CORE member writes to the editor.....

From John Curry, March 23, 2011

http://www.auroraadvocate.com/news/article/4999260

Auroraadvocate.com
Letter: Public sector workers not responsible for state budget woes March 16, 2011

UPON READING THE Advocate's editorial March 2, headlined "Generous benefits impetus for S.B. 5," I must respond.

I believe S.B. 5 is a "career killer" for public school teachers. It allows school boards and superintendents to arbitrarily "reduce in force" veteran teachers simply because they're further into their careers and earn a higher salary than younger ones.

Some may say, "Well that's what happens in the private sector," which is true. The big difference is private sector employees can move on to other jobs.

Veteran teachers won't have that ability. As a rule, most districts won't hire a teacher with more than seven years of experience. This will have a domino effect at the State Teachers Retirement System.

As I write this letter, H.B. 69 and S.B. 3 -- placeholder bills that were created to deal with financial issues at STRS -- would require teachers to teach to age 60 and have 35 years in the classroom. With S.B. 5 as law, that will never happen. Teachers will be terminated before they can complete their careers.

The Columbus Dispatch reports 2010 was the second year to see a reduction in the state payroll of 3.2 percent to a tune of $105 million. This was due to agreements made by labor unions and former Gov. Ted Strickland.

Furlough days, no pay raises, step freezes and a freeze on personal leave time were negotiated to save the state money. Here is the key word: "Negotiated" -- at the bargaining table between employer and employee.

The National Association of State Retirement Administrators reports that retirement benefits are 2.9 percent of state spending. But the current governor and state politicians continue the rhetoric that public sector employees are largely responsible for budget problems.

I don't think so.

Debbie Rudy-Lack
Aurora