Sarah Carey - Forget education cuts and freeze public sector pay over €50K

[cactusflower]

Here is something a bit closer to dealing with the situation that we are in and how to deal with it
Irish Economy: Proposals on developing coherent policy action to deal with the economic emergency.

I would not share the politics of the writer, but he does have a serious grasp of what he is writing about and has put time and thought into it.

Sarah Carey gives a bit of puff about Tallaght and rolled up shirtsleeves that apparently blew us all away before the election. She then produces a rabbit out of the hat that wouldn't come near to plugging one hole of the colander.

It is the level of journalism that up to a year ago was telling us all we were the richest country in the universe. It isn't based on any attempt to understand the extent of the public deficit we are facing into, how very serious it is and how it is going to affect all our lives.

Of course we can't afford to spend what we are spending on public pay and pensions. But to suggest that our budget problems can be resolved by a cut of a couple of million is wretched journalism.

I consider it to be toxic paper - the CDS of newprint.

[Big Bobo]

What utter claptrap. Sarah Carey is just another right wing bully in the media trying to intimidate public sector workers. There is no connection between the wages of public sector workers and the gvt cutting teachers and books for disadvantaged kids programmes. What about leaving the public sector workers alone and start taxing bloated parasites like Sean Quinn and Dermot Desmond? She gives absolutely no evidence that ordinary public sector workers are overpaid (because there is none). The facts are private sector workers are badly exploited in this country and forced into a rat race. We should be focusing on bringing all workers wages and conditions up to those in the public sector. Instead people like Carey try to stir up hate and resentment amongst private sector workers so they will try to drag the public sector down to their levels. Don't fall for this blatant right wing propaganda private sector workers! Organise your labour and fight for better wages and the public sector will stand by you in your fight. We are all workers afterall and not capitalist parasites.

[Big Bobo]

Here is something a bit closer to dealing with the situation that we are in and how to deal with it
Irish Economy: Proposals on developing coherent policy action to deal with the economic emergency.

I would not share the politics of the writer, but he does have a serious grasp of what he is writing about and has put time and thought into it.

Sarah Carey gives a bit of puff about Tallaght and rolled up shirtsleeves that apparently blew us all away before the election. She then produces a rabbit out of the hat that wouldn't come near to plugging one hole of the colander.

It is the level of journalism that up to a year ago was telling us all we were the richest country in the universe. It isn't based on any attempt to understand the extent of the public deficit we are facing into, how very serious it is and how it is going to affect all our lives.

Of course we can't afford to spend what we are spending on public pay and pensions. But to suggest that our budget problems can be resolved by a cut of a couple of million is wretched journalism.

I consider it to be toxic paper - the CDS of newprint.

The way it seems to be going is:

The indo is propaganda for FF

The IT is propaganda for FG

[polcol]

There is no where enough analysis here. A broad sweeping statement like a pay freeze for those on more than 50k in the public service is ill thought out and frankly not fair. A proper performance appraisal system is required. A pay freeze will hit the high earners least where as some one 50k (well qualified with 20 plus years service) is meant to take the hit. Where were all these wise journalists during the boom time. There was no serious analysis of the explosion in the public service that is the real issue.

[cactusflower]

What utter claptrap. Sarah Carey is just another right wing bully in the media trying to intimidate public sector workers. There is no connection between the wages of public sector workers and the gvt cutting teachers and books for disadvantaged kids programmes. What about leaving the public sector workers alone and start taxing bloated parasites like Sean Quinn and Dermot Desmond? She gives absolutely no evidence that ordinary public sector workers are overpaid (because there is none). The facts are private sector workers are badly exploited in this country and forced into a rat race. We should be focusing on bringing all workers wages and conditions up to those in the public sector. Instead people like Carey try to stir up hate and resentment amongst private sector workers so they will try to drag the public sector down to their levels. Don't fall for this blatant right wing propaganda private sector workers! Organise your labour and fight for better wages and the public sector will stand by you in your fight. We are all workers afterall and not capitalist parasites.

Sarah Carey couldn't be more blatant about being divisive if she tried - her punch line is about how successful her bright idea would be in isolating the teachers. Public sector workers have been put in a situation of privilege that makes them into a ready Aunt Sally to distract from the government agenda of looking after the ultra wealthy.

Hennigan makes the telling point that the Oireachtas voted themselves 61% in increases in the last five years. That is where we should start. If TDs were on the average industrial wage, we would get a different kind of TD.

[Big Bobo]

Sarah Carey couldn't be more blatant about being divisive if she tried - her punch line is about how successful her bright idea would be in isolating the teachers. Public sector workers have been put in a situation of privilege that makes them into a ready Aunt Sally to distract from the government agenda of looking after the ultra wealthy.

Hennigan makes the telling point that the Oireachtas voted themselves 61% in increases in the last five years. That is where we should start. If TDs were on the average industrial wage, we would get a different kind of TD.

Great point about TD's and the average industrial wage. They are completely clueless to the struggles ordinary people face. Their huge wages insulate them from any of the effects of recession. How many would be in politics if they only received the average industrial wage? Despite their huge salaries most of them are too busy pursuing their private business interests while getting civil servants to do the majority of the work they should be doing.

[PhoenixIreland]

Sledgehammer for a walnut anyone? Why freeze pay across the board? Why not just ELIMINATE the positions that are not needed and maintain the pay of those that are?

[hiding behind a poster]

She gives absolutely no evidence that ordinary public sector workers are overpaid (because there is none).

She didn't claim they were overpaid. Her point was that public sector workers have job security, which those in the private sector can only dream of - and that in recessionary times, job security is worth something. As such, public sector workers on over 50k are better able to absorb a pay freeze than most. Don't know where you got "overpaid" out of that.

[Big Bobo]

She didn't claim they were overpaid. Her point was that public sector workers have job security, which those in the private sector can only dream of - and that in recessionary times, job security is worth something. As such, public sector workers on over 50k are better able to absorb a pay freeze than most. Don't know where you got "overpaid" out of that.

My god giving people job security?! What an awful crime! Everybody knows people work harder when constantly threatened with losing their jobs!

The only thing this recession proves is the weakness of the private sector and the urgent need for more nationalisations.

[SPN]

There is no where enough analysis here. A broad sweeping statement like a pay freeze for those on more than 50k in the public service is ill thought out and frankly not fair. A proper performance appraisal system is required. A pay freeze will hit the high earners least where as some one 50k (well qualified with 20 plus years service) is meant to take the hit. Where were all these wise journalists during the boom time. There was no serious analysis of the explosion in the public service that is the real issue.

The idea that anyone should get a payrise in the current situation is ridiculous.

If pay rates go up with IN-flation, then they should come down with DE-flation.

Surely it is better to keep as many people as possible employed - doing something productive - instead of putting many of them on the dole?

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