ALL ACROSS IRELAND pickets block access to State agencies today. Creative spaces like our Studio Six in Tipperary Institute (at right) were closed for use. This strike action will cost me around EUR 200 today while the Irish Exchequer pockets the change. That was Christmas shopping money for me and it would be nice to know that the Irish Exchequer is earmarking that savings for the annual Christmas social welfare payment for people who need the seasonal money. However, it seems the monetary savings culled from a day's unpaid wages will be used for unsubordinated debt such as bailing out the banks, funding 2010 Mercedes cars for ministers, or paying pensions for politicians under retirement age. Nothing done on the picket lines will change government policy towards the National Asset Management Agency or towards perks for politicians. However, it is fair to assume that the Minister for Finance will conclude that clipping one day's wages from people in my pay grade could be done without collapsing household budgets like mine. Speaking for myself, I would trade a pay cut for job security. I believe that should be the negotiating position for public service unions, even if it means forking out another 10% of wages to help stabilise Ireland. Some kind of action has to be taken to throttle back outgoings. I don't think it's sustainable to fund Ireland's public sector at the current rate when depending upon a tax base the size of Birmingham, England. It's time to cut the cloth to fit.Sent mail2blog using Nokia E90 Typepad service and free wifi at The George Boutique Hotel, Limerick.
