Charlene Hayden: A message for all educators, active and retired

Charlene Hayden to John Curry, February 26, 2011
Subject: Re: ***CORE ALERT II*** Senate Bill 5...and a correction..........

Dear Mr. Curry,

I have been reading your "Alerts" and I am very appreciative of all you do for the retired teachers of Ohio. Thanks for the time you give for us.

I wanted to say that I was at the protest of Senate Bill 5 last Tuesday. Many educators, police officers, firefighters, and union workers and supporters from throughout the State were on both sides of the State House. It was an impressive site and comforting to know that we have so many people who cannot support this bill which is such a slam to people who are in occupations that serve the public.

In your most recent alert, you gave C.O.R.E's position on our retirement system. Even though Senate Bill 5, if passed, will affect our retirement system, it is more directly about doing away with the collective bargaining rights of public employees and teachers. According to the Republican leaders sponsoring this legislation, it is supposed to be a cost saving measure for the State budget. Since this type of legislation is being proposed in several other states which have Republican leadership, it appears this is more about an initiative to take away the rights of people who belong to unions. We know that the unions have supported mainly Democratic candidates in past elections.

It would be my suggestion that you send a message to our retired teachers asking them to take some type of action to defeat this bill. If they can go to the State House, that would be great. However, that is a difficult task for those of us who are getting up in years. Those who can't make it to the State House could write and/or call their congressmen and senators. The social networks can also be used to spread the word about our feelings on Senate Bill 5.

The bills that are directly related to our retirement funds and the other Ohio pension systems are H.B. 69 and S.B. 3. These are considered "placeholder" bills which means we should expect more changes to be introduced in substitute bills down the road. Since these are "placeholder" bills, it makes it even more imperative for all active and retired teachers to be vigilant of the changes that will likely be proposed.

Thanks, again, Mr. Curry for all you efforts.

Charlene Hayden,
Buckeye Lake