Teachers' generous sick leave benefits far outstrip what private sector provides employees

"There is clearly a double standard, in which public sector benefits are out of line with what's available in the private sector," said Michael Widmer, president of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, a nonpartisan public policy organization. "It's a divide in cities and towns because the public, most of whom work in the private sector — the voters — are being asked to support and pay for benefits they've long since lost or never had."