It’s a dreadful deal that should be rejected

ONCE again public service pay is on the table as part of a national agreement. Never before have I seen such a dreadful proposal.

The six-month pay freeze means no increase for any public servant this year. Any chance of an inflation freeze to match the pay freeze, Mr McCreevy? No, I thought not.

I wonder if benchmarking increases will be paid during the lifetime of this agreement.

Among the reforms proposed (in return for a pay freeze) is a horrifying suggestion to devolve the power to dismiss a civil servant to the secretary general of a department. Civil servants currently hold office ‘at the will and pleasure of the Government’.

This is the job security about which the private sector often berates public sector unions who have the temerity to seek realistic pay increases. I urge all civil servants to reject this deal.

Patrick Jordan,

North Circular Road,

Dublin 7.