Brussels, 08/02/2012
CONSEQUENCES OF IMPOSED AUSTERITY
The Irish Fund bailout programme puts lives at risk .
"Lives could be put at risk because of shortages caused by a reform programme designed to cut public sector numbers by 37,500 by 2015. Some 3,500 healthcare workers, 1,500 teachers, 730 local authority staff and 298 police are among the public servants who applied for early retirement in this cost- cutting scheme".
"Ireland wants to shave £ 2.5bn from its £20bn annual public sector wage bill putting lives at risk because of growing staff shortages.”
{{Song written by Tommy Sands and first performed at the trade union rally against cuts in Belfast, 30th November 2011.
Video produced by the Creative workers Co-op, for the Irish Congress of Trade Unions
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{{THERE ARE ALTERNATIVES }}
"Public sector workers want to remind people that the quality of public services and those working to provide them are under attack. Those working in the public sector are mainly low-paid hard working people. They are the people who grit the roads in winter, who keep the streets clean, who keep the water flowing and they have repeatedly shown that they are prepared to change to make these services more efficient and cost effective. "
We need to see alternative policies
• Easy and fair access to quality public services;
• Reinforcement of the role of public authorities and public services;
• Financial support to develop and improve public services;
• Adequate contingency plans
The ETUC expresses its solidarity and full support