We can work it out as we go down the long and winding road.Are we just gonna fill this thread with Beatles songs? The 1% will have to flee and live in their yellow submarines!
We can work it out as we go down the long and winding road.Are we just gonna fill this thread with Beatles songs? The 1% will have to flee and live in their yellow submarines!
Even with the COLA people think public employees have these lavish pensions. It is just untrue. It is the top level management and administrators that are gaming the system.
I guess my problem is where does it stop!!
Today they cut pensions that were promised.
Next? How about this? "joe, you have earned six weeks sick pay which should have covered your sickenss, but times are tough. So we are taking back two weeks. Hope you can return to work in four weeks instead of six. Sorry."
Then: "Jill, you have accumulated four weeks of vacation, but times are tough. We are taking back a week. Enjoy!"
Then: "Bill, we paid you $70,000 last year, but times are tough and we found out that we should not have paid you that much. We want $10,000 back. Or you can find a new job."
Read "Retirement Heist" if you think these things are so crazy they could never happen. Then read "All the Devils are Here."
It will be interesting to see if the COLA freezes and other measures taken to improve the health of the pension plans are reversed when the economy recovers.
Like you, I'm quite familar with public pensions in Illinois ripper1. But I have to disagree with your statement that only top level management and administrators are gaming the system. For example, in the mid-90's, the Illinois Education Association (state wide teachers' union) negotiated an early-out package that included hefty spiking for everyone that chose to retire early. I can research other examples if you wish. The wildly bold actions of some top level folks in grabbing literal fortunes from the system get lots of media attention these days. But, the way the rules have been laid out in the past, worker bees have been able to take advantage of "grey area" provisions of the pension rules as well.
My condolences if you didn't get a tasty slice of the pie, not everyone did. But there have been many opportunities for the rank and file to chomp down a hefty bite on their way out.[/QUOTE Please clue me in on the grey areas for the rank file.
how fair is the current system where I work like mad to provide the building inspector or bus driver with a retirement that I could never hope for?
AMEN!!
I would have been able to retire after 30 yrs. from my company, but wouldn't have insurance, let alone COLA. We didn't even get it when I worked.
What didn't you get when you were working? COLA? Insurance? Both?
Even with the COLA people think public employees have these lavish pensions. It is just untrue. It is the top level management and administrators that are gaming the system.
ripper1 said:It wasn't so long ago the job to get was a private sector job with pensions, ss, and the big perks. Nobody complained about public servants and their dead end jobs. The middle class is too busy bickering while the 1% gets a pass.
Even with the COLA people think public employees have these lavish pensions.
I guess you didn't read the rest of the article. The averages are skewed by highly paid workers and the average meat and potatoes city worker there earn not much more than 20,000.
The public retirees from San Francisco are doing quite well:
Guess what’s the average San Francisco city pension? | City Insider | an SFGate.com blog
"The average retiree from San Francisco city government earns an annual pension of $46,272, according to the San Francisco Employees’ Retirement System. The average retiree who worked at least 30 years in city government earns an annual pension of $76,981.
The average pension for a retiree from the fire department is $108,552. From the police department? $95,016. And everybody else? $41,136."
"retirees are doing pretty well compared to working San Franciscans. Census data shows the median family income in the city is $86,546. Per capita income is $44,373."
It wasn't so long ago the job to get was a private sector job with pensions, ss, and the big perks. Nobody complained about public servants and their dead end jobs. The middle class is too busy bickering while the 1% gets a pass.
I know a guy in Seattle who started working for the local government at age 42. Exactly 20 years later he retired on a $44k annual retirement. He also has SS from this job.I guess you didn't read the rest of the article. The averages are skewed by highly paid workers and the average meat and potatoes city worker there earn not much more than 20,000.
We all make choices in our lives including where we live, how much education we get, and for whom we work.
Teacher aides in our local school district start at about $14K. The benefits are almost more than the pay.I would like to know what government workers get $20k.
It seems that tax payers are completely aware of the fact that some public sector jobs shouldn't be touched.
Sounds good! Alignment of public sector jobs with market prices would be a good thing.Why not? Does an able-bodied person need a $100,000 pension in her 40s? Maybe we should "experiment" and see whether giving them a pension at, say, 55, would still attract the finest that our tax dollars can attract?
I guess you didn't read the rest of the article. The averages are skewed by highly paid workers and the average meat and potatoes city worker there earn not much more than 20,000.
ziggy29 said:Teacher aides in our local school district start at about $14K. The benefits are almost more than the pay.
Well maybe we or you are not being directly taxed by the 1% for the so called lush benefits of public servants but aren't they the ones who are taking away the pensions and benefits of the private sector worker.I know a guy in Seattle who started working for the local government at age 42. Exactly 20 years later he retired on a $44k annual retirement. He also has SS from this job.
I would like to know what government workers get $20k.
Also, to the 99%ers, these 1% guys are a problem, but we are not being directly taxed for their lush benefits.
Somehow I think that if my taxes get raised, it is more likely to go to some public workers pension than to anything that might help me like fixing the streets and sidewalks.
Ha
Teachers aides where I live would have thought they hit the jackpot it they got paid that! They are around 11k-12k, here. My brother in law has worked for the county government as a road repair worker for over 15 years and he is right around 20k. Where you live and what your job is obviously effects salary.