US

Stubborn Fact: Public Employees Paid More Than Private Workers in 41 States

As pro-union protesters erupt across the country, USA Today just released analysis that may cause a backlash against public unions. The findings? In 41 states, public employees “earn higher average pay and benefits” than private workers in each respective state.

The paper reports:

The analysis of government data found that public employees’ compensation has grown faster than the earnings of private workers since 2000. Primary cause: the rising value of benefits.

Wisconsin is typical. State, city and school district workers earned an average of $50,774 in wages and benefits in 2009, about $1,800 more than in the private sector. The state ranked 33rd in public employee compensation among the states and Washington, D.C. It had ranked 20th in 2000.

Stubborn Fact: Public Employees Paid More Than Private Workers in 41 StatesAmong the key findings:

• California. Public employee compensation rose 28% above the inflation rate from 2000 to 2009 to an average of $71,385 in 2009.

• Nevada. Government employees earned an average of $17,815 more — or 35% — than private workers, the nation’s biggest pay gap. The state’s low-paying private jobs in tourism were the cause, says Bob Potts of the Center for Business and Economic Research at University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

• Texas. The state ranked last in benefits for public employees. The state hasn’t granted cost-of-living increases to most retirees since 2001.

It makes the video we posted earlier, of pro-union protesters screaming “They say cut back we say fight back!”, even more baffling.

See the complete findings here.

(H/T: Business Insider)

Comments (250)

1 2 3 ... 5
  • wianno94
    Posted on March 1, 2011 at 2:28pm

    “The rich get rich and the poor get poorer. Its called trickle down, not pour down for a reason. Let the CEO’s get all the profits and trickle some meager wages to those beneath them”

    I want all the corporations and businesses that have been getting richer with subsidies and profits at the expense of the workers to go out of business. Close your doors. Move out of the country. Then I want to take all the money made by those greedy wall streeters, bankers, CEO;s and pile it up and burn it all.

    And when that’s all done, i want to come back on the internet and read all the comments about jobs and collective bargaining and redistribution.

    Report Post »  
  • silquin11
    Posted on March 1, 2011 at 2:26pm

    The link below is a list published in The Miami New Times with every Miami Dade County employee who topped six figures in salary during the last fiscal year. The New times articles reads: “There’s 3,301 names on this badboy — more than ten percent of the whole county workforce. Click through for the whole search-able document. Unsurprisingly, Miami Dade cops and firefighters top the list in quantity: Around 850 employees in the police force topped $100,000, while fire and rescue has about 600 six-figure earners.
    The highest paid folks are the attorneys in County Hall, topped by Robert Cuevas Jr’s $358,856 in pay, while County Manager George Burgess is the top dog overall, with $422,118.22 in compensation, including $92,943 in executive benefits.
    Alvarez, the target of billionaire Norman Braman’s recall, earned $315,462.39, with $80,258.87 in executive benefits.And, as starving journalists, we have to give a special shout-out to Matt Pinzur, the one-time Miami Herald scribe who jumped ship to work for Burgess and now makes $119,488.50. Well played! Here’s the full list (which, we should note, we haven’t officially confirmed to be accurate with the County — but which certainly looks legit)”…(click on the list)

    http://www.scribd.com/doc/41577836/miamidade100K

    Report Post »  
  • thebertmanlives
    Posted on March 1, 2011 at 2:26pm

    2,500 more in a year, Really? I make that in a week and you guys are crying about this. nobody brings the Pathetic like TheBlaze.

    Report Post » thebertmanlives  
    • bedspirit
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 4:59pm

      Good call. When people complain about high bonuses for wall street execs they‘re told to shut the hell up because it’s class warfare. When public employees make slightly more than private employees it’s a big friggin deal and we need to pass a bunch of laws to put an end to that crap.

      Report Post »  
  • hauschild
    Posted on March 1, 2011 at 2:26pm

    Property owners of Wisconsin should all refuse to pay their property taxes for ONE YEAR.

    They can’t take your home away after only a year, and it would send a helluva message.

    Report Post »  
    • OneFunR6
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 2:43pm

      just imagine the ‘message’ WE could SEND to the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THIEVES!?

      [do we dare?]

      I just soon might.

      Report Post » OneFunR6  
  • silquin11
    Posted on March 1, 2011 at 2:22pm

    This is the actual link of the 3300+ 6- figured- salary public employees in just Miami Dade County:

    http://www.scribd.com/doc/41577836/miamidade100K

    Report Post »  
  • thebertmanlives
    Posted on March 1, 2011 at 2:22pm

    New Blazer Motto: “my job sucks and so should yours”

    Report Post » thebertmanlives  
    • Blackhawk1
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 4:22pm

      Here is the real Blaze reader motto. I work to pay for my retirement and health care, why should I pay for yours too? Leech!

      Report Post » Blackhawk1  
    • dawg of gawd
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 8:53pm

      When you gonna give up YOUR government paid healthcare?

      Report Post » dawg of gawd  
  • silquin11
    Posted on March 1, 2011 at 2:19pm

    The link below is a published list (The New Times) of every Miami Dade County employee who topped six figures in salary during the last fiscal year.
    “…There’s 3,301 names on this badboy — more than ten percent of the whole county workforce. Click through for the whole search-able document.
    Unsurprisingly, Miami Dade cops and firefighters top the list in quantity: Around 850 employees in the police force topped $100,000, while fire and rescue has about 600 six-figure earners.

    The highest paid folks are the attorneys in County Hall, topped by Robert Cuevas Jr’s $358,856 in pay, while County Manager George Burgess is the top dog overall, with $422,118.22 in compensation, including $92,943 in executive benefits.

