General Discussion

dsc

(52,166 posts) Tue Oct 7, 2014, 07:06 PM Oct 2014

Union retirees do not get free health care, they get health care they have pre paid

The latest version of this story is the Philadelphia teachers and retirees. Over the years the union in that district negotiated with the school board in that district and often traded pay raises for increases in health benefits both while working and in retirement. In short, they have paid for those benefits by forgoing raises that they otherwise could have gotten. The school board agreed, without a gun to its head, to the deal. Now they want to say, never mind, you are screwed. The benefits aren't free, they are bought and paid for. The school board negotiated a contract, got consideration, and now doesn't want to honor its word.

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Union retirees do not get free health care, they get health care they have pre paid (Original Post) dsc Oct 2014 OP

It is basically how unions negotiate their compensation. Benefits-- riversedge Oct 2014 #1

Thank you! AwakeAtLast Oct 2014 #2

And with my union you have to have put in a certain number of years and have cui bono Oct 2014 #3

Makes you wanna holler, doesn't it? gratuitous Oct 2014 #4

riversedge

(70,299 posts)

1. It is basically how unions negotiate their compensation. Benefits--

Reply to dsc (Original post)

Tue Oct 7, 2014, 07:14 PM

Oct 2014

like retirement pay are taken for lower pay raises or non promotion or whatever is negotiated. So many are jealous of the bargaining power of unions. That is what happened in Wisconsin--lead by hate! (gov Walker and the Republicans)

AwakeAtLast

(14,133 posts)

2. Thank you!

Reply to dsc (Original post)

Tue Oct 7, 2014, 09:48 PM

Oct 2014

I tried to make this point in another thread, but I must not have done it as well as you, because the reply I got squarely placed the blame on the union.

I get very tired of reading anti-union responses on DU.

cui bono

(19,926 posts)

3. And with my union you have to have put in a certain number of years and have

Reply to dsc (Original post)

Tue Oct 7, 2014, 10:43 PM

Oct 2014

to wait until a certain age to get them when you retire.

And your pension is dependent on how many hours you have put in over the years. You get according to how much you worked.

I'm not a teacher though, but still, it's not free stuff!

gratuitous

(82,849 posts)

4. Makes you wanna holler, doesn't it?

Reply to dsc (Original post)

Wed Oct 8, 2014, 12:20 AM

Oct 2014

If the same "logic" applied in other areas of life, we could say "Why should I keep paying on my mortgage? The bank got all their money back years ago!"

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