Public employees have been for the most part shielded from the turmoil of this recession. The lack of raises, major layoffs, and cutting of benefits are just some of the things that most private industry employees have been subject to for years now with the declining economy. While I want to say that I feel bad for those protesting in Wisconsin, I frankly just don't. Teachers, cops, firefighters, etc. have enjoyed amazing benefits for years. Those benefits include full pensions after 25 years of service, amazing health benefits, near automatic wage increases every year, and far more vacation and sick days then most private sector employees could ever dream of. Too much has been promised to these employees and it is time to reign in this spending and exceptionally nice benefits.
The full pensions these employees receive is absurd. A firefighter can retire after 25 years with a full pension and then live for another 35 years. What kind of sense does that make? Who do they think these pensions are paid by? The taxpayers. Many people struggle to save for retirement when these employees don't have to worry at all. These pensions are far too generous at a time when many may never retire because of tax increases to cover whom, the public sector employees. It time for them to see their enormously gracious pensions are hurting many people.
The health benefits that many of the state employees receive is not even in the same ballpark of what many private sector employees get. Many public employees don't pay a health insurance premium and if they do it is very low. Along with that, their out of pocket co-pays are exceptionally low. These employees really have no idea just how good they have it with these health benefits. While many have seen their health premiums increase every year, the state employees don't see it. Those increases get passed on to the government, aka the tax payers. Again, millions struggle on a monthly basis just to pay their premiums while these employees don't need to worry and while taxpayers foot the bill.
Then there are the wage increases many of these employees get. Many of these people receive 3% wage increases no matter what. Whether things are going good or bad they know they are getting an increase. Many of these increases are not performance based, something many private employees don't get. To get a raise in the private sector when times are bad an employee many times needs to show improvement every year to justify an increase. Many have not received raises in a year or two or more while doing the same job. Not because they aren't working hard enough, but because the money is just not there.
Finally, there is the time off many of these employees get. We don't even need to explain teachers in this. They get a full years salary and all the excellent benefits for working 9 months. With them, other public employees receive far more time off then the average worker. Not only starting off at two weeks off a year, but receiving sick days as well. Then for many those vacation days go up to three, four, and 5 weeks depending on service. These amounts are insane, especially considering that tax payers are the ones who foot the bill.
I'm not against our public service employees making a good living but they need to realize who is in fact paying for all of their wonderful benefits, the rest of the taxpayers. They need to realize that too much was promise to them and no longer can states afford to provide full pensions at age 50, no out of pocket premiums, endless raises, and large chunks of time off. Something needs to give and finally it is their turn to feel the effects of this terrible economy we are in. They have been protected til now but the simple truth is there is not enough money to pay everything that has been promised to them. With everything going on in this world the truth hurts, there simply is no money.
