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TOGETHER WITH OTHER civil society organisations – the Spectacle of Defiance and Hope, the Campaign Against Household and Water Taxes, and the Communities Campaign Against the Cuts – the Dublin Council of Trade Unions is organising an Anti-Austerity March on November 24. In advance of the Budget, we believe it is necessary to send a clear message to Government Buildings: not only is austerity damaging to society and individuals – it is resulting in a stagnant economy characterised by high unemployment and low growth.
Since October 26, as part of a 30-day countdown to the march, the DCTU has been issuing daily ‘Reasons to March’. They are all available here – but I would like to focus on four specific issues which contradict the narrative that has dominated political and media discourse during the past few years.
We could call them busted myths. Despite what we are told, the facts are that:
The Troika has made it quite clear that its primary interest is in the bottom line – that is, reaching the deficit-reduction targets. How we, as a people, choose to do that is a matter of choice. The Government is free to introduce a Budget focused entirely on taxation increases, entirely on spending cuts, or a combination of the two. The only requirement is that the measure in question raises or saves the amount projected.
Unfortunately, the current and previous governments have chosen to focus on spending cuts – and the evidence is that spending cuts do more harm to the economy than other measures such as increasing taxes on wealth and high earners.
Both the ESRI and the Nevin Economic Research Institute have examined the relative impacts of spending cuts vs tax increases. The ESRI found that €3 billion in spending cuts will drive down the domestic economy by nearly two per cent. On the other hand, €3 billion in tax increases will reduce growth by less than o.5 per cent. Because spending cuts are so much more damaging, they are less successful at reducing the deficit. Again according to the ESRI, a package of €3 billion in spending cuts will reduce the deficit by only €1.8 billion. €3 billion in tax increases will, however, reduce the deficit by €2.4 billion.
So the evidence shows that spending cuts are not only socially damaging – they are economically inefficient. Every time we cut a public service, or reduce a benefit, or raise taxes on low and middle income earners, we are taking more money out of the economy and out of people’s pockets – people who had very little to start with. That is why we need to focus tax increases on wealth and high income groups – rather than on those who spend everything they have in the economy.
Which brings us to another reason to make our voices heard on November 24: the claim that, four years into the crisis, we are all still ‘paying ourselves too much’.
That myth, too, is busted by the facts.
Low pay remains a major issue, damaging individuals, communities and the economy, in both the private and the public sectors.
Irish hotel and restaurant workers cost their employers seven per cent below the average of other EU-15 countries. When compared with the average of core EU-15 countries (excluding peripheral countries), labour costs here fall 16 per cent below average. Retail and wholesale workers cost their employers even less. During the last two years, the gap between Irish and other EU labour costs has widened further.
Low-paid Irish workers are near the bottom of the European low-pay league. And that includes low-paid public sector workers. Clerical workers in the public sector have pay levels well below that of other countries measured by the OECD. For instance, Irish clerical workers would need a pay increase of almost 50 percent to reach Dutch pay. And this was before the 2010 pay cuts.
Low pay is not just an issue for the individuals concerned: it reduces the amount of money people have to spend in the economy. And that puts business and jobs at risk.
We know that spending cuts are economically damaging. We know that low pay (and low levels of social protection) are economically damaging.
So it is not surprising that the current economic approach has not worked. It is driving up unemployment, emigration and deprivation while cutting incomes and living standards.
Yet supporters of austerity say this is the price we must pay to get our deficit under control.
But austerity is not even cutting the deficit.
Since the crisis began, depending on the calculation used, there has been between €24 and €25 billion in austerity measures – spending cuts and tax increases. But the underlying deficit (that is, excluding special bank payments and income) has actually increased since 2008. And since 2009, when the big austerity measures started, the underlying deficit has only fallen by just €3.5 billion.
Despite this spectacular policy failure, the austerity cheerleaders tell us we need to cut more. That is because many supporters of austerity are using the crisis for their own political agenda – to cut public services, social protection and public investment. And to cut wages, in the mistaken belief that low wages equate to competitiveness.
The past five Budgets have been driven by false premises – by myths. We’re in a bailout and have no choices. We can shrink the deficit if we shrink spending. We’re all paying ourselves too much.
And the only reason austerity hasn’t worked is because we haven’t had enough of it.
