Tuesday, February 5, 2013

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Tuesday, February 5, 2013

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From the News Desk

Pa. union leaders vow court fight if pensions cut

The Associated Press

Posted: Friday, February 1, 2013, 11:27 AM

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Leaders of the two largest public-employee unions in Pennsylvania are vowing a court fight if Gov. Tom Corbett and lawmakers cut future benefits for current state and school employees.

Mike Crossey of the Pennsylvania State Education Association and David Fillman of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees said Friday that case law makes it clear that any reduction in benefits for current workers violates the state constitution.

Corbett says he might seek to cut benefits not yet earned by employees and redesign pension benefits for new employees. It's an attempt to achieve savings in the budget Corbett's slated to unveil Tuesday.

The union leaders held a news briefing to underscore their argument that overhauling pensions will not result in substantial savings.

The Associated Press

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Comments (12)

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 11:52 AM, 02/01/2013

One word: 401(k).

Time to rid the taxpayers of this pension burden. Let these goons pay for their own retirement.

— masterncommander

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 8:11 PM, 02/01/2013

Yet another thing we agree on. Wisconsin cut its public pensions to be more in line with market norms and suddenly the State is fiscally sound again...amazing how that works.

No reason PA should be held hostage by veiled union thuggery.

— Professor1982

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 5:44 AM, 02/02/2013

Pensions are an earned benefit. Of you want to cut them, then dramatically raise wages. Giving hard working people's money to greedy salivating banksters is not the answer.

— Kilgore Trout 76

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 11:54 AM, 02/01/2013

Public employee pensions must be reduced and it's not political. Corbett has the same problem that Nutter has. Their predecessors totally caved in to these unions over the years in order to get their votes. Now, the chickens have come home to roost to quote Malcolm. These unions have far, far better pensions than 90% of the public that has to pay them. I know people on public pensions getting up to 80% of what they earned when they worked! 80%! One woman from the Philly court system gets $60,000 per year for life and she made about $70,000 before retiring. The party is over. Deal with it.

— The Monk

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 5:50 AM, 02/02/2013

You're wrong. It's 100% political. The problem is that the state hasn't held up their end of the bargin and fully funded the pensions. Now we all have to pay. And don't think that wall street hasn't been lobbying to get their hands on all that money. People worked hard to earn that pension. Pay up greedy Tom!

— Kilgore Trout 76

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 12:12 PM, 02/01/2013

It's interesting that when the pensions were increased for current employeees from 70% of salary to 87% of salary, and done retroactively,it was constitutional. If the pensions are rolled back to 70% for current employees it is unconstitutional. Of course the state justices that made that ruling are in a state pension plan.

— robtpenn

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 1:45 PM, 02/01/2013

What fight is needed? The State Supreme Court has already stated that pensions are deferred compensation and cuts are subject to contract negotiations. So any reduction in benefits can only affect new enrollees.

See: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/state/pennsylvania-labor-leaders-pan-pension-proposals-664935/

Gary J. English
avigilantone at yahoo dot com

— avigilantone

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 2:30 PM, 02/01/2013

Laws were written to be changed. What will the courts do when there is no more blood in the stone?

— The Monk

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 3:22 PM, 02/01/2013

What part of "your fellow neighbor simply cannot afford to pay for these bloated pensions any longer" don't the unions understand? We are not arguing about some mean old multinational conglomerate here that we want to "stick it to".

This is precisely why Walker did what he did in WI. It makes no sense for public employees to be unionized and it is pure thivery. Unions and members get what they want, politicians get what they want, and taxpayers many years down the road after the can has been kicked long enough, are left holding the bag....

— Wiseman6

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 5:56 AM, 02/02/2013

Stop believing these RepubliCon lies. The state is NOT strapped for cash. Governor Corbett has billions for big oil and privatization programs. If you really cared about your neighbors you'd tell the state to cough up the dough and pay their pensions. The "goons" you fear so much, work in the governor's mansion and the state house. They call themselves republicans.

— Kilgore Trout 76

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 6:16 PM, 02/01/2013

it never ceases to amaze me how the right wing has convinced so many working people that working people are the problem. stand up, stick together, and realize that you are all on the same page. you are all working stiffs. and you will either hang together or hang separately.

— Ryan

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 6:04 AM, 02/02/2013

Why aren't pensions based on sustaining a comprable standard of living for a retiree in retirement? If the current pensions are lavish, reduce them. 401Ks were never intended to replace pensions and are a terrible idea. If pensions are managed properly and funded, there should be no issue. I would never trust a bunch of Republicans who "don't believe in government" as they collect a nice paycheck and enjoy a lavish pension at the taxpayer's expense. The arrogance and hypocracy is repulsive.

— MikeP