Your comment got me thinking about why I dislike Unions so much. It’s not just the disingenuous populism of their leaders. It’s not just their betrayal of what they were set up to do. It’s not the fact that they seek to further the economic success of the already economically advantaged to the detriment of society in general and the poor and vulnerable in particular. No, it’s the fact that they, more than any other group, epitomise the culture of mediocrity that is so pervasive in so many parts of our state from our public services, to the Gardai, our health services, our semi-states, our education system and our local and national government.
They are the distilled personification of the lack of personal responsibility and accountability which is the root of incompetence and mediocrity.
The abuse within this Care Home is just another manifestation of that culture. Babies dying in hospitals, ambulances waiting for hours in A&E’s, children with special needs not getting the help they need, people dying outside the Dail. These are other examples.
But that doesn't just describe unionised workers. Tell me what senior banker, politician, civil servant has been held accountable. What company CEO who has made a mess not walked away with a multi million euro payout? Accountability starts at the top. Unions are not blameless but they are no worse than the people in positions of power whose only concern is high salaries and big pensions. Performance levels are a minor concern in comparison.