I don't agree with you on unions, I think they are incredibly important and beneficial to workers, but you've made some good points.
I've worked with for a couple levels of government and for private industry. The stats don't even back up what he's saying. The Fraser Institute has the difference in Alberta being 9% and I don't believe that includes bonuses which most government workers do not get, and I don't think it includes things like company vehicles either. When I worked in the government my brothers bonuses were anywhere from 10 - 30% of my yearly salary.
I've never come across anyone scamming a way to maximize pay. I'm my many years of government work I stayed late nearly ever single day, generally an hour extra at minimum, unpaid. This is not an exaggeration. Not everyone did this but it isn't unheard of. As far as sick days go most people on my teams didn't take more than 5 or 6 sick days/year. I would have actually preferred if they took more because I don't enjoy getting sick.
Comparing job to job in these scenarios is also questionable. Entry level in the private industry is often affected by how much you negotiate. In public you start at a set amount meaning it's more than difficult to take advantage of younger workers. If half of those entering a private industry job don't really negotiate well they will be paid less. If some don't push for a raise or a promotion they may make less. There is a wider gap between high and low earners in private industry.
The point about core services being provided cheaper isn't clear cut either. There is lots of information that shows that privatization often costs more in the long run. There some areas that could be privatized but it is silly to state that all services can be provided for less.
People choose to work private because the reward is higher. You can move up and make significantly more. In public you can move up but the pay isn't drastically different.
I find it amusing that someone that worked in public industry is criticising the hours worked. Working 40 hours a week isn't something anyone should strive for or be criticized for not wanting to do . Getting only 2 weeks of vacation after working somewhere for 10 years isn't something to strive for its pathetic as far as I'm concerned. Honestly it comes across as a bitter post.
Every single job I've ever worked had cuts that COULD be made.
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Originally Posted by PepsiFree
I’ve made my feelings on unions well known, but I do wonder why some are so obsessed about added benefits in the public sector vs private.
I get that it’s “our tax dollars,” but is that it?
I mean, if you think the jobs are better why not just work in the public sector? If the pay is that much better, is it attracting the best talent available for those positions? If so, isn’t that a good thing? If not, why not?
I work in the private sector, but have a couple of friends working in the public sector, we have different benefits (they have better vacation, more job security, but don’t get bonuses, networking and personal growth opportunities, or big company parties) but their jobs also seem a lot more stressful than mine.
A lot of that comes down to the nature of the position obviously, but if you could work in the public sector, why don’t you? If you can’t, why not?
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