    Alvarez, the target of billionaire Norman Braman’s recall, earned $315,462.39, with $80,258.87 in executive benefits.

    And, as starving journalists, we have to give a special shout-out to Matt Pinzur, the one-time Miami Herald scribe who jumped ship to work for Burgess and now makes $119,488.50. Well played!

    Here’s the full list (which, we should note, we haven’t officially confirmed to be accurate with the County — but which certainly looks legit):

    miamidade100K

    Report Post »  
  • silquin11
    Posted on March 1, 2011 at 2:15pm

    The link below is a list of published in The Miami New Timew with every Miami Dade County employee who topped six figures in salary during the last fiscal year. “There’s 3,301 names on this badboy — more than ten percent of the whole county workforce. Click through for the whole search-able document. Unsurprisingly, Miami Dade cops and firefighters top the list in quantity: Around 850 employees in the police force topped $100,000, while fire and rescue has about 600 six-figure earners.
    The highest paid folks are the attorneys in County Hall, topped by Robert Cuevas Jr’s $358,856 in pay, while County Manager George Burgess is the top dog overall, with $422,118.22 in compensation, including $92,943 in executive benefits.
    Alvarez, the target of billionaire Norman Braman’s recall, earned $315,462.39, with $80,258.87 in executive benefits.And, as starving journalists, we have to give a special shout-out to Matt Pinzur, the one-time Miami Herald scribe who jumped ship to work for Burgess and now makes $119,488.50. Well played! Here’s the full list (which, we should note, we haven’t officially confirmed to be accurate with the County — but which certainly looks legit) “:

    http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/riptide/2010/11/heres_a_list_of_all_3301_miami.php

    Report Post »  
  • silquin11
    Posted on March 1, 2011 at 2:03pm

    In miami dade county it is often two to three times higher.

    Report Post »  
  • Nevermind
    Posted on March 1, 2011 at 2:01pm

    You can look at this form the point of view that public workers earn more and there is something wrong with that. You can also look at it form the point of view of private companies have gotten a ton of tax breaks since 2000 and still dont pay a good wage to their employees. When corporate profits are soaring and you see private sector workers not being compensated I see a problem wiht that. So the people only at the top in private sectors seem to do well while those that work for them still dont get wage increases. Its acually a good selling point to be in a union and to have collective bargaining. Wihtout it it shows that private sector companies will not pay a good wage to those that do the work.

    Good old Reaganonics. The rich get rich and the poor get poorer. Its called trickle down, not pour down for a reason. Let the CEO’s get all the profits and trickle some meager wages to those beneath them.

    Report Post »  
    • 338lapua
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 3:25pm

      You are truly…..truly…blind.

      Report Post »  
    • mickey16
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 4:09pm

      @nevermind
      It’s not rocket science. A business hires the workers that will do the job for the least amount. If some non-union workers will do the work for less than union labor, they will be hired – especially if it’s work that Americans wont do. If all local workers are to expensive, the business will relocate – sometimes overseas. As long as someone will do the job for less – they will be the ones employed. Welcome to the global economy. Think about it. Business works like most households – when you have to hire someone (plumber, electrician, ect.) you hire the person that can do the job for the least amount. The same applies then making purchases. When was the last time you bought a new car and told a dealership ” I can get the exact same car for $3000 more across town, so why would I want to buy one from you?”

      Report Post »  
    • Blackhawk1
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 4:15pm

      Nevermind

      So who is holding you back from becoming a CEO? YOU ARE!

      Report Post » Blackhawk1  
    • VRW Conspirator
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 5:23pm

      My brother works for one of those big tech firms…in fact, biggest in the US. He has been in the same job for 18 years now. He has survived 2 buy outs by other firms, half a dozen lay offs, and was forced to choose between moving to Dallas to keep his job or getting another job about 8 years ago.
      Each time there was a merger or lay-off, the company got stronger, his salary increased as did his work load and responsiblity, and his stock options and year end bonus went up.
      So Nevermind…your theory doesn’t hold water in the REAL Private sector world.
      His company was a small tech firm that specialized in HD control boards and chips. They got bought out by a bigger firm from oversees. That firm eventually sold them to the biggest chip manufacturer in the country and one of the biggest in the world.
      Sure he had to move to Dallas to keep his job, but in an engineering world, where the average engineer changes company 5-6 times over his 40 year career, my brother has managed to keep the same job. His stock from the original company has been transferred and transferred again into the most recent company. He has been allowed to keep his salary, even after the move to Dallas, when the California salary for the job he know does in Dallas was actually quite a bit higher. So he came into a company with more security, higher salary, and more retirement then people who had worked the same years in Dallas.
      That doesn‘t sound like just the CEO’s getting their money. It sounds like survival of the fittest..you know that evolution theory you liberal commies love so much. He was one of the better employees each layoff or merger and he advanced up the corporate structure. That is how the private sector works. Not just sit around and survive getting fired for being a average employee until you have enough years built up that the Union will protect you no matter what from getting fired. Then retire and get pay and benefits for life as you sit around after your required number of years to get retirement.
      Excel…
      Be better each year…
      Advance yourself and your company…
      Be rewarded for it…
      that is the Private Sector and BTW…the BIBLICAL definition of compensation… IF YOU DON”T WORK, YOU DON”T EAT….

      Report Post » VRW Conspirator  
  • dirtypolitics
    Posted on March 1, 2011 at 1:51pm

    Gov Walker as accomplished a lot…he has shone a light on GREED.

