All the unions in Bermuda are meeting this week to go through the details of a Government pay offer. It is a crucial week — the decision, or decisions, made will have significant ramifications for the IslandAccept what Government is offering and the size of the its budget starts being reduced with the prospect or having to borrow less, or even pay back some of the debt which is already at an unsustainable level for such a small economy. (Debt financing is one of the largest budgets in Government, think what could be done with that money...) Refuse and there will probably be no option other than cuts to jobs and services and the potential start of a vicious downward spiral.This should not be seen as a direct attack on the unions — nor is it the start of a slippery slope that will spread to the private sector. In a very lively Twitter debate, one person expressed these views:“If the unions lose this, we all lose. It will be a race to the bottom for all workers. The economic crisis was not and is not the fault of Government workers; they should not pay the price. If they cave, all workers — in the private sector — will face an accelerated attack on conditions. I don’t deny they (the union) have been affected less; I’m saying they are the last line of defence for all workers. If the unions cave, believe me the private sector workers will face an onslaught. This is divide and conquer tactics.”However, it has been apparent for some time that thousands of people once employed in the private sector have left the Island, record amounts are being spent on financial assistance and many companies have instigated pay freezes, cuts or furloughs.Government has been forced to borrow another $800 million to cover future budget deficits. It is not feasible to continue borrowing more, the burden on our children and our children’s children will be unsustainable and their future will be bleak.It is beginning to sound like a broken record now, it has been repeated so often — but this newspaper believes in unions because they are fundamental to the protection of workers’ rights — and it could be argued that a decent day’s pay is a right.However, people have a right to expect a sustainable future and as such we must all play our part. This is not about ‘us and them’, it is about ‘us’. It is not about devaluing or undermining the role of the unions, it is about working together and making shared sacrifices for the good of Bermuda.* What do you think? Follow me on Twitter and let me know: https://twitter.com/jeremydeacon1