RH Jones re: Don Gatchell's letter to Ann Hanning

From RH Jones, March 28, 2011
Subject: Fw: Don writes Ann a letter!

To Don Gatchell, Ann Hanning, and all:

In just talking to Dr. K. Fluke, 25-year Legislative Chair of the SummitCRTA, he did remind me that we are beholden to Wachtmann for the last Ad Hoc raise; and, that we would be in terrible financial shape without it. And we do thank him for that!

However, he and I both think that if ORTA had aggressively condemned the COLA cut all along the line at the various meetings where they were supposed to represent our best interests, our 3% would have been left intact. After all, we are annuitants and should be grandfathered from political attacks on our pension. Also, he said that ORTA is loosing membership over their official sanction of the 1% COLA cut, and many are very perturbed and disturbed over their silence and lack of backing of both retired and active teachers on SB 5.

Dr. Fluke read the ORTA newsletter with the names of those who had joined ORTA for life and found that none were from Summit County that he knew. I have mentioned before that ORTA should obligated to supply any legal representation if outcome of HB 69, HB 3 our when needed for any other legislation that is passed to take away our very modest annuitized pension, COLA, and HC/Rx. It is just not right to cut into retired teachers whom have not passed away just yet.

The majority GOP has counted on us being meek and are poised to take advantage of us, if we let them. The OEA-R should take note of this, also.

As one of Dr Fluke's Legislative CMTE, this is to the best of my recollection,

RHJones (proud to be a member of CORE)