Opinions re: NO cutting of retired STRS benefits

From Lenora Wood, August 15, 2009
Subject: RE: NO cutting of retired STRS benefits

BOB

I MUST DISAGREE WITH YOU ON CUTTING ADM. SALARIES. THEY DO NOT WORK HARDER AND ARE UNDER NO GREATER PRESSURE THAN CLASSROOM TEACHERS. THEY DO WORK LONGER HOURS AND DAYS BUT NOT ENOUGH TO WARRANT A $100,000 SALARY COMPARED TO MY $30,000. CHUCK WAS A PROFESSOR OF EDUCATIONAL ADMINISTRATION AT.A.U. SO WE KNOW OF WHICH WE SPEAK. HE ALWAYS TOOK THE PART OF CLASSROOM TEACHERS IN HIS CLASSES OF FUTURE PRINCIPALS. AND JUST AS EDUC. ADMINISTRATORS EARN LESS THAN THOSE IN THE BUSINESS WORLD SO TOO DO TEACHERS WHO SPEND 6 (OR 8 YEARS IN OUR CASES) EARNING OUR DEGREES. THERE WAS A TIME WHEN NURSES EARNED LESS BUT NOT ANY MORE. ANOTHER THING, ADMINISTRATORS ALWAYS FOUGHT AGAINST US WHEN WE WERE BARGAINING FOR THE TEACHERS. I WAS V.P. ELEM. AT A.E.A. AND SERVED ON NEGOTIATING TEAMS FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. IT WAS ESPECIALLY DIFFICULT AFTER REAGAN BROKE THE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS' UNION. WE LOST BARGAINING POWER AFTER THAT. JUST ASK WALT BENDER OR JACKIE HAINES.

WE SHOULD RATHER SPEAK OUT ON THE RECENT PLAN WHERE NEWLY RETIRED TEACHERS RECEIVE NEARLY 100% OF THEIR LAST YEAR'S SALARIES. AND THERE IS ALSO A DISCREPANCY IN RETIREES' PENSIONS WHO LEFT AFTER OUR 1996 AND 1989 RETIREMENT DATES. THERE SHOULD BE A LIMIT INTO HOW MUCH ONE CAN PAY IN AND HOW MUCH ONE CAN TAKE OUT.

I AGREE WITH YOU ON SOCIAL SECURITY. I FALL UNDER THE WEP CLAUSE AND SEE NO HOPE OF THE GOVT. CHANGING THE LAW SINCE THERE IS NO MONEY FOR IT.

From RH Jones, August 15, 2009

Subject: Re: NO cutting of retired STRS benefits

To all:

I don't want STRS to go down either. However, everyone knows who is responsible for this: the bungling of the OEA/OFT, OEA-R, and especially to the ORTA, who in the past 20-years have not recognized that it is their responsibility to monitor their STRS. I wonder: Have they been too busy selling insurance to be bothered. The STRS board and the employees must also recognize they are, in part, at fault for our STRS being in this bad situation. The past excesses of board perks spending, and the past/ present excessive employee perks, has lead us to this problem. Over the years this negative drain on the fund has finally caught up with them. The STRS officials are supposed to serve us, not themselves.

Not to recognize the cumulative effects over the years of this thoughtless drain of funding, that could have been compounding in STRS fund investments, is outright irresponsible.This has given the OSBA, and the some of Ohio's miserly business community "leaders", the excuses they have been looking for to keep from properly funding local school districts. Services to STRS members, like trying to keep us up with inflation, and providing good HC/Rx, is what STRS was founded to do. It is OUR pension system. It was not intended to be a fund to provide extraordinary benefits for anyone but us. A healthy STRS is good for union membership as well as a guarantee that there will be good teachers in the classrooms to move Ohio forward. An educated public is the key to the financial security of our beloved State of Ohio.

Desiring honorable, thoughtful and reasonable STRS officials to serve us should not be regarded as irrational. It is now the obligation of each of us STRS members to monitor the STRS officials. Educated educators cannot afford not to do otherwise.

By the way, the STRS seems to be playing games with the COLA discussions by having the COLA issues presented at both the Thursday and Friday meetings. It should be on Thursday only. They know a lot of us will not stay overnight and will not be able to attend both days.

Since they announced this, it is necessary that large numbers of retired educators attend either both days, or one day, or the other. Nevertheless, numbers of us need to be there. To say the least, no future COLAs, 13th checks, and HC/Rx is not in our best interest.

This is my opinion,

RHJones, retired teacher STRS member

From Kathy Kienle, August 14, 2009
Subject: Re: Future COLA & other taboo cuts

Bob, I agree with you, but it looks like changes are needed to keep the fund solvent. I do not like what has gone on, but I do not want the STRS to go down. I will try to make the August 20 meeting, but I do not feel our presence will change the situation. I have written each STRS member and the Retirement Council plus Mike Nehf. I only hope things turn out well. I have many retiree teacher friends who do not seem worried. I pray and hope God will be in control.

Kathy Kienle