Especially when we as taxpayers get no breaks in paying taxes while government workers are out on vacation strike.
The idea of “working for the public” means something like “working for the greater good”.
That's the funny thing. If they really do believe they are doing the public a favor, then why take any salary? If these loser non-teachers really believe that they are doing this "for the children" then they should have no problems taking pay cuts or even working for free. Of course, most of us don't think that public sector workers should work for free, but the idea that they should is the logical extension of their mentality of thinking they're doing us all a favor.
Insisting that civilian public sector workers be compensated in a manner similar to the private sector is not asking too much.
That's my main beef. They shouldn't have more job security than anyone else. They shouldn't have better benefits than the average person who has to pay for their own health care or has to settle for less.
Why should joe average who is scrimping to get by have to pay high taxes just so they can have top benefits? A lot of people are laid off and or having to cut back. Why not them? Plus they get 3 months vacation per year.
At the very least, unions shouldn’t be allowed to run a “closed shop” for public employees. No one should be forced to join a union. State/city governments should not be responsible for collecting union dues either.