SHARING THE PAIN – WHERE IS THE “SHARING” PART ?
I like the way all the politicians who are pushing for pension reform keep using the phrase, “we all need to share in the pain”. In the recent “negotiations”, teachers were given two choices, a reduced cost of living and keeping the health insurance that we already pay premiums on, or keeping the COLA, but losing the health insurance. Where is the negotiation in all of this? Where is the “shared pain” ?
“Shared pain” would sound something like this: Teachers give up the COLA, but the state makes the temporary income tax permanent and all the revenue from that extension would go directly into the pension pool. Now, that’s “shared pain”. The public would share the pain with the teachers.
Exactly what assurances are teachers getting that if they accept a lower COLA, there won’t be more demands
“Shared pain” would sound something like this: Teachers give up the COLA, but the state makes the temporary income tax permanent and all the revenue from that extension would go directly into the pension pool. Now, that’s “shared pain”. The public would share the pain with the teachers.
Exactly what assurances are teachers getting that if they accept a lower COLA, there won’t be more demands