Now, as we come up to Budget 2013, we need to send a collective message to the Government: austerity cannot work. Rather than continuing to shrink the economy and the living standards of ordinary people, we need to invest in growing the economy, putting people back to work and putting more money in people’s pockets. On November 24, we have a chance to make our voices heard.
Michael O’Reilly is the President of the Dublin Council of Trade Unions, and served on the Administrative Council of the Labour Party for ten years.
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Tailored shorts should be no issue in the workplace.
@Peter Cavey:
As Monty Python sang: “I’m a lumberjack…..”
@Peter Cavey: oooowww, taaailored shorts!
@Peter Cavey: yes, fine if you’re working from home.
Bizarre in 2019 that so many are still in favour of forcing people to wear certain kinds of clothing despite knowing it’s making them uncomfortable.
@Rochelle: Shorts fine outdoors, not indoor working. If it’s uncomfortable, change job.
@Niall O’Neill: Why on earth do you even care?
@Rochelle: Can I go to work in a mankini? What’s comfortable for me may not be comfortable for those around me.
@Conall: If shorts on someone else makes you uncomfortable though, yer a bit sensitive.
@Conall: it’s shorts we’re talking about…. SHORTS
@Conall: Do you really think a man wearing shorts is some kind of radical statement? This is hilarious!
@Niall O’Neill: can I wear a skirt or dress instead?
@Shawn O’Ceallaghan: depends on what your legs look like and if you’re wearing flats or heels.
@Niall O’Neill: if your that sensitive maybe you should change jobs
@Niall O’Neill: Lol! So Irish, still horrified by the world without constant rain.
@Niall O’Neill: ah cmon a pair of shorts is no harm at alll
If you cant wear it into a meeting then don’t wear it to work. Can you imagine you go in and all of a sudden a top boss calls you into a board meeting to give your view on something. Here you are looking like you heading to the beach in Barcelona.
@Arya: What? How does this look like you’re going to the beach https://pin.it/7pwrac4zg37u25
@Arya: in my experience, men in expensive suits are no more likely to display intelligence than those in shorts. Take Richard Branson for example. It’s the content of the message that counts not the package that delivers it. That said, I do accept that there is a certain expectation regarding dress code but maybe it’s time to move forward?
@Paul Shepherd: Branson’s a ballix
@Ryan: Board shorts for the board room. Perfectly cromulent attire.
@Ryan: Correction Branson’s a rich ballix.
@Arya: WTF has that got to do with your ability to do the job ???? All this best foot forward stiff upper lip BS. As long as they look respectable it stupid to make them an issue
@Arya: have you seen the way some td’s dress. Someone in smart shorts would look alot better.
@Paul Shepherd: I’ve found the opposite. I found men in suits are not as intelligent as the guy in shorts in a heatwave.
@Ian Breathnach: they look like two saps, so that’s a NO, for work.
it’s acceptable for women to have bare legs when wearing skirts, why not men?
As long as they aren’t hot pants
@Michael Byrne: nobody wants a bit of ball scrag popping out to say hello when Barry is giving his forecasts for the year ahead.
@Bruce Van der Gutschmitzer: Barry is in a mankini.
@Michael Byrne: who loves short shorts? I love short shorts?
@Leadóg: no hiding there
Shorts – are they suitable for work? Do you for mean men and women? If yes then how could shorts be unsuitable if skirts are? I have a half memory of men in some job abroad starting to wear skirts because they were allowed in the uniform code and shorts were not. Then there the issue of short skirts and short shorts but that’s for another day.
@Phil O’ Meara: Train drivers and conductors in Stockholm. I teach in Stockholm, and had that “strike” in mind when I was told I couldn’t wear shorts and it was 32 degrees. I told them I’d come in the next hot day in a dress. They weren’t willing to risk it, and they were right not to.
The whole shorts/skirt debate I get but I guess historically, women weren’t allowed wear trousers to work at one point and had to wear a skirt, so it’s perceived as “dressy”.
Generally, if a woman is wearing a skirt to work, she has it dressed up with a top or blouse and a pair of shoes. She isn’t going to be wearing a tshirt or football jersey and runners, which is kind of what you imagine when you think of shorts on men. So if they want to wear shorts, they’d have to wear sensible suit style shorts and shoes in the same way a woman dresses up a skirt.
