I don't know- My column for 9 August 2011

The column is really about things I don't know. About three things I don't know. Like I don't know whether the trade unions are negotiating based on what their members are valued in the labour market or against handshakes made prior to the May 2010 election. I don't know whether the Government understands that it cannot continue to hand out flat percentage increases in every negotiating cycle without distinguishing between its employees' individual performance and skills and value.
And while I know that some sectors have agreed to five per cent for everybody, I don't know whether the Government is any closer to recognising that some skills should attract better compensation to keep the skills loyal to country and the public sector in particular. Which leaves me only to wonder just how much thought is going into these negotiations and settlements and whether this is not a replay of the same old cycle of negotiations. Flat increases across the board could be the work of lazy unionists and employers: but I don't know.