Madam, – As a public sector worker I would like to thank Martin Giblin (September 30th) for his lesson in private sector economics.
Am I taking a pay cut? Yes. Am I working longer hours for no additional pay? Yes. Is my employer reorganising to reduce headcount while maintaining services? Yes. Now, what else would he like me to do to compensate for the crass excesses and subsequent collapse of parts of the private sector? And which public services is he prepared to do without? – Yours, etc
Madam, – I cannot accept the figures reported in the media of a 25 per cent pay gap between the public and private sectors. I have worked 25 years in the Irish civil service and have never yet earned even the average industrial wage.
Our pay lagged significantly behind the private sector throughout the boom years and nothing was heard about our pay and pensions back then.
Can someone tell me who or what are these private sector counterparts we are constantly being compared with? Is it the chap who cleans the toilets in McDonald’s? Is it someone working part-time from home for a few shillings to top up the family budget? Or is the Gama-style employee from a Third World economy who thinks starvation wages are the bee’s knees?
The real public service pay scandal is the differential between pay levels at the top and bottom of the public service, and the fact that there are too many officers and not enough foot soldiers.
If the public service pay bill is to be targeted in the next budget, I would suggest for starters the expenses of politicians and senior public servants be offset against their salaries, which start at €100,000 per anum.
That way they can continue to eat and drink for Ireland free of charge but their salaries will be reduced accordingly.
This will save the country tens of millions per annum and bring at least some semblance of social justice. – Yours, etc,