You are:

Sloppy journalism

23 February 2010

Radio 4's Today programme claims that that public sector workers are seven percent better paid than those in the private sector.

The Today programme no doubt prides itself as being a cut above the popular press but when it comes to public sector pay comparisons it is no better than the rest of the media in getting its facts wrong.

In an interview on 15 February, it was put to Brendan Barber of the TUC that according to Office For National Statistics figures, public sector average pay was seven per cent higher than that in the private sector.

As is so often the case they are not comparing like with like.

The private sector encompasses the millions of workers on, and just above, the minimum wage up to the select few bankers on multi million pound salaries. On the other hand there are relatively few staff in the public sector on or near the minimum wage; partly because a lot of this low paid work e.g. cleaning, security work etc was privatised in the past and partly because there are unions across the entire public sector.

As a result the average pay in the public sector will be higher. Now this is not the first time we have been told that we well off in comparison to the private sector; nor will it be the last. Certain groups are trying to mislead the public either because they want to cut our jobs for ideological reasons or they want our work transferred to the private sector so that they can make money off it.

The Union will keep telling the truth.

 

 

View all News