Sir - On ringing my local college to book a night class last week, I was greeted with an answering machine message stating that due to industrial action they were unable to answer the phone but that I was welcome to call directly to their premises. As I left my house, the bins remained outside due to an unofficial stoppage in the collection service. Later that day I rang a government department to get some forms sent to me. I was told it would be better not post it to me because there was an unofficial post dispute in my work area. Then I was going to go to the city centre to buy some books but decided not to due to the bus strike!
Is it all starting to unravel? Increasing levels of discontent are understandable due to the rising cost of living for the average employee. During the week a number of major estate agents came out with predictions that house prices will continue to rise this year.
Classically in the period before the bursting of any economic bubble there is an escalation in the cost of living. If we are to avoid the current economic boom bursting, or at least mitigate the harshness of the hangover, now is the time for the Government to take substantive action on the major issues that are contributing to the necessity for increased wage demands. This could start with real action to slow down the rate of increase of house prices. - Yours, etc.,
Eoin Costello, Killiney, Co Dublin