Saturday, Jan 09, 2010
Private V Public Pay Shock
Guardian: Public v private sector pay: the figures don't add up
This should get some of you going. Interesting discussion on the invalidity of the statistics proferred by the the recent rash of articles on the subject. Conclusion: which sector is paid the most cannot be determined with data currently available. But of course we all know the private sector is paid far too much, don't we chaps?
Posted by letthemfall @ 05:35 PM (1278 views) Add Comment
8 Comments
- If you do not have an admin password leave the password field blank.
- If you would like to request a password allowing you to add comments and blog news articles without needing each one approved manually, send an e-mail to the webmaster.
- Your email address is required so we can verify that the comment is genuine. It will not be posted anywhere on the site, will be stored confidentially by us and never given out to any third party.
- Please note that any viewpoints published here as comments are user's views and not the views of HousePriceCrash.co.uk.
- Please adhere to the Guidelines
1. letthemfall said...
Nationalise them all I say
2. This comment has been removed as it was found to be in breach of our Blog Policies.
3. the number cruncher said...
Nice post letthemfall - I love iconoclasm - especially when it uses facts and reality to destroy the prejudices of others.
The whole point about reactionaries is that they do not like allowing facts, especially where they take effort and knowledge, getting in the way of they compfortable prejudice enabling beliefs.
We all make up our minds then desperately search for evidence to support it - but I think the times and telegraph journos who wrote these pieces are just plain dishonest hacks, ready to write utter lies to please their masters.
I would be interested in hearing from the posters who got caught up in the reactionary slagging off of public sector pay in the HPC blog post of the original stories.
4. Enoughalready said...
I work in the public sector (local gov) as a lowly adminitrator so, along with my private sector sisters I am low paid. Yet I see for myself the useless managers, many of whom are paid over £100,000 for doing bo-diddly squat! (Around £50 - 60k is the norm). Meetings about meetings are arranged simply to justify their fat salaries. Many older 'officers' are just sitting there waiting to retire so their huge public sector pensions can kick in. In the private sector they would not exist.
BTW during the snow the managers decided to 'work from home' (yeah, and...), but the admin/typists etc were expected to come in or have their pay docked/annual leave used.
Those I know who work in the private sector have had no pay rises for years and are told they are lucky to have a job! How super-lucky are the public sector workers then if that's the case?
5. paul said...
It was the Times Online that posted that rubbish last week. It was invalid for a whole host of reasons.
I'm glad The Guardian has picked the Times up on their shoddy journalism and questionable counting methods.
6. mr g said...
OK, so public sector pay is an easy target for scoring points but read this article, IMO it highlights everything that's wrong with the public sector, apologies for posting this link previously:
http://www.halifaxcourier.co.uk/news/Hundreds-are-told-Quit-now.5942168.jp
The council HR department appear to be actively encouraging staff to take early retirement before before the age limit increases to 55, which is fine for the staff concerned who will receive an index linked pension but this is paid for out of my pocket and the pockets of other council tax payers.
A local authority should endeavour to keep expenditure as low as possible as a private business would, therefore what right has a council department (HR) to pursue an agenda which increases the tax payer's burden?
Q.E.D. The public sector does get a better deal than the private.
7. paul said...
@mr g
Your argument is akin to saying "Look at the size of annual bonuses in the private sector!" after looking at JPMorgan's bonus pot.
8. letthemfall said...
Thanks number cruncher
mr g:
The public sector is charged with providing a range of services, with the emphasis on quality and consistency, so the cost-cutting or lean-running ethos of the private sector is not always appropriate.
Public sector pensions are not automatically paid by the tax-payer (although the state pension is). Public employees contribute to their pensions. The deficits that are appearing everywhere due to increased longevity are being met by rising contributions and later retirement ages. Complaints against public pensions are mainly motivated by comparisons with the disgraceful offerings from the private sector rather than the intrinsic unfairness of public ones.