More Equal Than Others
Now that sounds like a reasonable point until you ask yourself - why does the same standard not apply to a roadworker or a care worker - why do some groups believe that they deserve better treatment than others?
Why do teachers and firefighters expect to retire earlier than their equally hard-working public sector colleagues - who also do very demanding jobs?
Why should a teacher get a better deal than a classroom assistant? - is the question that springs to my mind.
If the physical demands of the job are too great, beyond a certain age - that surely doesn't mean people must be thrown onto the scrapheap.
Simply that they are redeployed into less physically demanding, less onerous duties - or into another job which can make use of their talent and experience.
How many of us know someone who has retired early from a public sector job - who then go on to find other employment while drawing their public sector pension?
I know I do - lots of people in fact - many of them from very well paid jobs.
So maybe some folks are not as 'burned-out' or 'over the hill' - as they and some trade unions would have you believe.
In any event, there is no logical case that can be made for one group of public sector workers - to enjoy better treatment than others.
The differences between jobs should be reflected in what people are paid.
Not in more favourable treatment over retirement arrangements, hours of work or holidays - or anything else for that matter.
To my mind that's the way any good trade unionist should think - no one should be more equal than anyone else.
