Tim Burke, a Lead Water Distribution Operator for the City of Hemet, was recently published in the “Your Views” section of the Press Enterprise on May 10, 2010. Burke is also an SEIU 721 Executive Board member living in Temecula.
“Pension gift? No” by Tim Burke
For The P-E to suggest that our pensions are “largesse,” or a gift, in other words, is outrageous (“Pension largesse,” Our Views, May 1). The pensions that Riverside County employees receive are earned as a part of their total compensation for the work they do. The contracts are negotiated through employers and employee unions and are agreed upon by both sides.
The National Institute on Retirement Security recently completed a study comparing the public and private sectors over 20 years. It shows that public sector employees are paid less than those in the private sector even after accounting for the value of retirement, health care and other benefits.
The recent sharp increase in the cost of funding these retirements is a direct result of the current economic downturn. When the economy was booming and the county had to contribute little to none toward these pension funds, what did it do with the money then for planning purposes? Maybe you should ask the County’s Pension Advisory Review Committee this? I believe everyone who has worked hard should be able to retire with dignity and security.
To link to the Press Enterprise Letter to the Editor, click here.
Keep on writing…. After talking with my mother on Mother’s Day, I told her of the article I wrote in the Press Enterprise regarding retirement benefits being considered “gifts” .
Her response was ” well I guess it’s probably time for us retiree’s to write and speak out as well ” . After this additional article today, a person who belongs to the management group from the city echoed the same thing, don’t lay the blame on people who work in government, and don’t blame their retirement benefits as the cause of the financial crisis facing the state and local governments today.
Encourage your fellow co-workers, family members and any retiree to write and voice their opinion as well. Let’s get the word out. By the way, both of my parents have retired from public service jobs.
Tim
P.S. Feel free to share this letter with anyone and everyone you know.
Tim I wrote opinion to Press Enterprise this morning: Regarding Hemet contracting out Refuge dept.
Julian Duron
I am a retired City of Los Angeles -Bureau of Sanitation employee. Dealing with contracting out a city service is making a deal with the devil. Politicians only think of the short term not of the future of the city and residents. Trash fees will skyrocket in a few years under CR&R and Hemet will not have the finances to restart its own refuge department. That is how these deals work out. I negotiated contracts and followed the studies of contracting out a City Service. 25 years as a SEIU Shop Steward and negotiated 4 contracts for Local 347 now 721. Check owners and the board members of CR&R for campaign contributions to Council members voting on this issue.
Julie Butcher knows me quite well.