    He has also shown an unholy alliance between the Unions and the politicians. We should stop this relationship regardless of whether the politician is a Republican or Democrats.

    Report Post »  
  • aragona
    Posted on March 1, 2011 at 1:50pm

    I’m a Colorado state worker (non-union though the SEIU has a union organizing – ColoradoWINS – right now that I hope the Rep. led house can get rid of before it gets a good foothold). I knew I didn’t make more than my private counterparts … and I was right. I don’t. :)

    I also pay significants portions of my health care and pension which is how it should be.

    Report Post »  
    • OneFunR6
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 2:39pm

      EVERYONE MUST WORK or PAY FOR what they RECEIVE.

      NO exceptions.

      All else IS THEFT.

      [of other's earnings]

      Report Post » OneFunR6  
  • chickenfried
    Posted on March 1, 2011 at 1:45pm

    Wouldn’t it be gee-golly neat-o if people earned what they are worth? What about paying for performance…that would be the bees knees Daddyo.

    Sometimes I feel like I’m living in the past with these old school ideas. Everyone knows that the progressive way of sucking the payroll for all its worth is how we roll these days. Forget about honest wages for a good day’s work…we need 15 breaks, 2 spotters, a brakeman, and 6 ladder holders just to change a lightbulb. Be profitable….fuggetaboudit.

    Report Post » chickenfried  
    • dawg of gawd
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 8:35pm

      But then none of the posters here at The Blaze could afford a computer.

      Report Post » dawg of gawd  
  • Arc
    Posted on March 1, 2011 at 1:38pm

    The Unions across the nation fail to comprehend the severity of the situation. Apparently they are more interested in“feathering their own nest” and there is nothing wrong with that. Whats wrong is, there’s a hole in the states coffers and instead of attempting to repair the holes, the unions continue to want the state to put more money in the coffers of the unions at the expense of the taxpayer.
    Some will call it the “right to collective bargaining” while others will call it,” screw the American taxpayer.” While the argument will rage on for days, the patience of the taxpayer I fear will dry up.
    Should this become a “class struggle” the losers will not go quietly.

    Report Post » Arc  
  • ENTITLEMENTSBLOW
    Posted on March 1, 2011 at 1:37pm

    Its all about the Entitlements and they sure do Blow!

    Report Post » ENTITLEMENTSBLOW  
    • sleazyhippo
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 6:09pm

      Please explain, “Entitlements” — what are you talking about? Some of us get Social Security after working 40 years in the system. Some of us have Veterans Administration health services that we earned by honorable military service, and some of us have disability payments after being severely injured. Some of us are retired and get pensions. Some of us were born into dynasties and have trust funds. Are these entitlements? Are they OK with you?

      Report Post » MONICNE  
  • UlyssesP
    Posted on March 1, 2011 at 1:36pm

    Union members are dupes at this point. Dupes or socialist elitist ruling class wanna-be’s.
    This cannot be denied. You are either a dupe in a public union with your head up your azzz or you explicitly want to be in a special elite ruling class. Maybe a politburo type thingy. Yep babies. Y’all suck now. Your gonna cry soon.

    Report Post » UlyssesP  
  • Susan Harkins
    Posted on March 1, 2011 at 1:30pm

    DESTROY THE COMMUNIST INFILTRATION…

    …shrink the public unions, stifle the union dues, and starve the Communists of funds.

    DEFUND THE BEAST and it will die.

    Report Post » Susan Harkins  
    • OneFunR6
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 2:36pm

      One cannot ‘kill’ an idea or concept,…

      except by EDUCATION…….

      “Thanks, Glenn!”

      Report Post » OneFunR6  
    • Katayno
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 6:01pm

      ditto

      Report Post »  
  • matt708
    Posted on March 1, 2011 at 1:30pm

    don’t believe any polls which say the population thinks Unions are great or the members are underpaid, it’s union and dem propoganda. None of it is true

    Report Post »  
  • davy440
    Posted on March 1, 2011 at 1:29pm

    As i have stated before, the public sector should not have been aloud to unionize. they are a threat to our economic security.

    Report Post »  
    • SheriS
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 2:14pm

      Well said! The real problem is revealed by the school’s SOL results which is concrete evidence of what unionized teachers are costing the American public as our children are bordering on uneducated! This is very sad and the real problem is the results reveal a continuous downward chart since the unions were allowed in schools!

      Report Post »  
  • mtnclimberjim
    Posted on March 1, 2011 at 1:28pm

    Have I mentioned how much I hate unions and those who support them. The revolution to take back America cometh.

    Report Post » mtnclimberjim  
    • OneFunR6
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 2:05pm

      “The revolution to take back America cometh.”

      BECAUSE,……

      ‘They’ will NOT go away,… ‘PEACEABLY’

      Report Post » OneFunR6  
  • Susan Harkins
    Posted on March 1, 2011 at 1:28pm

    “As pro-union protesters erupt across the country, USA Today just released analysis that may cause a backlash against public unions.”

    Naw, the ‘backlash’ already exists — with Communists more than with public union members (but with both, nonetheless). Union Bosses are fronts for the Communist party. The union members are “useful paying idiots”. Thus, we have a problem with them as well.

    Report Post » Susan Harkins  
    • godfather
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 3:30pm

      Although you may not like unions or collective bargaining agreements, the majority of Americans are in favor of collective bargaining agreements. Also, most do not favor cutting public workers’ pay to reduce the deficit. Furthermore, the majority of people think that public workers’ pay is fair. Why then are governors, such as the one in Wisconsin, seeking to pass laws that the American people do not want?

