Posted on 11/21/2012 7:43:35 AM PST by IbJensen
Federal employees—who work on average a month less than private-sector workers and get paid more—are lobbying for higher pay.
Government unions know that Congress is looking for ways to nip and tuck the federal budget, and they’re counting on being left out of the deal.
“The Federal-Postal Coalition—a group representing more than two dozen federal employee unions—pleaded with Congress on Monday to spare their members in any deal related to the ‘fiscal cliff,’” Government Executive reports.
Government unions went all out to re-elect the President—the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) spent more than any other outside group on Obama’s campaign. While only about seven out of 100 private-sector workers are unionized, in government, that number rises to 36 out of 100.
Now they’re complaining that they don’t get paid enough.
Federal employees and Members of Congress are working under a two-year “pay freeze,” though “individual employees still remain eligible for raises if they receive promotions, step increases or performance awards,” explains Government Executive.
Of course, these are employees who are paid by the taxpayers. So their compensation deserves every measure of scrutiny. Unfortunately, faulty comparisons to the private sector have been muddying the waters—something Heritage’s Jason Richwine and the American Enterprise Institute’s Andrew G. Biggs have been working to correct.
When Richwine and Biggs wrote in The Washington Post November 18 that government unions were using bogus numbers to push for raises, a firestorm of reader comments erupted. As of this morning, there were 2,480 comments on the piece.
One of the main issues: “The Federal Salary Council, an advisory body of academics and leaders of public employee unions, suggested last month that federal workers are underpaid by an average of 35 percent relative to nonfederal employees.”
What’s behind the huge gap the council is claiming? For starters, a huge omission: benefits packages. Richwine and Biggs note:
First, the pay agent doesn’t consider fringe benefits, even though benefits for federal workers are famously generous. In addition to a 401(k)-type pension with a handsome employer match, federal workers receive a traditional defined-benefit pension—for which they contribute less than 1 percent of salary—as well as retiree health coverage. A Congressional Budget Office study published in January found that the federal retirement package was 2.7 times more generous than what is paid by large private-sector firms. Federal workers also receive more paid vacation and sick days.
According to their own reporting, government employees work fewer hours than private-sector employees. To measure this in the fairest way possible, the American Time Use Survey allows workers to record all of their time, including any hours spent working from home or outside normal business hours. Using this data, Richwine found that government employees worked about one month less per year than private-sector workers.
And not only do they work less, they get paid more.
A January 2012 report by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) showed that federal government employees receive substantially higher compensation than similarly skilled workers in the private sector. The report’s methodology and conclusions were broadly similar to previous studies from both The Heritage Foundation and the American Enterprise Institute. Richwine, Biggs, and Heritage’s James Sherk concluded:
Federal compensation should be scaled back and reallocated to reward the most productive federal workers. The government should replace the seniority system with performance pay, paying higher salaries to good workers without guaranteeing raises for mediocre performers.
Government unions worked hard to re-elect President Obama, and now they’re expecting a payout at the expense of taxpayers. Any suggestion that their pay is below market levels is completely false.
FWIW, where I work, the contractors (private) are paid better than the GS (govt) folks. GS always have better benefits though, and a job for life unless he murders someone in broad daylight.
Good points, Whitey.
Notice that the ones I asked if they were at work when posting responses didn’t answer.
The retirement you describe is a better retiirement package than many people I know who have worked their whole lives outside the government.
What kind of retirement do you think private sector people make anyway?
Do some investigating and you will see that the retirement you described is above average and many people would jump at a chance to have a program like that.
My husband’s company had a good one about 12 years ago....but none since.
“The retirement you describe is a better retiirement package than many people I know who have worked their whole lives outside the government.”
NOT among white collar workers. Only the blue collar types “may” be better off in federal service.
My father worked for 40 years in the private sector (Bell System) and his retirement was outstanding. I have a brother, blue collar worker (non-union power company) who is also set to get a very good retirement.
Also, when the economy was and is good...then private sector employees make considerably better pay...it is fact. No problem with that because the private sector SHOULD pay better. However, with higher pay, then the employee has the ability to put more away into 401Ks etc.
The current federal employee retirement system is not great. Of course you may live in a backward part of the country where no one gets a decent retirement.
“I’ve had a federal job (USMC), post office and a couple state gigs before I saw the light in my mid 20’s. No...I am definitely not “jealous”.”
Military service is NOT a federal civilian job. State “gigs” are NOT federal either....in fact state jobs suck big time...when I worked for a state I was “envious” of my federal counterparts. You ARE jeolous and spouting just another form of class warfare. Or, you were one of those that just couldn’t “hack it” in government employment because you didn’t rise as fast as you thought you should....whatever the case. You are full of nonsense and spouting it.
Federal employement, is NOT the wonderful thing the jeolous think it is(I found out the hard way). It beats unemployment...and USED TO confer some degree of stability....something that is not so today.
Whatever, I am NOT interested in being an apologist for federal employees. Like in any company, there are good ones and there are passable ones, and there are poor ones.
I DO KNOW THIS....private contractors cost the government more than maintaining federal civilian employees when someone to do the job is needed. Of course, too many on FR are so anti-gov radicals that they think ANY employee of the government is some drain on them...regardless of the importance of the function. There is no sense engaging in such an arguement....because those making it are fools.
Do we need to cut back on the size of federal employees? Yes, but do so carefully and not using slash and burn tactics. Not ALL departments of gov should face the same cutting. A “get rid of them all” attitude is backwards ignorance and I won’t even acknowledge such foolish persons.
I am...National Weather Service.
Fire fighters, correctional workers, engineers, county hospital workers, mental health hospital workers,
My TSP pension is in mutual funds.
That said...I am not “envious” of anyone working for the government. Unless you control my mind somehow... LOL.
B.S.!! Once again.....B.S.!!
“Morning Bell: Should We Pay Government Employees More?”
Better question: Should taxpayers, who had their children’s treasure stolen at the point of a gun so fat-ass bureaucrats could holiday at a French chateau, be taking their treasure back?
Your either stupid or ignorant. Even Subway is giving bonus’. I know because have friends who work there and I worked there before and every Christmas they give a month bonus averaged over the year. So smarty you don’t know everything you think you do.
-— This thread is a mirror of the nation we live in: nearly as many posts by government workers as by those who pay for the government. -—
I noticed that too. But it is a thread about govt employees.
otoh, we’re screwed.
You are so right.
My mistake—lol.
Maybe it was a bonus based on sales....smarty pants....that just came at Christmas....sheesh. MOST people do not get bonuses unless they are EARNED....when they come is NO matter to me.
God you always make me feel guilty. Sorry! Happy Thanksgiving!!!!! I just can’t argue with you for some reason.....the guilt kills me. lol.
So you wrote the above a day after you wrote the following...
Your either stupid or ignorant. Even Subway is giving bonus’. I know because have friends who work there and I worked there before and every Christmas they give a month bonus averaged over the year. So smarty you don’t know everything you think you do.
Manic/depressed much?
Oh I am not sorry about that. Keep up there bud.
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