A special thank you to STRS Board members Rob McFee, Dale Price, David Gruber, Scott Hunt and Wade Steen for your supporting vote at the June Board meeting

Editorial 
By Kathie Bracy
June 19, 2020 

A HUGE thank you to the five STRS Board members, Rob McFee, Dale Price, David Gruber, Scott Hunt and Wade Steen, who stood up for active and retired teacher members by voting AGAINST an increase in salaries and bonuses for STRS employees for 2021. In these unprecedented, hard times there is a pandemic claiming thousands of lives, our economy is suffering possibly irreparable damage, many organizations are cutting salaries, millions of Americans are out of work and STRS retirees are already struggling from increasing inflation while their pension has been flatlined since 2016 when the STRS Board destroyed their COLA, their only hope of keeping up. And yet the STRS Board, at their virtual meeting on June 18, 2020, had the audacity to pass a budget that would hurt retirees even more by granting multiple increases in STRS salaries and bonuses.

Where is their conscience? This is the Board that continues to rob the very ones who make it possible for STRS employees to have their more-than-comfortable jobs (especially those receiving 6-figure salaries and bonuses, and there are many) in a nice "palace" with heated sidewalks, gymnasium, childcare center and expensive art work and more. I don't know of any teacher who ever had anywhere NEAR the salaries and perks (what are those?) of STRS employees, yet they continue to milk us for every penny they can get in the name of preserving our pension. It isn't just the retirees who are angry, and rightfully so. An even larger contingent is watching very closely and is increasingly demanding to be heard: those who are still teaching. They are now being forced to pay a whopping 14% of their salaries to STRS, and are having to work more years, paying that much more into the STRS coffers to pay those who are already making a ton of money off of them while many at STRS are no doubt licking their chops to see this money rolling in.

Thank you, Messrs. McFee, Price, Gruber, Hunt and Steen for listening to us and casting the only vote that was right: a resounding "NO" to the 2021 STRS budget. Retirees and active teachers alike can be thankful at least YOU are listening to us and have the fortitude to buck your colleagues who would continue unconscionably to spend our hard-earned money with no regard for the effect it has on many who are already struggling to make ends meet. Is this the 21st Century American version of the practices that led to the French Revolution or what?

How much longer is STRS going to allow these indefensible, unchecked spending practices to continue on the backs of their members who will never get to enjoy the luxuries afforded to the STRS staff and employees? The Board's 6-5 vote on June 18 passed the 2021 budget. I'm sure STRS is thrilled. Let's hope they are prepared for the next outcry from the membership, as it's only going to get louder. These people are hurting. STRS is not.