Why are Public Sector workers paid so much money?

[QuestionsQuigley]

I just read earlier in the week that the average Public Sector weekly salary is €941 (US $1486 ) How did this happen? This is madness! The country can't afford this. Why don't they reduce salaries by 10% ? Government cutback problems solved

[JCSkinner]

I just read earlier in the week that the average Public Sector weekly salary is €941 (US $1486 ) How did this happen? This is madness! The country can't afford this. Why don't they reduce salaries by 10% ? Government cutback problems solved

I'd rather they reduced the number on the payroll by 10%, THEN reduced the pay of the remainder by 10%.

[GusherING]

Shows you what a good strong union can get you. The discourse in Ireland always frowns on unions, but I wonder why private sector workers don't mimic their actions instead of moaning? Now I know all the usual arguments about competitiveness etc will come out. That's a political/macro perspective. But from the viewpoint of an individual worker, doesn't unionisation make sense?

[essexboy]

Has Arnie shown the way?

Arnold Schwarzenegger, California's governor, has threatened to cut the pay of hundreds of thousands of public employees to below the state minimum wage in an attempt to balance the budget of the world's seventh largest economy.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008.../usa.useconomy

[katy brock]

I just read earlier in the week that the average Public Sector weekly salary is €941 (US $1486 ) How did this happen? This is madness! The country can't afford this. Why don't they reduce salaries by 10% ? Government cutback problems solved

Public sector workers are paid so much because it is politically expedient for our rulers to do so. These drones are well aware which side their bread is buttered on when it comes to election time.

[shannonBlueShirt]

Shows you what a good strong union can get you. The discourse in Ireland always frowns on unions, but I wonder why private sector workers don't mimic their actions instead of moaning? Now I know all the usual arguments about competitiveness etc will come out. That's a political/macro perspective. But from the viewpoint of an individual worker, doesn't unionisation make sense?

I dont think its a case of strong unions , more a case weak government....

[MartinP]

A good number of public sector workers (those in admin in the civil service, local authorities, etc.) get well below the average industrial wage. Others in the public sector are overpaid, resulting in such a high average among workers in the sector. Very few of the public sector workers I know are getting €900 a week.

[Sandrita]

is that gross? Before they deduct, prsi, paye, widows and orphans and supperannuation?

I am a public sector worker I don't get that much but I guess if you average out the high wages of the high grades then thats where the figures come from.

[katy brock]

is that gross? Before they deduct, prsi, paye, widows and orphans and supperannuation?

I am a public sector worker I don't get that much but I guess if you average out the high wages of the high grades then thats where the figures come from.

Thats a good point. I think its a bit harsh to use the mean average when talking about salaries,(I think the mode or median might be better) but the mean seems to be the only average people can relate to.

[atlantic]

Its called buying votes,and we had the Master at it for 10 years called Bertie.Also Bertie knew give them a raise ,we can get a bigger one.The man was always employed by the state never knew any about private sector business,and if its one thing Bertie was going to have when he retired from politics was a big fat pension and soak the state as much as possible.Remember 368000 cs/ps is alot of votes also throw in the marvellous scamming welfare system we have ,more votes.Auction politics at its best and Bert was irelands version of "all the kings men"

I just read earlier in the week that the average Public Sector weekly salary is €941 (US $1486 ) How did this happen? This is madness! The country can't afford this. Why don't they reduce salaries by 10% ? Government cutback problems solved