RH Jones: Less for retired teachers in 2007!

From RH Jones, December 29, 2006
Subject: Less for retired teachers in 2007!

To all,

Even those of us who are old enough for Medicare will suffer less income next year due to the STRS increasing our co-pays and the federal government cutting back on our Medicare. Personally, it will cost me a loss of over $50 per month. And we do not have paid eye or dental care; nor a compounded COLA to keep up with inflation..

As with any machine, the body deteriorates with age. Like me, most teachers used very little sick leave during their careers. Some even used none! The body, eyes and teeth were young then. Now, however, in old age at a time when we need medical care, we are being told: "Be careful what you ask for." The school boards will not stand for any increases. Recently, as exposed in the news media, to try to educate "on the cheap," some boards are reported to have paid treasurers high salaries to figure out how to exploit our STRS for their gain. Either in the board room or the court room, this exploitation of the retirement system has got to be stopped. Of course the board room is preferred. However, let it be known that retirees are hurting; and, as we have in the past, we can not afford to supplement school districts' income now, or in the future -- this retired teacher would be content to not ask for anything, had not the STRS been so financially exploited over the past several years. The funds would have been there for us. Now it is makeup time; and, being the right thing to do, the employer/employee shared increase of 5% must be approved.

It is hard for me to believe that our American civilization has gotten so savage that the teachers of American children would lack proper financial or medical support in their old age. If America is to be remain the richest nation in the world, Americans should not savage their retired teachers into poverty. Neither should Ohioans.

RHJones, a retired teacher of the STRS of Ohio & Life member of all teacher unions