D Tuesday, November 10, 2009 METRO 17 Jobs crisis averted Lisbon signed: President Klaus Czech President Vaclav Klaus signed the Lisbon Treaty on Tuesday November 3, becoming the last EU leader to sign the document into law. Therefore, there should be no further need for the Government and the unions to discuss pay cuts. After all, the Government told us that voting Yes to the Lisbon treaty meant jobs for Ireland. We all remember the posters Vote Yes for jobs, Vote Yes for recovery. I suspect that we will have full employment within a matter of days, or were we misled by those in power? Kevin Cody, by e-mail Earning 30,000 to 50,000 is not a meagre wage these days. Most private sector workers would be happy to earn this in return for job security. The issue remains that the public sector pay scale does not reflect Irelands current economic situation. As you say, you chose to work in the civil service and now when long overdue pay adjustments need to be made none of you can hack it. The private sector doesnt begrudge people jobs its just fed up with whingers who fail to see how lucky they are. Heather, by e-mail Hard-working civil servant, you tell us that more than 70 per cent of employees in the civil sector earn less than 50,000 per year the figure is closer to 60 per cent meaning that 40 per cent are on more than 50,000. You say that the civil sector is paying for the hangover of the private sector how is that? You are being asked to contribute 12 per cent towards a very generous pension, while everyone elses taxes Dublins best-read letters page Metro Mail E-mail letters to mail@metroireland.ie with a name. Or text us. Text MAIL followed by comment and name to 53131. *Texts cost 30cent per message + standard network charges. SP. Oxygen8 Communications, Hospitality House, Cumberland Street South, D2. Customer service number 0818286606 talk to us Green God: Found a note saying: Due to the recession and in order to save electricity, I am going to switch off the light at the end of the tunnel. Signed: God DH, by e-mail Right to decide: OG, whatever happened to a persons right to decide, after all we pay the unions to do a job they dont pay us. DK, by e-mail Big boss: How did so many public sector workers get Friday afternoon off to go and protest against the Government (their employers)? If I asked for an afternoon off work in order to protest against my boss, he would tell me to go and protest but not to bother coming back to work on Monday. JS, by e-mail Berlin: Fair play to Bono and the lads for giving a free gig in Berlin to mark 20 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall. The tenth anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement would have been too boring for that type of thing. The GAA are celebrating 125 years of community spirit and sport this year but sure thats not cool enough for the boys. Rafas Jaffa Cake, by e-mail In Brief are footing the bill for the other 88 per cent! You infer that the civil sector are queuing for the dole of the near half a million people on the live register, only a small minority are public sector workers. We did not ALL make hay during the boom. Please wake up and get some perspective! Louise, Dublin To hard-working civil servant, wake up and get real. The private sector isnt just bankers, solicitors and doctors. Its every waitress, shop assistant, secretary, everyone in the construction industry who has lost their job, everyone in Dell and Waterford Crystal. Its people who havent had any pension in two years and its people who have taken up to 30 per cent in pay cuts and still dont have job security. The public sector have no accountability, full job security and pensions to boot and still have the nerve to whine about taking a small pay cut. MD, by e-mail Sendusyour txt Ive noticed how quiet most bus passengers are, with their headphones and books. How different from my country, Philippines! I miss chatting with someone on the bus its better than your first cup of coffee in the mornin! Pinay: - D Dimi, why should the rich be taxed more? They are the ones who have brought huge investments into the country, worked their asses off for what they have and use less public services. They are already paying the most tax now that is unfair! A poor student I love the hypocrisy of women complaining about not gaining membership to a golf club but thinking Curves policy is acceptable. Please dont burn your bra as you might set the house on fire. Or are they thinking they get membership and then a chance to marry a wealthy golfer? Anon There are plenty of ladies in my job with not just facial hair but hairy legs and armpits. What charity is that for, I wonder? Paul txt MAIL to 53131* Going for a ride: Trixie and Rocky head out on the open road Pictures: WENN Brassy: Blonde Bombshell This arts totally fabricated BRASSY blondes, nubile fairies and hairy bikers its easy to see why artist Lisa Lichtenfels didnt really fit in at Disney. But despite how it may seem at first glance, she did not move into photography after quitting the House of Mouse she made these models herself out of nylon. The American found that the man-made fabric most commonly used in tights is brilliant for pro- viding a lifelike covering to her soft sculptures. She starts with a wire frame which she covers with wadding and she then puts the nylon on top to mim- ic the skin. Nylon is the most delicately nuanced material Ive yet discovered. It has a special gift for creating the illusion of living flesh, she said. The California-based artists other works include a mermaid, a Chinese guru wielding a calligraphy pen, a contortionist, several old women, strippers and dancers. One of her dolls, The Blonde Bombshell, was By AidAn RAdnedGe Wings of desire: Jessie the mermaid commissioned by a Florida millionaire. He wanted the model of a brassy blonde in low-cut top to sit as a life-sized ticket taker in a theatre on his sprawling estate. After his death, relatives squabbled over the doll as they divided up their inherit- ance and she later went missing, pre- sumed stolen. index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html