      Also, based on your reasoning that unions are just communist fronts, I take it that you believe over half of this country is communist.

      http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/01/us/01poll.html?src=me&ref=general

      Report Post »  
    • Anonymous T. Irrelevant
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 3:41pm

      @GODFATHER
      You are citing union favored statistics from the NY Times? What the?

      Report Post » Anonymous T. Irrelevant  
    • Blackhawk1
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 3:48pm

      godfather

      Ah yes recite the flawed poll of the New York Times, the only paper Liberals read to get their daily talking points. Did you read page 17 where they state that most of the people polled either know a union worker or have one living in the home? Didn’t think so!

      Report Post » Blackhawk1  
    • godfather
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 3:51pm

      @Anonymous T. Irrelevant

      I know it’s easier to just point out a disagreement with the sources rather than the actual information, none of which you refuted (or is it refudiate?). However, here is the same information from the source this article is citing.

      http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2011-02-22-poll-public-unions-wisconsin_N.htm

      Report Post »  
    • Blackhawk1
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 4:12pm

      Posted this in the wrong reply. Here you go Godfather.

      Now lets take a look at the numbers in the Poll.

      71% oppose increasing sales, income or other taxes while 27% are in favor that approach. So we can’t raise taxes to make up the shortfall.

      53% oppose reducing pay or benefits for government workers while 44% are in favor. Let’s not takeaway benefits that only Public workers enjoy overall. In other words let’s keep deficit spending.

      48% opposed reducing or eliminating government programs while 47% were in favor of cuts. Let’s not take away any of the government handouts.

      Looks to me like the Poll points out that they picked a bunch of clueless people who have no answers on how to balance the budget. The first question the pollsters must have asked is DO YOU RECEIVE ANY GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE and if they did they were included in the Poll.

      Report Post » Blackhawk1  
    • VRW Conspirator
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 5:11pm

      I yearn for the good old days when the Union Bosses were just shills for or outright members of the Mafia families. Now they are taken over by Socialist, Communists, and Marxist.
      How did the Mafia fall? Where are all the Guido Wiseguys out there protecting the Unions for the Pinko’s and the Commies…
      It is a sad day in America when even the Mafia has sold out to the Communists….sad sad…where is Hoffa when you need him…?

      Report Post » VRW Conspirator  
    • Katayno
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 5:58pm

      Godfather….Most everyone’s favorite Pres. FDR, didn’t think the Public (Gov) Unions should have
      collective bargaining……now sit for a while and ponder….on why….he said that……!.

      Report Post »  
    • dawg of gawd
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 8:56pm

      blackdove1 – “Most of the people know a union worker or have one in the house” . . don‘t you think that’s pretty much everybody in America?

      No worries, next time we do a poll about the Tea Party, we’ll just remove any conservatives from the pool. I like your methodology.

      Report Post » dawg of gawd  
  • GENZERO
    Posted on March 1, 2011 at 1:27pm

    Talk about mayhem…I’m a public employee and oopsee!

    Report Post » GENZERO  
    • Showtime
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 1:52pm

      I used to be a state employee, left to go sailing, then went back as a temporary and paid into the retirement system. That was in the 1980s.

      My son emailed me yesterday that I had gotten some mail from the state, so I called them. Come to find out, the money I’d paid into the retirement system has been earning interest for a quarter of a century! They are going to send me a check!

      Report Post » Showtime  
    • 13th Imam
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 1:57pm

      Showtime
      Time for a bigger sailboat.

      Report Post » 13th Imam  
    • GENZERO
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 4:14pm

      Sarcasm…FYI I am not a state employee.

      Report Post » GENZERO  
    • sleazyhippo
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 5:59pm

      Showtime I am glad that it worked out that way! What a great system, and ethical, too! Cheers!

      Report Post » MONICNE  
  • Steve Martin
    Posted on March 1, 2011 at 1:26pm

    We need to slow down these unions

    Report Post » Steve Martin  
    • ConstitutionalPatriot
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 2:14pm

      Nope, the Marxist’s are pushing them in these strikes and rallies, they either wake up… Get on ‘America’s’ team…Or get out!! I was union before I woke up. My father and grandfather were as well.

      Report Post » ConstitutionalPatriot  
    • Clive
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 3:50pm

      A unionized public employee, a tea partier, and a CEO are sitting at a table. In the middle of the table there is a plate with a dozen cookies on it. The CEO reaches across and takes 11 cookies, looks at the tea partier and says, “Look out for that union guy – he wants a piece of your cookie.”

      Report Post »  
  • Showtime
    Posted on March 1, 2011 at 1:26pm

    There’s a poll going around (NewsMax, I think) asking if people think the union workers are making too much, about the same, or not being paid enough. Surprising number said “Not paid enough” but were in tiny minority.

    Report Post » Showtime  
    • ConstitutionalPatriot
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 2:11pm

      Why are you surprised that union members would go to Newsmax and vote ;)

      Report Post » ConstitutionalPatriot  
    • WHITE LOTUS2x
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 4:01pm

      baik: In response to one of your posts, if your parents aree good and fair people, maybe you should sit down and with them at the tv. On the other comment I dont think that people that are against the unions are jeaulous of their wages but are irate about the fact that our country is suffering and these people seem not to care, they dont want to give an inch. This is insulting to the hundreds of thousand people that have lost their jobs and finacial aid has run out or soon will, and also the people that have lost their homes while others have not, and perhaps should have. Not to mention how many ways thay have of beating the goverment leaving the taxpayer holding the bag. Their should be a grand jury forcing all finacial records of the unions. Let them prove how good they are or arnt. Maybe what I think is a big crock but maybe not. Are you not watching the union protesters on tv. They are not at work and my guess is that they are getting paid. In the real world you dont work, you dont get paid. If you dont show up for work you dont have a job. Sit down with your mom and dad and watch tv with them and you can learn something.

