They pay how much to a lifeguard?

[Texas Proud]

Yes, yes, yes..... I know this is going to get the pig faster than I want, so let's not try and bash all gvmt workers or take this as we want to throw all gvmt workers pensions out the door...

(why do they bring Porky so quickly now... heck, some threads have not even started before he come )


But, saw this article and said this is another example of wasteful gvmt... At least the union recognizes the problem and is trying to get it fixed with minimul damage to the employees...



Lifeguards' high pay riles Calif. beach city - Yahoo! News

[Rustic23]

This is another case of 'I don't fault the people getting the money, I do fault the people paying it!'

[Webzter]

One big data point that jumps out at me from that article is that top pay is for the managers and we're not talking about the kids working summer jobs.

Personally, I'm all for transparent local government (like it'd be nice to see an itemized sheet online that tells you what percentage of your taxes fund which services). I'm also all for merit-based pay. In my fantasy world, if beach safety was really important to me and I wanted to make sure that my city had the best beaches in the world, then I would vote for politicians who agreed with me... and, who's to say $100k is enough to get the absolute best life guards available? (ex-SEALs might have more lucrative offers elsewhere, dive-certified paramedics go for way more, etc)

[unclemick]

They are worth every penny and you know it. After all it is California.

heh heh heh - Tell that winning Engineer in the article to suit up and we'll put him through some real phys ed. Trust me engineers can be a real pain in the butt. I were one in ancient times and had to work with them.

[Rustic23]

The number that popped out for me was $58,000 starting pay!

[Patrick]

You get what you pay for.

[haha]

California beach lifeguards are an elite, highly trained and highly competent group doing a really hard job, trying to keep tourists, drunks, and every kind of idiot from drowning in heavy surf and tricky conditions.

They deserve this pay.

Ha

[Texas Proud]

I am more in line with the suggestion of the taxpayer who said put up a sign that says swim at your own risk....


Here in Texas there are not lifeguards at most of the beaches.... I did not say all since there might be someplace that have them, but I have never been on a beach with one...


But, I do agree that it is the people who pay these salaries that are the problem... but we all know that they do what they need to get re-elected.... as I said earlier, I am glad they recognize they need to change it up a bit..

[TromboneAl]

This one makes even more:

[Bestwifeever]

And I was just going to post something about Baywatch, Al!

It's salaries, benefits, and overtime, and they're in a union (who knew there was a lifeguards union?). Per the article, the top pay w/o benefits calculated in is $108,492.

Best summer job I ever had, even at $60 week for 60 hours work back in the day.

[Webzter]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bestwifeever It's salaries, benefits, and overtime, and they're in a union (who knew there was a lifeguards union?).

In that city they fall under the fire department as another emergency service and so my guess is that they're part of the fireman's union.

[Mulligan]

The salary sounds crazy, but at least they are doing something for it. The adult "baby" who wears diapers and sleeps in a crib drawing SS, mentioned in a recent thread, along with the 2 million dollar lottery winner in Michigan that still gets to draw food stamps ticks me off more, for some reason.

[ziggy29]

Quote:

Originally Posted by haha California beach lifeguards are an elite, highly trained and highly competent group doing a really hard job, trying to keep tourists, drunks, and every kind of idiot from drowning in heavy surf and tricky conditions. They deserve this pay.

They'd deserve it even more if the drunks and idiots were billed for the full cost of their rescues.

[Mulligan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Texas Proud I am more in line with the suggestion of the taxpayer who said put up a sign that says swim at your own risk.... Here in Texas there are not lifeguards at most of the beaches.... I did not say all since there might be someplace that have them, but I have never been on a beach with one... But, I do agree that it is the people who pay these salaries that are the problem... but we all know that they do what they need to get re-elected.... as I said earlier, I am glad they recognize they need to change it up a bit..

How about a compromise to the situation... Put up a sign that says... "Caution swim at your own risk. Teenage lifeguards on duty making minimum wage easily distracted by texting on their phone"

[haha]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mulligan How about a compromise to the situation... Put up a sign that says... "Caution swim at your own risk. Teenage lifeguards on duty making minimum wage easily distracted by texting on their phone"

I've been a lifeguard at pools, and at lakes. They each have their challenges.

But when I moved to Venice Beach and started going around to different beaches I thought man, am I ever glad that I am not a lifeguard here. The water is cold, surf can be big, currents can be tricky, on and on. If any municipal or county government job job is worth $100k, this is one. Plus they are fully professional, no messing around that I ever saw and I was at the beach almost every day.

Ha

[SunsetSail]

Quote:

Originally Posted by haha I've been a lifeguard at pools, and at lakes. They each have their challenges. But when I moved to Venice Beach and started going around to different beaches I thought man, am I ever glad that I am not a lifeguard here. The water is cold, surf can be big, currents can be tricky, on and on. If any municipal or county government job job is worth $100k, this is one. Plus they are fully professional, no messing around that I ever saw and I was at the beach almost every day. Ha

I'm a former pool lifeguard as well. I've also spent a significant amount of time at Newport's various beaches. There is a particular break there called 'The Wedge'. It requires the lifeguards to rescue people almost daily in the summer at some risk to themselves even if well trained given the huge crowds at these beaches. The lifeguards in Newport do not have the same job as those elsewhere - more like fireman or traditional rescue personnel than the stereotypical lifeguard that may spend most days sitting in a tower.

There is a huge amount of undeserved excess salary in governments. This is likely an exception in my opinion.

[Webzter]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TromboneAl This one makes even more:

When someone has enough positive buoyancy to be an emergency life raft to multiple stranded swimmers, it might demand extra pay....

[GregLee]

Did we turn socialist all of a sudden when I wasn't looking? Do we take a vote or appoint a committee to decide how much a job is worth? If lifeguards are being paid more than market rate, that's too much. Otherwise, it's not.

[Rustic23]

I have friends that put their life at danger almost every day. The dangers of their job is almost unlimited. Yet I don't know of a single Lt. or Sgt. that makes that kind of money!

[Rustic23]

GregLee,
No we didn't, however, one of the things that seems to be coming out in CA. is the salaries public officials are taking and paying to others. It would not surprise me to see the municipality try to lower those salaries.