Time to be more ruthless

In reply to Brian Smith’s letter ‘Puzzling’, SN, 3 Feb. 13)

Brian, I have always stated and you can ask anyone who knows me, I would hate to see anyone lose their job. But I don’t beat about the bush or bend the truth.

The council currently have double the workforce required and it can’t pay the wage bill.

If they continue to remove the money out of their reserves, £30 million for this year alone, they will run out of money. When they run out of money, it won’t be a case of who’s losing their job, it will be who’s not.

As for why I don’t call for my job to be slashed: Brian, I work away from Shetland like so many people now in the oil and gas industry.

One day during a downturn I will simply get a letter saying I no longer have a job, just like the 36,000 RBS workers. Sadly, in the private sector it’s a bit more ruthless.

If the council wants to protect its services and reserves they are also going to have to be ruthless. It’s time for the public sector to be run more like a business and less like a bottomless pit.

Unless you have a better idea, of course?

Regards
Craig Johnson
Northmavine