      Report Post »  
    • HUNITHUNIT
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 5:14pm

      When were talking about salaries, averages mean absolutely nothing. Learn a little about statistics before you try to use them (incorrectly).

      Report Post »  
    • firstlast
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 7:27pm

      So lemme get this straight….you’re endorsing wall street in the name of capitalism, but you’re trying to lower the wages of teachers making an average of $50,000 a year in protest of socialism?

      Report Post »  
  • Showtime
    Posted on March 1, 2011 at 1:23pm

    And we didn’t already know this?

    Report Post » Showtime  
    • Rogue
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 1:31pm

      uh oh.. if the progressives want to bash the rich and the privileged at every turn, they may be in a pickle now. D@MN you, pesky facts!!!

      Report Post » Rogue  
    • Ironmaan
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 1:35pm

      That’s what happens when you elect the people you negotiate with. You get a nice payday at the expense of the tax payer.
      http://guerillatics.com

      Report Post »  
    • cnsrvtvj
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 1:36pm

      Exactly Showtime, and you’ll notice that California leads the pack in rising costs. Hardly a surprise there. I‘m sure there’s no relationship between that and the fiscal health of the state (he says while rolling his eyes).

      http://www.donsmithshow.com – see the Society in Decline video

      Report Post » cnsrvtvj  
    • SavingtheRepublic.com
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 1:40pm

      ^ click it ^
      We do, those who are protesting apparently do not know?!?!

      Whats happened in WI is going to take place in these 41 states if those states attempt legislation to do similar WI union cutbacks. Worst part about all this is public union members do not understand taxpayers foot this bill for their pensions. Its clear at this point with the rants and ramblings we have seen. They play the blame game of course blaming the rich but I have now noticed signs saying its Wall St’s fault or a human right? Wall St has nothing to do with this, and last time I checked there is nothing in the Constitution about unions, let alone unions having any kind of human right as the Bill of Rights re-affirms. Its the union heads through those in state govt they lobby through making promises they cannot keep.

      Someone needs to find the clip of Beck going over the firemen pension plan and how many it takes to pay for just one. Its unsustainable, and if you look at it without it being firemen or whatever it looks like typical pyramid scheme we all get junk mails about on how to et rich!

      The protesters all go on and on about equality yet they are making more than their private sector equivalent! Now that you have states wanting to pullback to make things equal they lash out. Im curious to know how many are democrat too? This is something I dont think anyone has picked up on, and it would be interesting to see where many stand politically. The country has changed, we are broke, time has come to lose public unions…
      SavingtheRepublic.com

      Report Post » SavingtheRepublic.com  
    • banjarmon
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 1:41pm

      The Tea Party Protested for a reason…“Taxes”. If you want to control runaway government, Don’t pay Taxes!! That may upset some (public unions) but We the People are more. They work for us not the other way around.

      Report Post » banjarmon  
    • Blackhawk1
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 1:47pm

      I don’t know what the rest of you think but when did the employer (Taxpayers) become obligated to pay the employees (Public Workers) more than they make?

      Report Post » Blackhawk1  
    • Baikonur
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 1:56pm

      Hello, my first post here. Please know in advance that I disagree with you guys politically and spiritually, but am not a ‘troll’ in the sense that I automatically want to put you down or make fun of you (how do you guys define ‘troll’ by the way?).

      My elderly parents are big fans of Beck, Limbaugh, O’Reilly, and I think it is very sad.

      Report Post » Baikonur  
    • Sinista Mace
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 1:57pm

      This is not a “stubborn” fact, it is an outrageous fact.

      Report Post » V-MAN MACE  
    • GONESURFING
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 1:59pm

      Bust the unions, as they have outlived their usefulness. WE are loosing jobs to China because of unions overpricing our labour costs. And unions are just an arm of the Democrat party, which is bankrupting the country.

      Report Post » GONESURFING  
    • OneFunR6
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 2:01pm

      This headline SHOULD read:

      Stu….PID Fact: Public Employees Paid More Than Private Workers in 41 States

      Facts are simple and facts are straight
      Facts are lazy and facts are late
      Facts all come with points of view
      Facts don’t do what I want them to

      Facts just twist the truth around
      Facts are living turned inside out
      Facts are getting the best of them

      Talking Heads – Crosseyed & Painless Lyrics

      Report Post » OneFunR6  
    • pajamash
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 2:05pm

      Yes, Showtime we did, but it is nice to see hard information in a National Media Syndication.

      Report Post »  
    • Baikonur
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 2:08pm

      Showtime, sorry to keep replying to your post, but I am unsure of how to create my own post. Can you please help me out and tell me how?

      Anyway, I am so suprirsed when reading this site:

      I guess my main question is: how can you guys NOT side with the Union workers in Wisconsin? I thought the Tea Party, which I assume you are members of, stands for the ordinary human being. Here is a parable for what is happening in Wisconsin:

      ‘ A unionized employee, a Tea Party member & a corporate CEO are sitting at a table. In the middle is a plate with a dozen cookies on it. The CEO reaches out & takes 11 of the cookies, then says to the Tea Party member, “look out for that union guy, he wants a piece of your cookie.”

      Don’t you guys see that the Unions are setting the standard of living for the middle class? That they are fighting for a basic standard of living? How can you be jealous that a teacher makes $50,000 a year?

