From the Asbury Park Press:
Majority: Trim benefits of state workers
A majority of New Jersey taxpayers says government employees should have retirement plans and health benefits that mirror those of private industry, according to a Monmouth University/Gannett New Jersey newspaper poll.
Lifetime pensions and nearly free health benefits should become a relic of the past, at least for new government employees, according to the poll released today.
The state’s employee benefits program, the second largest in the nation, covers more than 800,000 workers and retirees at a cost of $8.4 billion a year.
The poll results come as a special legislative panel prepares to release a final report this week on how to reform New Jersey’s employee benefits program.
…
“People support these measures, and they support these measures regardless of the savings they produce,” said Patrick Murray, director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute. “It’s not about saving money to the taxpayers, it’s about cleaning up government and sound fiscal management.”Helen Polin, 71, of Holmdel, said there is no reason why public employees should have enhanced retirement and health benefits, “particularly when it impacts the tax structure. I feel the collective populace is being penalized through those taxes in order to provide all those generous benefits that they cannot get themselves.”
Amen.
Public sector jobs were traditionally viewed as low paying, but as a tradeoff you got job security, excellent benefits and cushy hours (i.e. lots of holidays and no uncompensated overtime). The problem is that salaries have caught up to the private sector, but the benefits have not been readjusted.
For example, a cop in Bergen County making $100k will get overtime for working 1 minute past 35 hours a week. Who in the private sector making $100k only works a 35-hour week and is eligible for overtime?