Contribute is the key word here. They don’t fund there own pensions, they throw a few bob into the pot and the rest of us make up the balance (i.e. most of it).
Yes but most do.
Yea, and how many don’t get their pay increase? BTW a system where you get a pay increase for just not screwing up it nothing to be proud of, especially when it’s other peoples money that they are being paid with.
Yes, but most are.
Yes, but most don’t.
We agree at last.
I'll take these moans seriously when you provide meaningful comparisons. So for private sector employees, how are their pensions funded (majority funded by the employer, right?). I contribute towards my bank's income through bank charges, so do I get to moan about my bank's contribution to my bank manager's pension?[I know your answer will say that I can change my bank, but not my public servant - so what? What's the alternative? Do you want no public services?] The balance isn't made up by 'the rest of us'. It is made up by 'all of us' - us public servants pay taxes too.
And when you do your comparison, don't forget to include the many low-level public sector staff who get little benefit from their pension contributions, given that the standard OAP is deducted before the pension is paid.
How many private sector staff don't get increments following a performance review? How many private sector staff will pass pickets etc. Otherwise, this is just a meaningless B&M session.
Lecturers here are extremely well paid 70 - 80k typically - how many grads would be earning 90k or so after a few years. Lecturers as well as highly paid are so under worked that a resourceful one managed to have two "full time" jobs at separate colleges. (He resigned recently when found out.)
These salary figures represent the cream of the profession. There are many, many lecturers in public institutions earning much less that - many on part-time or fixed-term contracts with little or no security. The double-jobber story was quite funny, mind you.
Not only that, but most lecturers I know ( well in to the double figures ) have a "side" business, they operate as nixers, in their "spare" time, holidays, days off etc. EG some do quantity surveying / building drawings work, snag lists + consultancy for builders + disputes ; others work in "outdoor education / sports" area during the long summer holidays ; another does homeopathy from home in the evenings / weekends etc. Yet they all have a great day job , great hours, conditions + security , etc
Sorry to burst your bubble, but it's not just lecturers (from both public & private educational institutions) who run side businesses. Many architects, architectural technicians, engineers, plumbers, ICT people etc run side businesses too. The homeopath that I know is an ICT developer in a bank by day, and homeopathist by night.
So what? Can I conclude that all these private sector employees have great day jobs, great hours, great conditions, great security etc? Jeez, you guys moan about the lack of entrepreneurial thinking in the public sector, and then you moan when someone does show entrepreneurial spirit! Sounds like another B&M session.
This thread is long, long way off from any meaningful discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of the public sector.