Tom Mooney responds to Molly re: May 31 meeting at OEA

From Tom Mooney, June 8, 2006

Molly,

I'm glad you had a constructive and productive meeting with OEA leaders. We all need to work together to preserve retiree health care and strengthen and protect STRS in general.

Just wants to point out two things.

The meetings with legislators have been conducted by team of STRS staff and HCA representatives, not just OEA. In fact, each meeting has included a rep. of employer organizations, unions, and retiree organizations within the HCA. I have been at some of these meetings along with Bill L., Ann Hanning from ORTA, and the other organization reps.

Likewise, the task force working on school funding reform is a broad coalition, including many education organizations as well as Ohio's urban mayors. OFT has been active in it. This will be a huge undertaking; no one organization can pull off alone. I fact, the coalition will have to become much broader than it is now in order to be successful.

OFT also screens and endorses candidates based on their record and positions on public education and the rights of public employees. We voted on some in March (including Strickland for Gov. and Sherrod Brown for US Senate) and should complete our endorsements this weekend. I can provide them to anyone interested next week.

It seems that we are turning a corner, with less polarization and more concerted effort by all who represent educators, active and retired. You deserve much credit for helping to bring that about.

Tom Mooney