MINIMUM WAGE HA HA

THE HEADLINE in today’s Irish Times reports the findings of The National Statistics Office (CSO) on Employment and Earnings. It is described as a New Survey – albeit three years late.

No matter. Bertie claims that the Minimum Wage was his Magnus Opus and, judging from his love affair with Socialism; CORI and the trade unions, it is probably true.

And like so much of his best efforts, it is largely irrelevant, as no one earns anything like the Minimum Wage.
In the CSO report, the Public Sector, in 2003, paid themselves an average wage of €21.04 per hour of attendance (including sick leave; periods attending courses etc.).
In contradistinction, the Private Sector, the motor for the Celtic Tiger economy, were paid €15.03 per hour for full-time employment.

I am not going to debate the differential, as Bertie, in his unique fashion, overrules any attempt at defining value for money .
But I would suggest that the parties to the current pay talks take note.
It would seem entirely appropriate that the hourly rate, which the Public sector vote themselves, SHOULD BE REDUCED to that of their counterparts in the, unsheltered, Private Sector.
It would also seem appropriate that they begin to pay a contribution to their bloated Pension Funds and that they submit to an audit of their output and value for money.
If it is found that there is overmanning; excessive, wasteful overtime; unnecessary paid leave and other elements of waste, appropriate measures should be taken to redress the situation.
If this results in dismissals, so be it. There can be no room for self-servers.

I say all this because the Public Sector Unions have been moaning about parity with the Private Sector.

It would further seem, in these particular circumstances, that Comrades Begg & O’Connor Put Up (Down) or Shut Up.

They can’t have it both ways.

Or can they?