Personally, I want to wear neither, quite happy in my jeans
@JC: how historical do you want to go back? Women have been wearing trousers in work for over half a century. Further back men were high heels. Time has moved on
@Craic_a_tower: I never said I agreed, I said that is probably where the perception came from. At no point were shorts something men would traditionally wear to work. Traditionally shorts were what little boys wore until they grew up and could get into long trousers
@JC: Jeans are not work attire either unless you work on a building site.. Maybe okay on casual day but that’s about it.
@Gerry O’Sullivan: I’m currently in an office in my jeans. And I’m in the financial software industry.
Sure I’ll wear a suit / business outfit if I’m meeting a client but normally it’s denims, boots and a tee shirt with a movie quote.
Would ya ever feck off with your building site nonsense.
@Gerry O’Sullivan: I work in IT – I’m not going to ask my staff to come in suited and booted to crawl under peoples manky desks to replace cables and whatnot.
@JC: 25 years ago I was working in the USA in an office and wore shorts. I was by no means the exception and it was a very large international company. As for wearing jeans pretty much every company I have worked for has no issue. The one place that had a strict dress code was the most lowly skilled office job that had no dealings with the public. What was worse was the men’s dress policy was 4 times larger. Ridiculous stuff like no print pattern ties.
@Craic_a_tower: again “traditionally”. Great that you could wear shorts in the USA but there are a lot of company’s who are very stuffy about their dress policy so don’t think that would be the norm in Ireland.
Personally, unless its a public customer facing role, I couldn’t give a f*ck what someone was wearing. Someone wearing a suit & tie isn’t going to do more work than someone in jeans and a tshirt. In fact, if the latter is more comfortable to someone, that would probably result in better work output.
I’m currently wearing shorts in work so I hope so!
@Dave Byrne: Are you a lifeguard by any chance,ok, two more guesses…..are you a boxer,no, ok , do you work for a shorts company…..I give up, no, do you own the company….any vacancies in this weather.
@Dave Byrne: I hope you’re not on the phone in goal…
@Honeybee: He’s a center forward for Liverpool so it’s ok.
Of course they’re suitable.
If woman can wear skirts (and I suspect no one would bat an eyelid at tailored capris / shorts) than i can’t imagine anyone complaining about men wearing tailored shorts would have a leg to stand on ;)
But then I’d have zero issue if they chose to wear a skirt either. Or a kilt. As long as it’s respectable (of that’s the office you have) wear whatever you damn well please.
All that being said, the minute you move into Client facing situations you might wanna revisit that :)
@Tricia G: Everybody seems to be equating men wearing shorts with women wearing skirts, but is that really equivalent? Would women wearing shorts be equivalent to wearing skirts? I’m not so sure.
@Squiddley Diddley: That’s why I specifically mentioned ” tailored capris / shorts”.
@Tricia G: Ok sorry. Personally I don’t care what people wear, I spend a lot of time in building sites where lumberjack shirts often talk more sense than suits and ties. Speaking of which I think men should abandon ties in warm weather.
@Squiddley Diddley: Ties make very little sense to me. They’re mainly decoration, a follow on from a previous age. Although they are more aesthetically pleasing than just a buttoned up shirt……
@Squiddley Diddley: ok let’s equate it men wearing sarongs then instead.
That evens it out.
Equality works both ways, weird and all as it may sound.
Women can wear skirts. So if you think that men can’t wear shorts, you’re an evil sexist monster!
@Greg Ward: men can wear skirts / bring our your inner Beckham
@Greg Ward: Would it be strange to see a woman at work in shorts? Just asking, don’t Have any opinion either way…
@Squiddley Diddley: Depends on the shorts. Capri shorts, no, short shorts, yeah, that would be a tad weird.
I think it’s acceptable to wear shorts in a job where you don’t have to interact with people outside of your office colleagues. In a job where you have to meet clients and business partners, then obviously first impression is important and you should present yourself in a respectable manner.
@will: Is dressing in a way that makes you sweaty, irritated and unable to focus being “respectful” to the customer?
Some people are far too hung up on the deception of professionalism rather than acting in a professional way.
I’m in UK at moment. So many guys in shorts, truly horrific mostly, great nobly knees, and it don’t stop at shorts, then its flip flops. A whole other issue.
@David J Warren:
Knobbly sorry
@David J Warren: No noble knees?
I am surprised Leo has not invited the government and TDs to attend work wearing shorts … would be remarkable photo opps too
The picture you’ve used to illustrate the article appears to be a gentleman working in a pair of pink boxers. He is unsurprisingly working alone.
