Best of luck to all manning the pickets today!

[Flimflam]

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.

I've no time for the strike, but in order to cross a public park this morning , I told the lads picketing that I fully supported them but that I needed to get to the bus stop and hadn't got time to walk around. I see these men every morning, they're nice people and I wouldn't like to fall out with them. So I lied. And I suspect a lot of other people are generally too polite and/or cowardly to be offensive to a picketer.

[Baron von Biffo]

And of course this government said before the last general election that they planned cutting €4billion out of the public sector and leaving the rich b*stards who got us into the mess off scott-free.

You're missing my point. I was responding to a poster who seems to think the PS workers shouldn't implement policies they don't agree with and should go on strike for political purposes.

[FutureTaoiseach]

Now they are picketing maternity hospitals, according to a woman on Liveline now. Disgraceful.

[Bi ciuin]

I dont agree with the public sector over their pay demands. I think pay cuts should be accepted by you.

However that said I do think that before any welfare or public sector pay is cut, this government should be leading by example and cutting their own salary and stop handing out millions in golden handshakes and Billions to the banks. The rich in this country for far too long have gotten away with too much and people such as U2 and horse owners pay no tax at all.

So I say Bravo to the Public sector for their strikes, the working people of this country should not be expected to bail out the elites. Everyone should be expected to pay their fair share and until those at the very top of society are prepared to do so, I will support the public sector.

One thing I would say to them however, these 1 day strikes are pointless. You need to go all out and strike everyday. Hit the government where it hurts and tell your unions to stop going on about not wanting more pay cuts, but use the idea of the elites should pay first. Demand Cowen has his salary capped to €150,000 per year before you consider any further cuts.

[JollyRedGiant]

What annoys the private-sector is that you are saying you will accept no cuts whatsoever, and that you want the rest of us to pay more tax to keep you in the comfort to which you have become accustomed.

If by 'private-sector' you mean private sector workers then they should not have to pay more, suffer anymore pay cuts or jobs losses or suffer any cuts in public services.

If by 'private-sector' you mean then bankers, spivs, speculators, developers, and large companies who have been creaming tens of billions in profits every year for nearly two decades and now want to force ordinary tax-payers to carry the can for the economic collapse they created - then - f*ck 'em - they have the money let them pay for the crisis.

[TheTipperaryMan]

Only if you want to protect the wealthy in society - if you decide that you are no longer going to run the country in the interests of big business then the only nasty decision you have to make is to take control from the rich and put it in the hands of the vast majority of the population.

Total bullsh*t

[The Field Marshal]

Just heard on Joe Duffy that Harolds Cross hospice for the dying have a picket placed at the entrance.

How low can irresponsible and callous Liam Doran and his union go.

The cold and heartless attitudes displayed by Doran and his fellow travellers O,Connor,Mc Clune and Blair illustrate nothing but contempt for the general public .

These traitors to the national interest will not rest until they have driven an irreparable wedge between protected public sector workers and their less fortunate bretheren in the private sector.

At a time of great stress in the nations finances their narrow and blinkered ideological vision is unable to accept lifesaving requirements to correct the shortfall in government ability to pay caused in large part by their excessive wage claims in previous years.

[wexfordman]

What is it, 1 in 5 workers or more are ps workers, so if only 1 in 5 cars gave a toot, that would give an impression of support.

[myksav]

What strike? Outside of Dublin and the road to Newry, no one has even noticed any strike.
If it wasn't broadcast on the news, etc, we wouldn't even know one has happened.

Mind you, where I live, we're more interested in fixing the problems caused by the flooding and actually making a living. Ya know, important stuff.

adddition.
It looks like the Unions have managed to get the 'private sector' to have even less sympathy for the PS workers.

[JollyRedGiant]

Anyway there are decent people in the country who can tell the differnce between a local, a european and a general election and vote accordingly

What odds are you offering on FF getting re-elected with the Greens?