Public sector strike - Day of action becomes day of cheap beer

THERE are about two million people employed in this country. Yesterday morning 1,750,000 — give or take a few thousand — went to work as is normal.

The other 250,000 went on strike to try, despite all the indications and great urgency, to avert budget pay cuts. Some public servants used the strike to do a bit of cross-border Christmas shopping.

The local authority workers, the gardaí and army personnel who put others’ needs before their own to help those suffering the brunt of the floods cannot be included among the 250,000 “day-of-action” absentees. They must be congratulated for showing commitment to the obligations and spirit of public service.