Standing up for public sector workers

I HAVE been working in the public/civil service for the best part of 15 years. In all that time, I have never felt the urge or need to put pen to paper regarding my job as I know I work hard and deliver an efficient service.

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.