Comments on: Florida Educators Union Sues Over 3 Percent State Pension Requirement

By: Pissed Off in Charlotte Co

Pissed Off in Charlotte Co — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 20:28:12 +0000

I agree with Stumpknocker. Government employees from Law Enforcement to office worker and road crews are grossly underpaid. We all signed up for a job that would pay us much less then the average person, but would payoff with a retirement fund and insurances. Does it work out that way? Nope. We give and give and get nothing in return. Can we leave our job? yes, if there is another one out there. Most of us who are vested 10, 20, 25 years cannot leave without giving up what we’ve worked for all of our lives to start over. At 44, I can’t risk it. The sad part is county and state employees are looked down upon as the ‘red headed step children’ and are critized for much of what we do. If we all quit, then what? No one to fix your sewer pipe, water pipe, or drainage ditch? No one to catch the criminals when they steal from you? Martial law? Be happy that WE THE GOVERNMENTAL WORKERS OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA are willing to work for a minor fee so that EVERYONE can enjoy living here! We only ask to be treated as an equal when it comes to pay and benefits. Governor Scott has deliberately targeted government employees since taking office. This is his way of ’saving tax payer money’. Layoff’s are #1 in his book. Where do these people go once they are layed off? To the unemployeement office. If he want’s to help Florida, create jobs..don’t take them away! Pay your people what they deserve and don’t take away something that isn’t there. I should have a ‘right’ to pay into my retirement, Not forced!!!!! PS: I do work 2 jobs to supliment my income so I can PAY my taxes, PAY my bills, and keep my house off the forclosure block!!!!!

By: Amazing

Amazing — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 23:24:08 +0000

COLA? What’s Cost of Living Adjustment. I’ve never seen that on my paycheck. Teachers don’t get that either. So underpaid, with Masters degrees, and losing more money every year. The love of the kids has kept us teaching, but right now it’s about the love for our own children! IMO I hope everything goes well for all of Florida, and next time let’s pick a Governor that has lived in this State for more than Scott has. IMO

By: Amazing

Amazing — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 23:09:10 +0000

IMO Teaching’s already a career with one of the highest turnover rates. Anyone think that this is going to improve that? Funny. Wait until the economy gets better, because it will. It’s the business cycle in action.

By: J Fisher

J Fisher — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 13:40:20 +0000

The bottom line: Everyone (especially Democrats) LOVE to tell you that they believe in funding, spending, cutting, budgets, taxes, or something else…until if affects them personally.

Then, when it does affect them personally – it was illegal, unjustified, unethical, not fair, unlawful, etc.

Hypocrites.

By: County droid

County droid — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 02:30:45 +0000

@ skip

“I love all the county workers stating how much more they would be making in the private sector. Give me a break, if the money was so much better elsewhere you would be elsewhere. Individuals in the private sector have always had to contribute to their own retirement, government workers should be no different. Be thankful you have a job goverment workers, as someone whose husband has been off and on unemployment for the last 4 years, you have no idea how lucky you are.”

HAHAHAHAH-Can you PLEASE tell me how I can get unemployment for 4 years??!!! HAHAHAHA

By: dnl

dnl — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 20:42:15 +0000

Like him or not, Scott is doing what has to be done, not what is necessarily popular. Look up what happened in Prichard, Alabama. All the signs and warnings were there that if something didn’t change—-not spend more than was coming in—-that the city and county would be out of money. No one listened and they ran out of money and all the public workers receive nothing–no pensions, no health care, etc.

When a public worker has to look at having to put 3 % into their pension now and get a 3% raise to offset that—-I still don’t see how that is saving money—-or receiving nothing in 3-5 years if we continue to spend what we don’t have, I can’t see why they are willing to get what they can for as long as they can. I understand that they may have contracts, but if the city or county is broke, the contracts are worthless.

By: JIM W

JIM W — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 20:39:23 +0000

CORRECTION: I meant to say the State and county. Sorry everyone my mistake.

By: JIM W

JIM W — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 20:32:56 +0000

This subject is a premier example of if you feed a wild animal long enough they will want you to feed them forever. Therefore they become dependent and no longer earn what is need by hunting. The same rule applies. The county does not have to give you a retirement. The county does not have to give you insurance but to stay some what competetive with the outside work forces they do. I seriously wonder how many of you would have the self committment to do your own retirement and stay with it for the long haul. By the way that is exactly what I do. I have to do my own retirement plan and am happy to do so. I’m sorry but it is our dollars that are being spent here. We the tax payers, and I am aware that you are suppose to pay taxes as well. But there are a whole lot more of us being effectd by this than there are of you. These are taxes we too could be putting in our retirement plans and pay for insurances for our families yet we do our civic deed by paying our taxes. It is time the Government agencies are held responsible and that is what is being attempted here. So, if your so unhappy maybe you need look for another job or be happy that you have a job and be grateful your receiving what you are. Stop whinning! Okay now all of you can jump on me go for it but that is how I feel.

By: My contributions..

My contributions.. — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 19:51:50 +0000

Many ask if public does make less than private, I know for a fact that ten years ago the difference between the two for my degree etc., was at least $6,000 to $,7000. Hope that helps.

By: ProudArmyParent

ProudArmyParent — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 19:29:28 +0000

SW on June 21st, 2011 8:35 am, “So, the answer to the cost-cutting and reduction of benefits is to increase the pay? Someone please explain that rationale to me.”

No the answer to cost-cutting is not more pay, but the answer is not making Correctional Officers pay 3% of their insurance when you haven’t given them a pay raise in six years. That SW would, but a slap in the face! These State Employees aren’t asking for a pay raise this year, but don’t make them pay 3% for their insurance, (when that would essentially be a pay cut.) That is what we are saying. They work under manned, under paid, overtime (without fair compensation) and are unappreciated for their labors. A you do a good job keeping our state safe would be nice, oh and don’t take what little pay they do get. I believe that would benefit the whole state.