House Votes to Freeze Pay of Federal Workers

www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/01/house-federal-pay-freeze_n_1248401.html

Seems republicans passed this bill, what's your opinion on the matter?

Think maybe we'll see more of the lower ranking federal workers joining occupy?

 

I think it's only fair. Why should govenment employees enjoy a wage increase when much of the rest of the country contends with unemployment and economic uncertainty.

Even the lowest ranking federal employee receives better wages and has better employee benefits than many in the private sector -- and with little chance of ever being laid off.

Of those I've come into contact with (on a official basis), I remember few that seemed genuinely interested in doing their job.

 

Makes sense...


what I really want to see is a pay cut for congress, though.

 

We can only dream Tyrsons...

 

Those affected by the freeze would include members of congress -- not quite the same as a cut but at least they don't get a raise.

Obama was in favor of a measure which would provide a 0.5% raise. That's interesting since a raise calculated as a pecentage of current wage provides more of a raise to those already making more.

 

Because this is crab mentality. "Why should they have decent pay when I don't have decent pay". It's not the fault of federal employees they're one of the few demographics who have actually seen their income adjusted for inflation actually rise in the past 25 years. It's the fault of powerful interests that private pay hasn't risen in the same time period.

 

But I do "have" decent pay -- very decent to the tune of just a little less than 3 times what a government worker in the same position gets (notice I didn't say doing the same worlk). Why? Because I do my job and I do it well. I take a "sick day" when/if I'm sick and not just because they have accrued. I do not get a bonus just for showing up everyday.

Studies have shown that 1.67 government worker man-hours are expended to accomplish the same work per (one) private sector man-hour. Whose fault is that? The studies are out there: g-o-o-g-l-e. There is some doubt about the accuracy of the findings -- the study was done by federal govenment employees.

 

Let's disect that post

1. I make damn good money, but that's because I do an awesome and valued job vs those plebians

2. Here are some studies, that I'm not going to post.

 

OR

1. I make good money because I do my job very well vs merely well enough to meet the minimum standard

2. There are some studies -- if you want to see them look 'em up yourself.

 

It's the gov't public workers and their lavish salaries, benefits, and life long pensions that are what is bankrupting places like Spain, Greece, Italy, Etc.

Basically 1 in 4 full time workers in the US are public workers if you include military. The money gets taken from the little guy struggling with low wages and layoffs, to support this new 'elite' class of citizens called 'civil servants'. It's now out of control and a huge, huge world problem.


Btw, the majority of wall street investments are held by public sector/union workers so the gov't is in a position where it needs to ENSURE that stocks are always going up so these public workers will get to enjoy their early, lavish retirement and pension and benefits.


Do you think the average American in the private sector making $11/h median income is investing in 401ks and wall street retirement funds??? Lol yeah right. The average people work to support the lifestyle of civil servants and it's now become unaffordable because the gov't can't get blood from a stone so the gov't has to keep borrowing and printing money to cover the salaries, pensions, and benefits of an 'upper class' or an entilted citizen while we struggle and hope the next place we apply won't require us to speak another language.


And you think that PUBLIC CIVIL SERVANTS has something the Occupy movement?? They are the CORE of the problem. Their salaries and benefits have almost doubled in the last 10 years. The average teacher in a city district is now making $100,000 with benefits. Full summers off, 3hrs of actual teaching class time maximum. The rest of the day on breaks.


THIS is what is bankrupting all of Europe. The Greece protesters are actually civil servant unions - not some sort of uprising by an oppressed class of people. The media rarely mentions that thos violent strikes are high salaried civil servants The govt simply can no longer afford the salaries anymore.


Sorry for the rant I feel passionate about this issue lol