Ryan Holderman: We must insist on fairness and equity; all must share the burden

From Ryan Holderman, May 3, 2009
Subject: Time to raise our voices!

Dear Kathie:

I read with interest the letter you posted from Patricia Knight. She is an active teacher who "gets" the current situation at STRS and how it will impact her fellow active teachers. I wish that we had more like her. Just imagine what CORE and reform minded STRS Board members like Dr. Leone could do if we could reach more actives.

The sad reality is that OEA and the board members over whom they hold influence seem willing to sacrifice near-retirement active teachers just as they have retirees. Grandfathering has not been practiced when changes have devastated retirees. They have seen their spendable pension income reduced by enormous health care costs, non-compounding COLAs, loss of the 13th check (which, in my opinion, would been better used to fund the Health Care Stabilization Fund) and now is threatened with the total cessation of COLAs.

Retirees, unlike those still in the work force, do not look forward to pay raises and do not have the option of staying on the job to compensate for the effects these changes will have. Those who are able could, perhaps, find employment if the economy were not so weakened and their health permitted but that is certainly not the "Cadillac" retirement they were led to believe awaited them. It is certainly not the retirement that awaits the well compensated investment staff of STRS!

Active teachers and retirees need to unite in the long forgotten "Together We Can" spirit of past teacher led movements and demand reform, at STRS, that serves its constituents first.

We must insist that the present problems with our pension funds are addressed fairly and equitably and that all parties (active teachers, retirees and STRS employees) share the burden.

Sincerely,

Ryan