Good luck to the PS workers.

[toughbutfair]

This is part of a process to drive down all pay in the country (except for those at the top of course.) Those workers who cheer the PS bashers are cheering their own destruction.

How can 20bn be saved without wage cuts?

[sharper]

True, you can see it with what's happening over at the Mater Private, using the pay reductions in the PS to reduce pay in the Private sector, despite the fact that the Mater Private is still making profits!!

Maybe you should think for a minute about the service that Mater private sells and why people might have little choice about paying for it despite reduced income and job security.

[Pabilito]

How can 20bn be saved without wage cuts?

Don't be using that logic stuff here!.. Your supposed to be hysterical and say things like "attack on our wages" nasty PSBASHER person

[inthemire]

Maybe you should think for a minute about the service that Mater private sells and why people might have little choice about paying for it despite reduced income and job security.

Hey, i'm with you if you're inferring that Private Medical Healthcare shouldn't be part of an equal society. However, it exists. As a result, we have to factor it into the world that we live in.

[bormotello]

Possibly because they're not allowed by their Employers?? Anyone know if you can be a member of a trade Union in say, McDonalds,or say, Ryanair? And, if you CAN be in a union in either of these companies, will your Union be recognised by such companies?

If McDonalds or Ryanair would be unionised, public sector workers would be first who will demand pay increase in order to compensate excessive price from inefficient unionised companies.

[inthemire]

Don't be using that logic stuff here!.. Your supposed to be hysterical and say things like "attack on our wages" nasty PSBASHER person

Well done! Any other gems of wisdom? Any ideas on how to get Ireland out of this economic mess? Or are you, like the other FF spin merchants in here, just here to muddy the waters so that the corrupt few can continue to hoodwink and rob the honest many who live on both sides of the Public and Private SEctor?

Idiot. Read some of the postings here.

[sharper]

Hey, i'm with you if you're inferring that Private Medical Healthcare shouldn't be part of an equal society. However, it exists. As a result, we have to factor it into the world that we live in.

You appear to be missing the point. You're saying there's no reason to cut the wages of nursing staff at Mater private because they're "making a profit". However they sell a service people have little choice about which to buy.

Traditionally their wages have been set against their public sector equivalents. Apparently that was fine and dandy on the way up but on the way down they suddenly want their employer to be completely independent and to charge the public as much for healthcare as possible in order to pay them as much as possible.

So in short your point is not valid. I always find it amusing dealing with people who ostensibly care about the "public good" but who will cheer on any manner of grotesque behaviour if the group involved has "union" in their name.

The cost of healthcare is unacceptable in this country and a large part of that is the wages paid to healthcare professionals. Those costs must be reduced and it's as simple as that.

[inthemire]

If McDonalds or Ryanair would be unionised, public sector workers would be first who will demand pay increase in order to compensate excessive price from inefficient unionised companies.

OK,

McDonalds compete with Burger King, KFC, Subway, to name but a few. How many of them are unionised?

My read on what you said is that that all unionised companies are inefficient? Is this what you mean?

Ryanair compete with every other Airline in Europe depending on their location. They're looking to reduce the pay/conditions of their pilots and ground crew.

Is this what you think is appropriate? A race to the bottom?

Not everything in the Public Sector is good. Not everything in the Private Sector is good either! Get real!

[Fir Bolg]

They could start by introducing measures that would eliminate or seriously reduce social welfare fraud. This could save 1bn in money lost through thievery. Anyone caught defrauding the state in social welfare should be banned from ever claiming anything off the state for the rest of their life including old age pension.

[sharper]

Is this what you think is appropriate? A race to the bottom?

You can pay the higher fares of unionised airlines anytime you like, as can everyone else.