RH Jones to Tom Mooney and George Taylor: Where has OFT been while our 13th check was taken away?

From: RH Jones

Sent: Monday, January 23, 2006
Subject: Retired Teachers not keeping up with the COLA.

Tom Mooney, OFT Dir. and George Taylor, OFT Health & Retirement Consultant,

According to a recent Kathie Bracy Blog, a June Hughes reports that the OFT: "---achieved legislation for the payment of a yearly 13th ck.---." Tom and George, are you both asleep on this? Where has OFT been while our 13th ck. was taken away? With 2 OFT-sponsored STRS BD members now serving, and in light of the huge STRS non-investment employee raises and bonuses ( while some are reported by Tom Curtis as being as high as 20%.), where has OFT been?

The media reports some school boards awarding as high as 9% salary adjustments raises to active teachers. Some will retire at twice the amount that many of those presently retired receive. However, will these same actives find themselves in a similar situation in the future as they retire? Therefore, at this time, a legislated Compound COLA is in order. And, in the meantime, an immediate restoration of our already legislated 13th ck. If the ORC 3307.15 is "solely for the benefit of the members," then why is this outrageous 20% STRS employee increase even considered by the STRS BD? For the sake of active & retired teachers, I beg you both to have your Legal Dept. look into this, perhaps illegal activity!

Robert Hudson Jones, retired teacher

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