Study: Public Worker Compensation Outpaces Private Sector

In the midst of Ohio's battle over the collective bargaining rights of public employees, a new study suggests the total compensation of public employees far outpaces their private-sector counterparts. The study from the Ohio Business Roundtable finds that while wages for public employees are slightly less, total compensation including wages, benefits and "job security" for public employees is 43 percent greater than that of private workers. The study gives more ammunition to supporters of Issue 2, the fall referendum where a "yes" vote means a vote in support of Senate Bill 5. The measure passed earlier this year cuts the collective bargaining rights of public employees, bars them from striking, and requires they pay at least 15 percent of health care premiums.