Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Cross-party consensus by MSPs to take a pay freeze at Holyrood but they need to tackle quangoland pay and bonuses















Dear All

MSPs are going to take a pay freeze to show solidarity with ordinary people fighting the recession.

If they do turn down the increase it will be a symbolic gesture which if anything should raise goodwill.

Although gestures in some cases are important, the SNP Government needs to put in place a cap on the salaries and bonuses of those in quangoland and local government.

The NGO sector is notorious for the obscene wages paid to some people.

The heads of the Universities and other charities on £200k plus.

It a sector defined by excess greed which operates unchecked by Government.

The move to freeze salaries in Holyrood has a cross-party consensus; the move to tackle excess in quangoland isn’t as energetic as it could be.

The Government should have a body that effectively caps pay in quangoland and in local government.

Employment contracts in quangoland and local government are set up in such away as so non achievers don’t get penalised for their mistakes and failures to achieve targets.

With no pressure on them to deliver good service, there is no incentive or fear of loss.

If politicians of all parties are supposed to take note of the mood of the people then why are they consistently dragging their heels?

The SNP rightly say it is incumbent on those at the top of the public sector to show a lead.

In that regard, they extended a freeze to senior civil servants pay but the reality, the situation requires cuts.
Salary cuts.

The talk of a bloated public sector is gaining ground, whether that translates to action remains to be seen.

Gestures are symbolic but not enough.

Yours sincerely

George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University

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