Sir, – The public servants taking industrial action are not available for work and consequently have to forego a day’s pay. However, many TDs, who have a salary of just under €120,000, have indicated over the past week that they would not pass the picket at Leinster House and therefore make themselves unavailable for work.
Easy to stand on principle when it has no consequences on your pay packet. Maybe they should consider donating their days’ pay to the union strike funds to show real solidarity. – Yours, etc,
DAVID GORDON,
Clondalkin,
READ MORE
Dublin 22.
Sir, – I believe the public sector unions are making a major strategic error in their approach to the negotiations with Government on the new pay deal.
In an employment environment increasingly dominated by artificial intelligence (AI), the tactics adopted against Government and the public are ill-advised. The next agreement will be dominated by AI productivity and job losses. The public sector, particularly the Civil Service, is full of opportunities for its use.
A Government, bruised by the current union attitudes, is unlikely to show much sympathy for their members. – Yours, etc,
PAUL KILCULLEN,
Stillorgan,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – Your report on the planned public-sector strike says the Minister’s offer of talks was “swiftly rebuffed” by union leaders (“Public-sector strike by more than 300,000 workers set to go ahead”, News, October 13th). That risks making this sound like a willing Government facing unions who simply refuse to talk.
Surely, the question is what the Minister is prepared to negotiate. Is the €1.2 billion allocation a starting point, or a limit? Can the unions negotiate the amount, or only how it is divided?
I am not arguing that every union demand should be met. But before readers are invited to judge their refusal, I would expect The Irish Times to establish what is actually on offer. – Yours, etc,
BRÍAN DOYLE,
Loughlinstown,
Dublin 18.
