Standing up for public sector workers
It is not frontline, but provides essential support to frontline services. I am in the lower-to-middle-earning income bracket and I am not part of a union.
I do, however, take offence at the fact that my prospective boss — ie Enda Kenny — considers the work I do, and that of my colleagues, is “waste”, “wastage” or whatever other derogatory term they pay their PR gurus to dream up. Of course, listening to Mr Kenny one would think that public/civil servants don’t pay any mortgages, get all their utilities for free, travel to work on a magic carpet, never heard of paying tax and the tooth fairy leaves their childcare costs under the pillow.
While I acknowledge most parties and candidates have leapt on this new buzz word “waste”, I, and many of my colleagues, find Fine Gael particularly vociferous and vicious in this regard.
Public and civil servants have endured non-stop vilification since the onslaught of this economic crisis and someone needs to call stop.
Yes, both the public and civil service require reform, it is indeed long overdue, but surely such reform must be borne out of a mutual respect.
How can any prospective boss have such arrogance in assuming they can trample on and belittle the work of any individual and then expect reciprocation?
Surely it is better to engage rather than enrage. It should be borne in mind that many of the “backroom waste” are highly-educated people. We receive no monetary incentives, promotion prospects are nil and morale is shocking, but we still want to do our job.
So, a word of advice to Mr Kenny, and indeed to all other prospective TDs, stop labelling people just because it is an easy target and an easy shield to stand behind, rather than addressing the more pertinent issues, such as the endless “investment” in the banks, job creation and the spiralling cost of living, etc.
S Kenny
Castlemartyr
Co Cork
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