Full disclosure: I'm not a neutral observer; my home state of Michigan has a strong labor history; my graduate work was in Labor Relations; my nephew is a HS English teacher in Wisconsin, and I worked in the public sector for 38+ years.
Interesting paper HERE compares public/private sector costs for Wisconsin public employees. Page 3 includes table showing just wages, but comparisons within paper also include other compensation:
Nationally, 54% of full-time state and local public sector workers hold at least a four-year college degree, compared with 35% of full-time private sector workers. In Wisconsin, the difference is even greater: 59% of full-time Wisconsin public sector workers hold at least a four-year college degree, compared with 30% of full-time private sector workers...Wisconsin state and local governments pay public employees 14.2% lower annual wages than comparable private sector employees. On an hourly basis, they earn 10.7% less in wages. College-educated employees earn on average 28 percent less in wages and 25% less in total compensation in the public sector than in the private sector.
Now, about my "greedy" nephew and his family. I can't imagine:
- Trying to keep 20 HS kids interested in English and literature on a daily basis or
- Teaching night school several days a week.
- Raising three kids on the 40k'ish salary of a teacher.
I am sure there are days when my nephew wonders whether the effort to get his Master's degree was worth it, whether the only public service that he will ever get any respect for is his service in Afghanistan; and whether he can keep his family healthy, food on the table, and a roof over their heads.
If your looking to do a "shout out" just to express solidarity with an individual public sector family in Wisconsin, you can find my nephew and his wife on Facebook; look for Jaime Krym and Tricia Krym. [They don't know I am doing this post].
Originally created and posted on the Oregon Housing Blog.
I like this post, Tom.
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