The only strange thing I noticed was that he apparently has to wear a long-sleeved shirt with it. Maybe for video-conferencing? Personally I can’t stand pink, but each to their own. I have no issues with shorts. It’s hot enough out. Most of us commute. The more comfortably we can dress, the better.
For many men, wearing shorts would certainly kill of the risk of dating fellow employees … so that may be a good thing
Depends how much ya packing
@Davei:
That can be …….. augmented!
My lot are lucky I’ve any clothes on at all today!
Depends on the job I suppose. In general though many places have a professional dress code and you just have to follow it.
Depends on the shorts. If all the guys started turning up in my place wearing short shorts, I’m ringing in sick! And yes I’d have the same reaction if the women start doing it too!
It should be acceptable to wear anything. What one wears has no bearing whatsoever on how one performs.
Totally against this, don’t see why I should have to cover up and wear shorts.
Shorts and open-toe shoes are completely unacceptable in a work environment in my opinion.
Short answer?- …
Has no-one been to the Middle East and beyond, where long, light and loose clothes are traditional for men and women alike. Not just to dissipate heat and sweat but also as protection from the sun. Shorts might be a bit too casual for many businesses but those should have airconditioning. For others, they might be ok provided they’re not too short or painted on.
This poll discriminates against everyone who’s not a soft handed office worker.
Tis more acceptable to change your gender than your pant attire
Depends on your work. In office work, depends if you are front- or back office, if you have external visitors/seminars etc. In my view shorts are basically ok in everyday work. But dont greet a foreign delegation or pitch your gig in shorts.
Little difference between tailored shorts and a skirt above the knee. A dress policy doesn’t constitute professionalism, collective progressive attitude and culture do. Shorts are common practice across the world in warmer countries and, where safety and health (common sense) permit, I personally don’t have an issue.
As an Irishman who’s lived in Australia for 20 years, this is hilarious.
We are not allowed to wear shorts to work until temps are over 35C.
20C and you want to wear shorts to work??!!!
I’ve obviously acclimatised. I’m in a wooly jumper in 20C lol
He’ll yeah . Try work outdoors all day in that heat in long trousers. Not nice
You would need to be a lunatic to think shorts are inappropriate. Ability to do job is most important. Weird puritan dress codes have no basis in current society apart from PPE.
I think a plain coloured short that came to the knee should be allowed. Wouldn’t think the pink ones in the photo would be appropriate.
Would you ever get over yourselves? It’s 18 degrees out there and you’re talking about wearing shorts at work??
No problem women wearing sleeveless outfits. why men can wear smart casual shorts??
If people can were their cultural / religious clothing. Shorts are part of ours normal worn when hot. There was never a reason not to. Just like those whom wear cultural / religious clothing. There should not be a problem at all.
Not acceptable for men, acceptable for some wowen.
Sure if its ok for men to wear skirts why wouldn’t it be ok to wear shorts
My first answer is no way. But for the first time ever, the comments here have caused me to stop and think. If women can wear skirts, why can’t guys wear shorts?
I think it would be up to the “experts” in fashion and design to come up with an appropriate look of men’s shorts that would work in a corporate setting. What socks and shoes would they wear with it? What kind of shirt? Would it look professional? Maybe this will actually become a thing but at the moment I don’t know of any style of men’s shorts that would really work.
I work in construction and its not allow from a safety stand point
Short trousers for this warm weather YES
Just wear a skirt and identify as female for the day.
If women can have skirts and dresses then men can have shorts.
Iv worn a dress when I was told shorts weren’t allowed. My boss changed his mind after 2 hours
If women can have skirts and dresses then men can have shorts.
Iv worn a dress when I was told shorts weren’t allowed. My boss changed his mind after 2 hours
Normal shorts about knee length yes.. Them 3/4 length girly ones with the the no socks malarky no.
How about everyone goes naked? Problem solved.
Tis more acceptable to change your gender than your pant attire
37% at the time o read this are just bitter C***s
If women can have skirts and dresses then men can have shorts.
Iv worn a dress when I was told shorts weren’t allowed. My boss changed his mind after 2 hours
119 = 4% 96=5%
Something wrong here lads
Shorts fine. Flip flops feck off
If women can have skirts and dresses then men can have shorts.
Iv worn a dress when I was told shorts weren’t allowed. My boss changed his mind after 2 hours
have your say