It’s very disheartening to hear Eric Feaver, the president of Montana’s largest union, comment to the MEA-MFT about not accepting another salary freeze (Aug. 22 Beacon: “Union Leaders Demand Public Employee Pay Raises”). Here is another case of a union boss pushing an agenda that is detrimental to all taxpayers.
The teaching vocation is noble indeed. Good teachers can objectively tell the story of this great country’s roots and the dream of our founder’s to secure freedom for all men and women on our land. Good teachers can inspire youth to stretch their brains and reach for knowledge that will enable them to build a career and secure their future.
The problem with all governmental unions is the burden of debt that large pensions put on the backs of taxpayers. Union pensions are like grand pyramid schemes. A teacher can retire after 25 years of service. If they are in their mid-50s, they can average another 25 years of retirement pay. Think about this burden on the taxpayers, especially when each year there is a compounding effect of more teachers retiring. It’s not only the salary pension, but the health care as well.
A reasonable salary is something most taxpayers would support … especially for great teachers, but these legacy pensions (law enforcement, prison guards, firemen, teachers, government workers) are helping to drive every state in the union into large deficits. The governmental pension plans are driving Greece into economic chaos and rioting in the streets. Italy, Portugal and Spain are not far behind. California, New Jersey and New York are bankrupt with billions in deficits waiting for the fed to bail them out. The UAW is a large contributor to the financial mess the auto industry is in.
Private industry has been eliminating pension for years. Why aren’t the unions? Should we support teacher wages? Absolutely. Government union legacy plans? No.
Daniel Graves
Whitefish