tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7288252569905355792.post7651855668982427222..comments2023-11-03T05:38:57.774-04:00Comments on Fair Pensions For All: The need for transparency in public sector pensionsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7288252569905355792.post-91433388687955799552009-07-06T20:48:15.235-04:002009-07-06T20:48:15.235-04:00Hello Bill:
I'm afraid this note won't be...Hello Bill:<br /><br />I'm afraid this note won't be all that long as I find myself working in to the evening at home (unpaid) preparing for the weeks and months ahead at my workplace.<br /><br />Perhaps I should mention that I am one of those unionized public sector workers you so casually generalized about this morning on CBC Winnipeg, and dismissed as over-compensated drains on our governments' coffers.<br /><br />It is true that *some* individuals at the highest levels of management in municipal governments receive compensations of 6-figure salaries, along with their pensions and various benefits packages. However, if you would first do, and then share, thorough research with your readers you would find that many, if not all, of those managers are in union-exempt positions. This is certainly true of my own employer.<br /><br />The vast majority of employees in my workplace do not make enough to even be included on the annual compensation disclosure list (whose cut-off is 50 K, annually). I am one of those employees not on that list.<br /><br />Yes, if I am lucky enough to not lose my job to cutbacks in the next 20-some years (I am a newer employee) I will retire with a pension that will allow me to not starve, keep a roof over my head and access sound health care in my retirement years. How dare I expect this?!! <br /><br />Until that time though, I will take my $44, 000 per year (plus - maybe - an annual cost of living increase and, yes, benefits: I'm having my teeth cleaned this Wednesday, and tonight I will file to get maximum - $200 - reimbursement for the $500 prescription eye glass lenses I had to buy last month). I'll take that 44 K and the promise of a dignified retirement and do my darndest to serve the people of my city - putting to use my 6 years of post-secondary education (a graduate degree is the minimum professional qualification for my position - you may be interested to know mine came from a faculty of management) to try to figure out a way to offer my particular type of public service city-wide with a staff of 2.<br /><br />And the CFIB wonders why many people like myself stand proud and say "Solidarity Forever" any chance we get? Someone like myself (raised so-called middle class, no activism in sight) grew into a radical just 2 years out of grad school, and as far as I can tell I have people like yourself to thank for it.<br /><br />So, thanks Bill. I couldn't have done it without you, and the corner that your philosophies, and those of your ilk, backed me in to.<br /><br /><br />Now: back to work for me...<br /><br />A young municipal worker and proud union memberMonique Woroniakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00968804946465333301noreply@blogger.com