RH Jones' speech to STRS board, May 20, 2010

I am retired teacher Robert Hudson Jones.

To the board and management: Restore our benefits. Carry on the tradition of the intellectual "firepower" that the boards and management have used to provide benefits since the STRS inception: way back in 1920.

The historic cataloging of the retired STRS member benefits can be found in the book entitled The Story Thus Far...STRS at 75. These benefits were synopsized in the book's "BENEFITS ROUNDUP."

The authors say: "One of the system's most reassuring achievements has been its alertness to, and preparation for, the trauma of escalating health care costs" (page 45). They also stated that: "Health care plan further expanded to provide coverage to [the] spouse of a benefit recipient" (page 111 [1978]). Also mentioned was the addition of dependent children, and if unmarried, the inclusion of a qualified, financially dependent person. And our prescription drugs were made available by mail for just $1 per prescription. Note: the catch-up 13th check was initiated in 1981; but, subsequently, since 2001, the 30-year funding limitation has not been met.

To restore benefits in both the public and private retirement systems, there are class action suits happening all over the nation. For instance, the Akron Beacon Journal published an article "Newspaper ordered to restore [retiree] benefits" (Beacon, May 15, 2010, page D2). This also happened to the OEA. Will it happen to the STRS as well? Can I rest assured that all the STRS retiree cuts will be restored very soon, especially for those retired over 20 years, and that no further retiree cuts will take place -- such as the proposed 1% cut to our simple 3% COLA?

Retired member benefit cuts are not a good legacy to leave in 2020, when the next book, ...STRS at 100, will be published. I have faith that you will quickly restore our benefits, for to do otherwise would dishonor past commitments to retired members.