SIPTU pay hike requests of 5% are reckless given our national debt

Set the price high and we can always come down, is an old way of haggling and it looks like it too forms Jack O’Connor of SIPTU’s industrial relations tactics.

It would be amusing, of course, were it not so serious. The good old days are truly back with a bang.

He is looking for a straight 5% pay rise for us all this year, plus a neat 33% hike in the national minimum wage. In the words of a song ... “wouldn’t it be lovely”, if we were living in a world of fantasy.

Of course, I would love a big pay-rise. However, I know the reality and the economy is still critical, in intensive care. Lets get real: we will borrow €6bn this year to balance the books, adding even more to the €203bn national debt. We are up to our tonsils in debt and ‘reckless’ is the word that best describes Jack’s attitude .

By the way, the media failed spectacularly to uncover the level of pay cuts Jack & Co. applied to themselves during the economic crisis.

The union fat cats purred and licked themselves clean, while Ireland burned. These trade unionists have never employed anyone in the private sector. They have no idea what level of endeavour it takes to create and sustain just one job.

Brian Cooper

Old Youghal Road

Cork