Sir, - So-called restructuring processes, which are being inflicted upon civil servants, gardai, teachers, nurses and semi-state employees in the name of public accountability, are causing dissension and bitterness amongst those affected by this carefully crafted governmental approach. Retired members in all these areas see their pensions threatened, as a divide-and-conqueer campaign aimed at encouraging the currently employed to seize upon short-term gains at the expense of the retired is waged mercilessly, whilst union leaders parrot the gospel entitled management of change".
As a retired teacher and a trade-union activist of many years' standing, I would appeal to serving teachers, gardai, nurses, civil servants and all workers in semi-State bodies: Stand by your retired colleagues, who fought through the years to improve salaries and wages.
insist that pensions be based on parity between the retired and those currently retiring. To the retired I say: Join forces to bring pressure upon the Government, to guarantee that parity in public service pensions will be maintained now and in the future. The former labourer is also worthy of his hire. - Yours, etc
Caledon Road, East Wall, Dublin 3.