Why should they get anymore than people in the private sector for a similar task is my point.
There is always a premium to be paid for public services. That's whether it is delivered directly by public servants or contracted out to private provision.
Your point is that the drivers for the private operators are not earning as much as Dublin Bus or Bus Eireann drivers. That's not empirically because the state providers are paying the drivers too much. It might just as easily be because the private providers are paying too little and keeping the lions share of the profits for themselves. Remember, it is the profitable routes that attract private operators, not the unprofitable ones. In that regard The state is subsidising those independent operators as much as they are the semi state providers.
It's no secret that public transport is costing the state more now in the UK then before privatisation. is the service better? I don't know but speaking specifically about Ireland and having commuted to work from North County Dublin to the City on both Irish Rail and Bus Eireann for as long as I can remember, my experience is that, given the infrastructure available to operational staff in those companies, I think they do a tremendous job. Rural people may have a different experience.
Not withstanding all this, I personally am not against the principle of the state partnering with private provision in the transport area. I am against privatisation. A partnership arrangement with strict regulations, including prevention of the exploitation of workers, might be equitable. It would not be straightforward and definitely should not be introduced to the detriment of state employees who signed up to serve the public, in good faith, on agreed terms.
Full disclosure here - I am a public servant ( not in transport sector)so I am most likely biased here. I do expect that you might be a little biased too though.
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