Stop shouting and start thinking

I AM a public sector worker and trade union member who will not be striking on November 24 or anytime soon.

Before any of my colleagues accuse me of being a traitor in the camp, let me explain my position.

I strongly resent having my salary cut to shore up entirely local economic and political failure. I resent the accompanying assault on my intelligence that there is no connection between my pay being cut and the failures of our leaders in politics, banking, and business. I strongly resent being told “sure, we all lost the run of ourselves”. I didn’t, and neither did many of us in the silent majority. I am angry as hell with union leaders who fell into a trance whenever they got close to power and became addicted to the idea of being establishment figures on state boards.

I am fit to burst at the prospect of a lost decade of social disharmony, and the idea that my children might be forced onto involuntary emigration because. I understand and appreciate the frustrations of “24/7 9-to-5”, and all who watch helplessly as this society unravels.

However, the problems we face in this country require a rational response. What we are currently witnessing from public sector union leaders is a continuation of the strategy that brought us to this point, the soft option, the easy pass. When so called partnership was booming, not one of our union leaders made the case for sustainability in industry, or demanded moderation in land speculation and bankers lending habits.

This would have involved some hard analysis and real negotiation. Instead they happily took their share of the mad bubble money, on behalf of their members.

If I am to march it will be for true reform of politics, so this disaster does not happen again. I want to march for unions that lead, even if that means being outside the cosy establishment tent. I will not expend pointless energy marching, so that union leaders can then tell us, after we have stopped banging our heads off the reality wall, that we have to settle for a “deal”, worked out behind closed doors with government “partners”.

I challenge my fellow public sector workers and trades unionists to describe to me the objective of a strike strategy. I openly dismiss anyone who marches without knowing why they march. Public sector colleagues have to stop shouting and start thinking.

Declan Doyle

Lisdowney

Kilkenny