Public Sector Pay & Pensions - Time For Reality?

IronGiant

Welcome to the real world, not the world of the DM or DE.  The sad part about society is the ability of the press to turn one section against another through 'false envy'.

rustybin

So what your saying is your anecdotal sample evidence of 1 is more credible than that graph showing how badly private sector pay collapsed after 2008?

rustybin

So why don't you join them? Seems strange you'd settle for less if you had the choice.

Rasczak

Indeed. As someone who jumped from the public sector to the private sector solely for the (significant) improvement in remuneration package, I think this 'public sector gets it so good' line is absurd. The reality is it is so much easier in the private sector to go to your boss and say 'I want a raise' and, generally, if you can justify it you get it! It just needs a bit of courage!

Teerex

Is your total remuneration package similar to theirs?

IronGiant

You weren't a front line lower paid public sector worker though were you.  It's amusing that the most vehement protesters against Public Sector workers in the Private Sector are obviously very well paid.

Note: I worked in Academia, so technically Public Sector.  The pension scheme I'm on is very good.  

For those that like their numbers:

20 years contribution based on final Salary.
So I'm looking at 9K a year and a 27K lump sum at 65.

I could have applied early 2 years ago at 55 for a 9K lump and 3K a year, but I'm being patient.

rustybin

In total it's hard to say. My basic salary is higher, I get less holidays, I don't get the same subsidies for the staff restaurant or on-site gym, my pension is far worse....

But I avoid the internal politics, and get to do the more interesting, complex work.

rustybin

So what you're saying is that it's swings and roundabouts?

The difference being that once public sector workers have something taken from us, it can take a decade to get it back.

rustybin

I'm not against the public sector. My wife is a nurse who will enjoy a very decent pension when she retires.

I'm paid reasonably well. Which means I pay a decent chunk of tax. Am I not allowed an opinion on where my tax goes?

The private sector in general are paid less than the the public sector even before you include the value of pensions.

I think public sector workers deserve fair pensions. But the public sector seem to be in denial about how good what they get is. In a recent thread some fuss was made about how much the police pay for pensions, apparently oblivious to the amazing deal they actually get.

It's similar elsewhere in the public sector. They moan about moderate adjustments to their schemes, not recognising they are still far above what the private sector gets.

When I left university there was a basic understanding that you'd get less money in the public sector but better benefits. And that seemed reasonable.

What isn't reasonable is the public sector getting higher pay, better benefits and then still moaning that they want even more.

rustybin

You've just said in your sector, you get paid more? Which is it?