Varadkar guilty of Double Standards on public sector pay

People Before Profit TD claims Varadkar guilty of Double Standards on public sector pay

Varadkar supports equal pay for cabinet members but not for teachers

Workers told they must accept poor deal while ministers jockey for position and big pay increases

People Before Profit TD, Bríd Smith, has accused Taoiseach Leo Varadkar of gross hypocrisy over the treatment of ordinary public servants compared to the treatment of Junior Ministers and in the appointment of Máire Whelan.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar stated today in the Dáil that he supported the idea of cabinet members receiving the same pay.

Bríd Smith slammed the statement saying “it is quite breath-taking that a politician that has constantly denied the right of equal pay for equal work for public servants such as teachers can claim that principal for his own cabinet colleagues”.

Deputy Smith added:  “The Government have put a huge effort into forcing public servants into accepting a new pay deal that ignores issues such as equal pay for new entrants and forces them to continue working unpaid hours. The pay increases on offer are minimal and outweighed by increased pension contributions. They have claimed repeatedly that workers must continue to tighten their belt and show restraint. There is however no belt tightening or restraint for those in Government- be they Super Junior Ministers or former Attorney Generals.

“Public sector workers get up early and have done throughout the austerity years.  Measures that were forced on them during the crisis are still being used to justify continued low pay and productivity measures. They are telling workers they must accept a poor deal while showing no such restraint themselves”.

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