Industrial action in the public sector

[patslatt]

Teachers and nurses can be expected to engage in industrial action to protest proposals for increased pension contributions. The chance of such action succeeding is nil,as the government can't risk losing its access to the bond market,the elephant in the room. The bond market is needed to fund about a third of government spending this year.

Industrial action in the public sector probably will be disruptive but manageable. If it becomes too disruptive,the government will have to sack workers who disobey legislation to return to work. Very few public sector workers would be prepared to lose their extremely well paid and generally cushy jobs and gold plated pensions.

As for tax increases as a solution to public finances,in a deepening recession they could cause a depression.

[libertarian-right]

Teachers and nurses can be expected to engage in industrial action to protest proposals for increased pension contributions.

They would less likely strike if they saw the likes of Pat Neary not getting his fat 440,000 pension and Sean Fitz in jail with several other bankers and certain board members. Not to mention several millions being pumped by FF into "social housing" and "home choice loans". This is spitting in the face of taxpayers and international investors see us as a joke. But at the same time the PS is bloated and cuts need to be make otherwise this country is heading for depression in 2010.

I can understand the PS workers being annoyed for taking cuts when the proper cuts should start at the top and work down. FF are targeting the easier options as usual and the greens are silent. Where is the real policital will??