Public Sector Pensions - Are they really so bad?

Turnbull2000

A poster on another forum defened public sector pensions by stating his mother retired from the NHS on a meagre £14,500. When I pointed out that to retire at 60 on this sum, all fully index linked, would require a fund of half a millions pounds or more, he didn't respond.

Really2

Graham_Devon wrote: »

And the public sector has outsourced most of the menial jobs, even down to bin collections, to the private sector.

So are those jobs now better paid than they were?

Wookster

lemonjelly wrote: »

Relevance?

Private sector wages are considerably more generous than public sector.

Not sure I'd go that far:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-13329634

http://www.thesyndicalist.org.uk/public-v-private-sector-pay-the-figures-dont-add-up/

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/economics/7835366/Public-sector-pay-conditions-outstrip-private-sector-report-says.html

grizzly1911

Really2 wrote: »

So are those jobs now better paid than they were?

Doubt it - that doesn't necessarily make the principle right because at the end of the day it only delays the inevitable that we all end up picking up the pieces. Either through pension/benefit top up in the future and benefit top up in the interim.

Similarly Student fee increase don't really help they just postpone and ring fence the pain. We will all end up picking up the right offs in 30 years time (well I probably won't) and we also lose the tax on the on the higher rate and disposable income through VAT/Duty.

All just hiding the fact that we have been going steadily broke over the last 30/40 years. Not bankrupt yet just in IVA land.

Wookster

Graham_Devon wrote: »

The national statistics are quite flawed.

As has already been stated, you don't get police, teachers, MPs etc in the private sector.

And the public sector has outsourced most of the menial jobs, even down to bin collections, to the private sector.

Notwithstanding, refuse collection men are paid £35k in Birmingham :eek:

Really2

grizzly1911 wrote: »

Doubt it - that doesn't necessarily make the principle right because at the end of the day it only delays the inevitable that we all end up picking up the pieces.

So on a like for like basis those jobs are worse paid than the public sector.

Does that not go against the argument?

Old_Slaphead

Graham_Devon wrote: »

The national statistics are quite flawed.

As has already been stated, you don't get police, teachers, MPs etc in the private sector.

And the public sector has outsourced most of the menial jobs, even down to bin collections, to the private sector.

But we are always told how impoverished the public sector are - you seem to agree that is now not the case.

Ten or 20 years ago the public sector average was less. That was used as justification for the excellent pensions.

Why should police, teachers, doctors etc still get extremely generous pensions when they are now paid well.

Graham_Devon

grizzly1911 wrote: »

Whitehall mandarins weren't really the focus of my thread, just mortals.

Exactly.

Don't see anyone going around suggesting the private sector receive absolutely collosal amounts of money....look at premiership football players.

Maybe I should have said 98% of public sector workers (i.e. normal everyday workers) do not get bonuses. But then I'd have been picked up and asked to prove the 98%

Thankfully, most catch the drift!

Kohoutek

Graham_Devon wrote: »

Maybe I should have said 98% of public sector workers (i.e. normal everyday workers) do not get bonuses.

Is a refuse collector not a normal everyday worker to you?

Graham_Devon

Old_Slaphead wrote: »

But we are always told how impoverished the public sector are - you seem to agree that is now not the case.

I've never said the public sector is impoverished. You've just claimed I have said that.

Therefore, yes I agree, they are not impoverished.

All I'm here for, is to try and explain the "all public sector workers are lazy" etc posts. Not that I believe anyone saying it truly cares about any of the reasons they may be seen as lazy.