      Baikonur  
    • jdog777
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 2:13pm

      it is not whether we knew this that is news… it is USA Today is actually reporting it. This is a huge step in the right direction.

      Report Post »  
    • npbreakthrough
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 2:13pm

      we need anti-union unions for union members……….

      Report Post » npbreakthrough  
    • Baikonur
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 2:24pm

      Again, I apologize for replying to your post instead of posting my own reply, but I see no button for replying to the article with my own post, although I registered.

      People, how can you let your envy of how much other people make lead you to blindness and hatred? Everyone deserves a living wage, everyone.

      The Council of Bishops stands with the workers:
      http://clericalwhispers.blogspot.com/2011/02/wisconsin-catholic-bishops-urge.html

      Christ himself said that one should pray privately and not trumpet one’s virtue and belief (Mathew 6:6). Bible thumping, American flag waving, invoking the word ‘Patriot’ does not make you truly Christian. Boasting that you have weapons and are ready to use them–even less so.

      Remember the Sermon on the Mount.

      Baikonur  
    • cnsrvtvj
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 2:39pm

      @Baikonur – Actually the union guy would have punched out the Tea Party guy and the CEO because he has a “right” to all the cookies. Just saying.

      Report Post » cnsrvtvj  
    • missionarydad
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 2:46pm

      Time to pluck unions out from the public sector period.

      Report Post »  
    • bccrane
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 2:47pm

      @BAIKONUR
      Welcome to the Blaze, must be getting boring at Newsvine.com since it has pretty much become preaching to the liberal choir over there. I knew I seen this so called joke about the cookies somewhere else from bondibox, soph####, jade-log or other liberal commentor.

      Report Post »  
    • Ssenkrad
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 2:54pm

      @Baikonur

      Well, I think the definition of a troll that most of us go by on the Blaze is a person who consistently makes obscene and biased comments that are not backed up by facts. Additionally, when confronted with facts, the troll ignores the facts and continues to parrot the same arguement, without acknowledging the truth. Trolls also like to make rude comments about certain groups or individual people, such as calling tea partiers racists or making fun of how dumb Sarah Palin is. (Although some Blazers are certainly guilty of that themselves. But the main difference here is that when we make fun of socialists or union members, what we say is usually true. :D)

      Report Post » Ssenkrad  
    • watchtheotherhand
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 3:04pm

      @ BAIKONUR……………..UUUUmmmmm where do public union employees money come from ????? That’s right the private sector employee who makes less on average than the guy he is subsidizing with his taxes.. All states will have to raise taxes on the “middle class” unless we start making some of these and other cuts……..Unions are mafioso type organizations that keep politicians in office that in turn continue to feed tax dollars to the unions. It is incestuous and corrupt how can you not see that???

      Report Post » SLEAZYHIPPOs ILLEGITIMATE OFFSPRING  
    • CatB
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 3:05pm

      Awww .. yes seems the progressives are protecting the “rich” …. not the “poor” private sector workers (non-union). Once again FACTS getting in the way of the agenda.

      Report Post »  
    • jzs
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 3:06pm

      That “fact” isn’t quite as factual as you might think, and, if you get news other places than here, you’ll get the opinion that the study is flawed because it compares apples to oranges. Here’s an analysis done last year:

      http://www.nirsonline.org/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=395

      Among their conclusions:

      Jobs in the public sector typically require more education than private sector positions. Thus, state and local employees are twice as likely to hold a college degree or higher as compared to private sector employees. Only 23% of private sector employees have completed college as compared to about 48% in the public sector.

      Wages and salaries of state and local employees are lower than those for private sector employees with comparable earnings determinants such as education and work experience. State workers typically earn 11% less and local workers 12% less.

      Report Post » jzs  
    • Anonymous T. Irrelevant
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 3:13pm

      @BAIKONUR
      Welcome. If you want to reply to someone specifically, just do what I did at the top of my post, hit the closest reply button above the poster, otherwise, just hit whatever reply button you find.
      We do not suffer trolls, as they usually just taunt, repeat, and call names. If you honestly want to discuss, we will do that, without name calling. I hope we can teach you some things or show you how we view the world.

      Report Post » Anonymous T. Irrelevant  
    • El Jefe
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 3:16pm

      Facts and statistics are the devil…LOL

      Report Post » El Jefe  
    • watchtheotherhand
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 3:23pm

      @ JZS…….Hey buddy !!! Now you and I have hashed this so called study out about this apples to oranges thing and the myth that public workers get underpaid for their education. The study you cite is the bastard child of 2 very liberal U of Wisconsin professors who we could certainly say have a conflict of interest. This is not a credible or recognized study by any other economic analysis of the current disparity between public and private sector salary/benefit compensations.

      Report Post » SLEAZYHIPPOs ILLEGITIMATE OFFSPRING  
    • Jim S
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 3:35pm

      One Govt. employee “bargains” with another Govt. employee as to salary and benefits. What’s not to love. Is this not a conflict of interest? The higher the “bargaining” the more they pay out to employee’s, the more the Supervisors get. No problem there, nope none at all.

      Report Post »  
    • lylee
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 3:40pm

      banjarmon
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 1:41pm
      The Tea Party Protested for a reason…“Taxes”. If you want to control runaway government, Don’t pay Taxes!! That may upset some (public unions) but We the People are more. They work for us not the other way around.

      I must disagree. The tea party protested because of “spending and borrowing”. And not just any spending, we protested wasteful spending and spending on programs that government has no business supporting. If we can eliminate all wasteful spending then people will become comfortable paying their fair share. I think if we force government to do this, trim all wasteful spending, then we will find that government revenues are about right. The next step then will be the elimination of the income tax replaced with a “fair tax” and an asset tax.

