Best of luck to all manning the pickets today!

[Congalltee]

We can only report what we experience - while I was on picket duty this morning not a single person raise any criticism and most indicated support - at least 7 out of every 10 cars that drove past the picket line beeped in support. Many of those on picket duty were a little apprehensive given the massive government and employer propaganda campaign against public servants - yet the response was most definitely supportive.

Wait until they watch the 6 o'clock news and see that (some) public servants took advantage of the strike to spend their money in the north. The next day they will not be as friendly. The PS unions as badly losing the propaganda war.

[JollyRedGiant]

Wait until they watch the 6 o'clock news and see that (some) public servants took advantage of the strike to spend their money in the north. The next day they will not be as friendly. The PS unions as badly losing the propaganda war.

Yep - we all headed north this morning - in between picket duty and cooking the dinner.

[pd_phoenix]

Yep - we all headed north this morning - in between picket duty and cooking the dinner.

I thought public sector workers couldn't afford such things as food

[Bi ciuin]

No idea what the rules of Teacher strikes are, but not one teacher was outside my kids school.

[turdsl]

A very well organised strike, the union leaders have done a very good job today at the request of its members, thanks to all concerned.

[Scorpio]

I'm somewhat of an economics gnome, so perhaps someone of a greater understanding of the arcane arts can explain it to me, but just how much does the public Service add to the state GDP?

Almost 55% this year - the largest in the EU
Tax increases or spending cuts: is Ireland’s government too big?

That's right, larger than Sweden, France, Austria, etc. Penny for your thoughts on whether we get the same value for our money as those countries!

I notice a lot of people have talked about the rich paying their way better. Probably worth doing this quick three question quiz. The questions are:
Does the average millionaire pay a higher or lower tax rate than the average worker?
What proportion of workers pay less than 10% on average in tax?
What is the average rate of tax paid by the worker on the median income?

Answers are after the quiz. Seems very few people know who pays what in this country.

[Baron von Biffo]

Oh please Biffo.. Dont insult us with that drivel.. Thats for the Unionistas on the Radio and TV
. At least be honest with yourself forchrissakes.. Of course they are concerned about the level and service, but they wont strike over it.. Otherwise, we would have had many strikes over the last 10 years over porto-cabins for classrooms f'rinstance or the level of MRSA in our hospitals etc..

So you see, evidence points to the fact, that once the pay packet is threatened, thats the only way our cossetted middle class public servants will get off their fat holes to strike..
That and the chance to peg off to Newry and do the Xmas shopping.

Its laughable.. The PS cant even organise a fvckin strike properly without shooting themselves in the foot..

Ye make me laugh.. And cry at the same time..

So you think the PS should strike to overturn the decisions of our democratically elected government?

[anchor]

I know public servants want to present it as though the majority of the public are on their side but I really can't believe that they are getting the great reception they claim. All polls, I've seen in national and local media suggest, that most people have little sympathy. I'm not suggesting they should or shouldn't get sympathy, I'm just saying, it seems unlikely that the majority of people are on your side - especially considering the stance in the Independent - and the large readership that attracts.

I wouldn't claim that the majority are on our side. However, the attitude on here to the public sector is extremely hostile, and I don't believe that hostility is a reflection of society has a whole. There have been people on here suggesting we would get spat on etc., but the people we met who were opposed to the strike were quite mild mannered about it.

[toughbutfair]

We can only report what we experience - while I was on picket duty this morning not a single person raise any criticism and most indicated support - at least 7 out of every 10 cars that drove past the picket line beeped in support. Many of those on picket duty were a little apprehensive given the massive government and employer propaganda campaign against public servants - yet the response was most definitely supportive.

I don't support it but I am hardly going to stop and abuse some 50 year old woman on strike? is that mistaken for support?

[The Field Marshal]

Glad to see its lashing rain and miserable.

Lets hope it freezes and all these irresponsible and callous public service picketers get hypothermia and are left on trolleys in the flooded hospitals.

This would give them time to reflect on the enormous treachery they are committing against the public good.