Government must think before it further alienates its Public Servant

The usual suspects lined up this week to condemn Public Service unions and trot out the Public versus Private creation in their thinly veiled apologia for those who created our economic mess. Government can take comfort from such sycophantic media outlets, led by our National broadcaster or take stock of the fact that yesterdays strike is just the latest manifestation of public anger against the direction they have chosen. Pensioners, Taxi Drivers, Farmers, Community development groups and private sector workers have all protested on the streets this year. Are they all to be ignored? 

They simply, for differing reasons, refuse to believe that the current Government are acting in the National interest. The “party first” attitude displayed by the current players in their silence or defence of a long line of cock and bull stories told to tribunals in recent years has created a credibility gulf which they simply cannot see. Perhaps their only real alloy is the media and the array of disguised vested interests they parade in the simplistic presentation of Private good and Public bad.

Salaries of the Nurse, the Guard and the executive officer will probably once again be tabulated in sensationalist articles this weekend which suggested, in some way, that they are making a revelation.  In fact, all of the information is available in the public domain and is not a secret, unlike the fees charged and paid to the commentators and media celebrities involved.  

Government may take comfort from such support and the division it sow`s.  But is there a wider impact in this undermining of those on whom we all will ultimately rely at one point or another throughout our lives?

Those represented in yesterday`s strike action have much in common.  They all applied for positions which were advertised publicly and for which every other citizen in this state was equally entitled to apply.  The terms and conditions of employment were advertised as were the qualifications required for each category involved.  Those terms and conditions are available publicly all day every day.  Some of them are required to work the periods of time when the rest of the community are not required to do so and they are rightly paid allowances and premiums for doing so. They all paid three times more than the rest of us in extra taxes as a result of the April budget.

All of these people chose careers which were available to every member of society who possessed the requisite skills or education.  Government, on behalf of the people, made a contract with them for fair reward in return for their willingness to respond to the foreseen and unforeseen in the interests of the wider community.  They are required to provide their services to all in the community without fear or favour and do not enjoy the luxury of opionating on the merits of one member of society against another when it comes to whether or not they will deliver a service.

It is said that the pen is mightier than the sword and, if so, then those who use it must be responsible in the words they chose and the targets they identify.  The undermining of Public service staff by Government and media in the way in which it is occurring may have a long term damaging effect on the level of respect and esteem with which many such workers are held.  Will that lack of respect for the staff in public offices, the forces of law and order and those in the caring professions serve any benefit to society or even those columnists who chose them as targets? 

The next time a Clerical worker in Social welfare is targeted by a modern self styled General, a prison officer is attacked or intimidated, a Garda is mowed down by a stolen car or a paramedic or nurse is spat on or held at knife point at the roadside or in an Accident and Emergency Department perhaps those who engage in vitriol against Public servants now might just pause for thought on their contribution to such dastardly deeds.

More importantly perhaps government will cease their “ enemy within approach “ and recognise you cannot act in the National Interest by alienating and directing public anger against those on whom they rely to maintain a civilised society.

David Hughes, Deputy General Secretary, Irish Nurses Organisation
24/11/09