle-class and wealthy public servants.
Even more bizarre is that in this, the 21st century, it is deemed appropriate to have up to 10 different pay scales for the same work. Pay raises are based not on merit but on centralised bargaining.
It is no wonder good productive public servants eventually give up. I would suggest three pay scales is enough, where the higher tiers are collapsed and the lower tiers increased, thus making life in Dublin easier for young gardaí, nurses, teachers and other administrative public servants with pay increases based on merit.
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I would also suggest public service pension benefits be restructured to match My Future Fund. Taxpayers’ money must go to areas that effect real change. Simple increase in pay delivers no change while exacerbating existing societal inequalities. – Yours, etc,
KEVIN DOHERTY,
Blackrock,
Co Dublin
Sir, – In his letter (October 2nd), Tom Morris says teachers will work to rule from October 5th in furtherance of their pay dispute with the Government.
He says that from October 5th teachers will do nothing more than what they are contracted to do.
Is this not a very selfish action for teachers to take? Most working people invest in their career and more often than not contribute over and above what they are contracted to do. Indeed, a lot of other workers envy the benefits and conditions enjoyed by teachers.
What about the impact of this action on schoolchildren and their parents? Teachers should find a way to pursue their claims in a way that does not punish the children they are contracted to educate. – Yours, etc,
PAUL GETHINGS,
Sandymount,
Dublin 4
Sir, – I wondered how long it would take before one of the potential strikers came up with the “we have no choice but to go on strike” line, so the gold star goes to Tom Morris.
They may (or may not – who knows?) be underpaid or have bad conditions, but relative to the broader population they have a good salary. So to say they have no choice is a stretch. It might have been more accurate to say: we are unhappy with our pay and conditions and therefore will take action to achieve our aims. – Yours, etc,
SEÁN DOWLING,
Timoleague,
Co Cork
