The real divide is the elite against the masses

IF I may quote your columnist Ivan Yates (April 15): “At a time of unprecedented economic uncertainty and job insecurity, they (public service unions) have obtained a commitment of no compulsory redundancies.

They ensured the pay rates of their members will be insulated from further reduction and obtained protection of premium payments. Future pension entitlements will be calculated on (pre-cut) pay levels in 2009.”

The last clause in the “agreement” reads as follows: “The implementation of this agreement is subject to no currently unforeseen budgetary deterioration.” Some “commitment”. So much for “ensured”.

This is the administration that failed to foresee any of this mess, up to and including NAMA loans failing to generate the expected interest repayments, despite months of valuations and inspection.

They have felt the need to reassure union members of their intention to deal “in good faith” with us. One might wonder why it would be necessary for an elected government to stress this publicly – especially if one had no memory of this Government’s earlier actions, and the actions of previous governments with the same majority controlling interest.

If I may quote Ivan Yates again: “They have retained the 20% increased public pay levels over the Celtic Tiger era. Benchmarking has not been reversed.”

If Mr Yates can name me a profession that is subject to continuous, if not increased, demand for its services over the period in question that didn’t enjoy, and indeed maintain, 20% increased pay levels over the Celtic Tiger era, then he ought to have had the presence of mind to include the relevant examples in his column.

Listing his own incomes over the relevant period for comparison would suffice, maybe even including his fee for his column – it would be useful to remind readers that what we are dealing with here is not public v private, but the “elite v the masses”.

Darragh McHugh

Cherrington Place

Castlebar

Co Mayo