I agree that government spending is out of control and needs to be reined in, but how does an increase in public sector salaries and benefits lead to a decrease in private sector salaries and benefits? It might encourage more people to choose public sector over private sector jobs. In which case the private sector will have to raise salaries and benefits to attract top talent or even middling talent.
Public sector employees don't produce anything that actually brings in the money to pay their salaries, benefits and pensions.
That money comes from the efforts of private sector employees. So, besides paying for their own mortgages, food, clothing, etc., a portion of their incomes go to pay for public employees mortgages, food, clothing, etc.
And then, here's the kicker, when a government employee retires and starts collecting his or her pension, the private sector now has to pay for that person's retirement AND the salary and benefits for his or her replacement.
For instance, here in our little NorCal (aka The State of Jefferson) hamlet, we are not only paying for the current salary and benefits of our sheriff, we are paying for the generous pensions of 4 past sheriffs.
And that's just one position. Multiply that by the thousands of other government positions in local, state and federal government and you'll begin to see the problem.
And that doesn't even take into consideration the expense of building and maintaining beautiful government buildings, vehicles and landscaping.
All of those expenses come out of the pockets of those engaging in private, free enterprise sector.