The response to our government pay inequity poll has been outstanding, and we’ve added an op/ed piece today looking at some specific examples of the inequity.

Meanwhile, the Coquitlam Now has written an excellent editorial on our poll:

A survey released Tuesday by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation indicates that almost three-quarters of B.C. residents would support provincial legislation - a Compensation Equity Act - to limit pay and benefits for provincial and municipal bureaucrats.

"This is a clear message to politicians - of every stripe and in every jurisdiction - that the time has come to rein-in ever growing pay and benefits for government workers," said Jordan Bateman, the CTF's B.C. director.

"People are tired of digging deeper into their pockets to fund public sector pay increases and gold-plated benefit plans - especially in an economy that leaves them wondering if their own job will continue. It's an unfair and unsustainable burden."

Government employees are paid, on average, 10 per cent more than those doing the same work in the private sector, the CTF says. Total compensation, the group claims, is 30-per-cent higher once benefits are factored in.

The main difference, of course, is pensions. Few private-sector employees have them, and are forced to rely on their own savings, as well as CPP and OAS, to fund retirement.

For those in the public sector, however, a comfortable retirement is all but guaranteed, no matter how many poor financial decisions they make during their working years. And then there are the double dippers: retired government workers who collect a pension while doing contract work for the same employer.

We agree with the CTF that this situation is not sustainable. As fees and taxes of all kinds rise, the middle class is being squeezed.

There are many hard-working government employees who deserve decent pay and benefits. The problem is that many equally hard-working private sector employees are running out of money to fund them. Maybe another reining in - to the gold-plated benefits of politicians - could help make up the difference.