Dr. K. Fluke's letter to the Plain Dealer editor re: STRS

Cleveland Plain Dealer, January 24, 2010
http://www.ohio.com/editorial/vop/82539492.html
Duty to protect all state retirees
The Jan. 5 editorial ''Pension protection'' recommended Ohio legislators act now to eliminate pain for the State Teachers Retirement System and the Ohio Police & Fire Pension Fund.
I think that some of the financial problem might have been reduced if legislators had passed bills to increase employee contributions in the past.
As an example, the teachers' retirement system has not had an employee increase in the last 20-plus years. Inflation increased during much of this time. Retired teachers from the 1980s feel this.
Currently, all Ohio retirement systems have an annual cost-of-living (COLA) increase. Many Ohio newspapers are reporting changes. Comparing each Ohio retirement system for COLA changes uncovers considerable differences.
In the Public Employee Retirement System (PERS), there have been minor changes. Our legislators receive their pensions from PERS. Our legislators take care of their own interests. They need to reduce the pain experienced by those who retired many years ago from the State Teachers Retirement System and other Ohio systems.
Kay W. Fluke
Akron