December 14, 2009 9:13AM # Pampered European Bureaucrats Threaten Strike By [Daniel J. Mitchell](https://www.cato.org/people/daniel-mitchell) --- SHARE There’s been a lot of [attention](https://www.cato.org/2009/12/11/federal-salaries-explode/) given to overpaid government workers in America, as many people have [documented](http://reason.com/blog/2009/12/11/the-class-war-public-employees), but the problem is global. Bureaucrats who work for the European Union get lavish pay and benefits, yet are threatening to strike because of a proposed pay freeze. These mandarins already pay reduced taxes, get a host of special allowances, and even have the gall to [demand free travel](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/eu/6665817/EU-bureaucrats-to-receive-recession-proof-pay-rise.html) on public transport. Interestingly, as this [story](http://www.euractiv.com/en/pa/eu-staff-consider-strike-pay-freeze/article-188227) for Eurac​tiv​.com indicates, they apparently realize they have privileged positions and are worried that the current controversy may spark some resentment from over-burdened taxpayers: > Staff at the European institutions are preparing to go on strike next week in a bitter pay dispute sparked by national governments’ decision to block a routine salary increase for EU civil servants. Civil service staff are due to receive a 3.7% pay hike… There is widespread acceptance that the pay rise is legally binding but other options are currently under consideration – much to the chagrin of unions. Diplomatic sources indicated it may be possible to proceed with the 3.7% pay rise, but to initiate a parallel move which would effectively negate the increase. This could include increasing the so-called ‘crisis levy’, which allows European civil servants to be taxed in exceptional circumstances. …Diplomats said some EU civil servants are concerned that the dispute could open a can of worms if the spotlight is turned on their generous pay and benefits, including the permanent repatriation allowance paid to civil servants – even if they have been in Brussels for 30 years. ##### Related Tags [Government and Politics](https://www.cato.org/government-politics) [![Creative Commons License](/build/cato_2020/images/creative-commons.svg)](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/) This work is licensed under a [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/).