Good luck to the PS workers.

[Hoopshead]

I have to say that BvB is great for a laugh!.. Lenihan is running the country at the moment and apart from his health problems highly unlikely to be going anywhere..

The government are just giving the silly unions a humane face saving exit strategy.. it will then just fade away until the next round of PS pay cuts..

The fact that the strike action has had zero effect on service provision demonstrates the huge inefficiencies in the PS and obviously redundancies should have been implemented along with the pay cuts as happened in the real world of the private sector.

Hopefully we will see these efficency measures implemented in the next budget.

Or hopefully we will have massive redundancies in the government,before they make an even bigger mess of things

[Baron von Biffo]

If bertie was still around I would agree with you.

But if the figures are true, and our finances are in a dreadful state.

This meeting could be the last "step back from the brink,or else".

From both sides.

Then we will all have to wait and witness a historical change in Ireland

With Lenihan out of the picture a lot could be possible.

[toughbutfair]

743 posts gone and no PS worker has said how we can continue to pay them their current salaries , with no redundancies, given we are spending 25bn more than we make. All they say is nama, bankers and developers, etc.

They have no rational for how we can afford them.

[Pabilito]

743 posts gone and no PS worker has said how we can continue to pay them their current salaries , with no redundancies, given we are spending 25bn more than we make. All they say is nama, bankers and developers, etc.

They have no rational for how we can afford them.

The PS have no plan other than keep paying them ridicules salaries... There seems to be no financial plan other than keep paying them??

Is there a lack of education in the PS?

[Baron von Biffo]

Comments by Begg on RTE at lunchtime to the effect that the cuts might be reversed in return for changed practices are not going down well with rank and file PS workers I've heard from.

[beamish2010]

Best wishes to all in the PS who begin their action to halt the abuse by their employer today.

The public sector workers are working people in this country too the same
as the private sector.The working people are being made to pay for gross mismanagement of the govt and the bankers.

I've noticed that the govt and their mouthpieces in the media are using the
divide and rule tactics to play off the private sector against the public sector.It depresses me that many people have fallen for this capitalist trick.

We all workers regardless if it's public sector or private sector.We have all
been shafted the govt the bankers.The workers has suffered cutbacks,
while the bankers have been bailed out with taxpayers money.

The Greeks have the right idea.We should take a leaf from their book.

[Cato]

Comments by Begg on RTE at lunchtime to the effect that the cuts might be reversed in return for changed practices are not going down well with rank and file PS workers I've heard from.

Why are they not going down well? I thought that this has been the union's position from late last year. Reformed practices in return for no pay cuts.

[hammer]

Unless changed practices means more work, less holidays, less sick days it seems to be positive.

[hammer]

If nearly 50% of workers pay little or no tax how can the remaining 900,000 afford to generate enough taxes to pay 350,000 public servants wages & pensions.

Its getting difficult.

If the average industrial wage is €35,000 the tax paid is €3,340 - the income levy is €700
Combined - €4,040

So you actually need 13 private sector workers on the average wage to pay for one PS if the average wage is €52,000

[Baron von Biffo]

Why are they not going down well? I thought that this has been the union's position from late last year. Reformed practices in return for no pay cuts.

There's a lot of scepticism about the ability of the union leadership (McLoone in particular) and the bona fides of Lenihan. My limited soundings so far came up with a majority view that before change is discussed the cuts should be reversed.