      Report Post »  
    • Clive
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 3:47pm

      poll numbers show americans support the unions on this… also, why do you want to take money away from teachers or cops… why don’t we make the wealthy pay a little more, if we are “all making concessions”, i’d like to see those making over $1,000,000 a year, to pay a little more until we get our feet on the ground.

      Report Post »  
    • reservationless
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 3:50pm

      Unions in the public sector are a complete conflict of interest. There is no competition so there should be not collective bargaining. The benefits should be simple and straight forward, no virtual years, no pension based upon the highest grossing years. etc. Unions for auto workers and folks in the private sector are OK by me. It is in the public sector that the problem has come to a head and the time is now to get away from this corrupt system. It is time for the true workers of America to stand up and break these unions once and for all. There are no public workers that are being exploited, on the contrary they are exploiting the general taxpayer. I pray for my children that WI holds firm and this spreads across the US and especially in CA.

      Report Post »  
    • AzDebi
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 3:50pm

      “For what its worth Mr Obama will win a second term – the election is being decided by the union power right now. Meanwhile Republicans are backing down across the board – terrified of cutting spending, totally messed up in WI – because of WI all other republican governors are watching terrified to do anything to anger unions. Walker threatened layoff – nothing happened – as usual for republicans. Dumb moves – RI played it smart – issued 2000 layoffs and now has the upper hand. Other than that democrats have outmaneuvered republicans/Tea Party members every step of the way. Its turning into a joke. All that was accomplished in November was a changing of the suits from red to pink….I’m so frustrated!”

      Report Post » AzDebi  
    • Blackhawk1
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 3:53pm

      Ah those pesky facts just keep rearing their ugly heads. “According to the Census Bureau, the average New York retiree receiving a corporate or union pension — a retiree from the private sector — was receiving an annual benefit of $13,100 in 2009. For state and local government retirees, that figure was more than twice as high: $27,600. And that average figure includes retirees who were part-time workers or only spent part of their careers in government; full-career retirees often do far better.”

      Report Post » Blackhawk1  
    • Zathras
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 3:54pm

      This is a reply to “Baikonur”

      Your model is assuming that the CEO just grabbed the cookies. Maybe he was given the cookies in exchage for goods and services that the CEO provides. Which was voluntary for the payer. In that case i have no issue with him having HIS 11 COOKIES!!

      Your model also assumes that it took the CEO to make the Tea Party person aware that the union person wanted Tea Party persons cookie. I think the Tea Party person is already aware and is trying like HELL!! to hold on to what is……THEIR DAMN COOKIE!!!

      Report Post »  
    • Blackhawk1
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 4:07pm

      Now lets take a look at the numbers in the Poll.

      71% oppose increasing sales, income or other taxes while 27% are in favor that approach. So we can’t raise taxes to make up the shortfall.

      53% oppose reducing pay or benefits for government workers while 44% are in favor. Let’s not takeaway benefits that only Public workers enjoy overall. In other words let’s keep deficit spending.

      48% opposed reducing or eliminating government programs while 47% were in favor of cuts. Let’s not take away any of the government handouts.

      Looks to me like the Poll points out that they picked a bunch of clueless people who have no answers on how to balance the budget. The first question the pollsters must have asked is DO YOU RECEIVE ANY GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE and if they did they were included in the Poll.

      Report Post » Blackhawk1  
    • Brad Wesselmann
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 4:50pm

      @Baikonur
      “how can you guys NOT side with the Union workers in Wisconsin?”

      The union workers in Wisconsin are not the problem, it is the union leadership and those that are holding up “the people” for more money when they are not contributing to their own retirement, like your parents did. The unfunded pensions are bleeding the state dry just like it is doing in many other states, and the TEA Party (Taxed Enough Already) understand that you cannot spend more than you make and survive.

      ‘ A unionized employee, a Tea Party member & a corporate CEO are sitting at a table. In the middle is a plate with a dozen cookies on it. The CEO reaches out & takes 11 of the cookies, then says to the Tea Party member, “look out for that union guy, he wants a piece of your cookie.”

      The CEO runs the company that manufactured the plate, the cookie and advertised it so people would buy them. The union guy thinks he deserves the 11 cookies and will hold the CEO hostage until he gets them while the company fails….answer this, how many people work for a failed company? None.

      Don’t you guys see that the Unions are setting the standard of living for the middle class? That they are fighting for a basic standard of living? How can you be jealous that a teacher makes $50,000 a year?

      The unions are not setting the standard, they are breaking the bank that the “middle class” has saved and earned through hard work and thrift so they can buy politicians and tell the people whom they serve how they will be served…poorly. I am not jealous that a teacher makes $50K, I’m aggravated that a VERY bad teacher cannot be fired while making $50K…it doesn’t work. Teaching is a vocation of passion and if people wanted to get rich teaching, they should have picked a very lucrative subject to teach that people would pay lots of money to learn. Instead they chose public education and for that they are paid accordingly. I didn’t get into teaching for that very reason; I enjoy it but cannot live the life I prefer while earning a teachers’ salary…that is my choice as it was theirs and I don’t feel like paying them more for THEIR choice. Maybe I will teach as a second career once I have had enough of corporate…again, my choice, but I will have to follow their standards for that choice as well as their pay structure as long as I am of value.

      Without risk there is no reward…go listen to your parents, they seem to understand the bigger picture.

