Minister of Sports Responds to PSU Concerns Over Potential Job Cuts

Minister of Sports Anthony Mahler is pushing back against criticism from the Public Service Union (PSU) with regards to a proposed plan to fire people from the departments of Youth and Sports.

The PSU issued a statement in early April following comments made by Minister of State Devin Daly during an interview on Open Your Eyes, where Daly shared that the effectiveness of programmes and staffing within the department to improve overall efficiency was being reviewed.

Over the weekend, Minister Mahler offered his perspective on the union’s concerns. He expressed disappointment in how the PSU handled the issue, stating that the union should have first sought dialogue before going public.

“But how can you go public without saying, ‘Hey, I pick up the phone and call the minister – ‘Yo, really, what is it that you want to accomplish?’ That is the true meaning of dialogue,” Mahler said. “You get out there and say a whole pile of things where you hear one side of the story.”

Mahler argued that with nearly 300 people employed in both departments and what he described as “failing” programs, change is necessary.

“To me, if you have almost 300 people working in both entities and most of the programmes are failing miserably, then it has to be done. Then something has to be done.”

While Mahler insisted he is not in favour of removing dedicated workers, he made it clear that so-called “ghost workers” would not be tolerated.

“I don’t believe in taking bread out of people’s mouths… and I don’t believe inring hard-working people,” he said. “But if you’re doing nothing, if you’re a ghost worker, you go home. And I have no apologies for that.”