      Report Post » Brad Wesselmann  
    • sleazyhippo
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 4:51pm

      “You’re paying a Cook – $35,000.00? McDonald’s is paying $28,000.00!”
      “Yeah! They need a Associate’s nutrition certificate to start, have to re-certify every 2 years and basically get paid to work alongside felons in a maximum security Prison!”
      “Yeah, but McDonald’s is paying less than Wisconsin does.”
      Well, that‘s because the citizens are paying for McDonald’s burgers without a danger or stress multiplier.”

      Report Post » MONICNE  
    • Uncle Crusty
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 5:27pm

      ya they want to soak the rich with tax hikes, that’ll solve it – until they move away, and there’s no money to tax, then what, lol, pinheads!

      Report Post »  
    • Uncle Crusty
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 5:40pm

      JZS, your numbers are skewed, and that happens when you just look at percentages, instead of real numbers. The reason there is a disparity is that there are MANY more private sector workers, thus the avg would be lower. I dare ya to put the real numbers up?! LOL…

      Report Post »  
    • HUGGINGMYBABIES
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 5:41pm

      NO WAY!!! Really? That’s so um shocking! (rolling eyes) Thos union goons look like they’re fighting for the little working man hey? How about we just take away pensions and tell them that they can enter into profit sharing just like I can at my company. The more services they can put out at less cost the higher their profit sharing. Make them WORK for it like the rest of us.

      Report Post » HUGGINGMYBABIES  
    • JohnAdams4Prez
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 6:25pm

      jeez guys its just a bunch of ones with a hundred on top!

      Report Post » JohnAdams4Prez  
    • UpstateNYConservative
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 6:35pm

      Noticing a trend of disappearing posts, so I’m re-posting about Baikonur’s parable:

      Two players are missing. One is a government agent taking from the plate first. Then a union leader gets a cut from the union man’s cookie. After that, the government agent returns for a double-dip, to take more from the people who were able to get from what the government agent didn’t take the first time around.

      In sum and in the end, only the government is the winner.

      Report Post » UpstateNYConservative  
    • thesource
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 6:50pm

      They need to break the stats down a little. PHD; public vs private. Masters and Bachelor of Science; public vs private. That would be interesting. Governors vs. CEO is another good one.

      Report Post »  
    • lillianrose
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 8:32pm

      @GONESURFING- I agree! The unions don’t care about the people, just dues.
      My husband and I have agreed to buy american, would like to avoid union made products and what a challenge. We are having to be creative and getting back to basics- which is really a good thing. The biggest thing is to not buy made in china.
      I really want to encourage others to please join in this effort to buy american and to let the business community know there is demand for these products. It would be great if usa products would be advertised/displayed to find them better.

      Report Post »  
    • poorfarmer
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 10:13pm

      Notice that it really took off in 2006 when DEMS took over both houses. Guess it was pay back to union s for their vote.

      Report Post » poorfarmer  
    • BoiseBaked
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 10:31pm

      No, we didn’t know this, we’re just paying for it.

      Report Post »  
    • Tarheel Big Easy
      Posted on March 1, 2011 at 11:19pm

      Why not post all public employees wages & benefits online where everything is out in the open. Then see who cry’s foul.

      Report Post »  
    • BlazingInSC
      Posted on March 2, 2011 at 12:10am

      @Baikonur
      Read Ayn Rand – Start with Anthem and then move on to Atlas Shrugged. The unions are one step short of communism (all working for the common and COLLECTIVE good). There is no room for individuality in the union mindset. You are funny. On one hand you talk about how we’re jealous of their wages, and then on the other you say – everyone is entitled to a living wage… so which is it? I can tell you I am living off of my wages – subject to the whims of a free market that either chooses to buy or not buy the product I sell… There’s incentive to be competitive, produce good products, and stay employed. With unions, there’s no incentive to compete (collective bargaining), no incentive to produce quality goods (think American autos), and no incentive to stay employed (they stay employed regardless of the first two failures on their parts).

      Now, you say you aren’t a troll — so let me pose this challenge to you. The bulk of the Blazers do not support what these union thugs are doing – and there are literally hundreds of posts here to substantiate the reasons why we don’t… you go find them for your own gain of knowledge… Since you do support them, perhaps you can explain why you do support them (especially in the public sector where unions make even less sense).

      The religious talk is funny. God advocated for man to be good stewards of the earth, of his neighbors, of nature, of our bodies, etc… What God did NOT advocate for is slavery… and yet, here we sit — the taxpayers of Wisconsin and Indiana being enslaved to the union thuggery and representatives who choose not to represent their constituents. God did not advocate for thievery and yet here we sit — allowing union thugs to collectively bargain with the people they elect (can you say conflict of interest?) while the taxpayers have no seat at the collective bargaining table – and thus, no say in the process or result.

      Welcome to the Blaze. Do yourself a favor and be open to new ideas that you don’t agree with – otherwise, you will quickly find yourself branded with that troll label. Also, if you do have a differing opinion, substantiate your reasoning with facts. Don’t try to convince us you are right by undermining our arguments without facts. Deal?

      Report Post »  
    • avenger
      Posted on March 2, 2011 at 6:09am

      hey lighten up…got to pay your lemming voters to stay loyal to the libs…

      Report Post »  
    • Miguelito
      Posted on March 2, 2011 at 8:02am

      Duh!!!!

      Report Post »  
    • HARDWORKPAYS
      Posted on March 2, 2011 at 11:36am

      In reply to BAIKONUR and the cookie analogy. Start your own cookie company and eat as many as you like! Enough said!

      Report Post » HARDWORKPAYS  
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