Originally Posted by
NERD
Buzz,
I think most in this country realize we are broke and everyone is going to have to cinch their belts. What is happening is a shakedown of unions, whether it be NJ, WI, OH or airline unions. They (ultra wealthy, multi-natls, etc.) are trying to further diminish the middle class, thus more money, less or no taxes for themselves. What would your feelings be if a group of politicians attacked your earned retirement and tricare? My guess is you and other veterans would go bat****. Sorta like the teachers and other union members are now. If, big if we are going to turn this ship around EVERYONE is going to have to pony up. Workers are going to pay more taxes, corps. are going to have to lose some loopholes, write offs on taxes will need to be eliminated or reduced, politicians are going to have to give up their full pensions and health care for life after 1 or 2 terms (maybe pro-rate those based on years served) those on SS will have to take a hit, same with medicare, military retirees(especially hire paid officers) will have to take a 10-15% pay hit and pay more for tricare. My guess is most fiscal conservatives won't like it when they come after their benefits, but it is ok to go after others. So, Buzz. What say you?
I think you make some good points. Higher paid officers would of course be hit harder by any cuts as a percentage. I personally wouldn't have a problem paying more for TRICARE but.... there is always a but, isnt there.
You are missing the point, as a Military member I did not belong to a unon, yet was a federal employee. The Federal Civil Service workers can belong to a union but they are prohibited by law from collectively bargaining, yet still are paid higher than their civilian counterparts. State and Federal CIVIL SERVANTS are just that, they work for the State and sacrifice higher pay for better stability and peace of mind that job security brings.
Before you go off on a rant that I don't understand. I supervised Civil Service employees and am married to a State Employee. They have a number of job protections we don't enjoy as ALPA members and the argument that they NEED the protections that a union provides is just plain wrong.
I heard a really good reason recently for the bailout of GM and Chrysler was to save the UAW because as all airline pilots know; had those organizations gone to CH11, their lucrative UAW contracts would have been amongst the first things slashed.
Just because we are members of an association, shouldn't mean we blindly stand up for the other unions. I wonder where the teachers were when Spirit was on strike, oh yeah, they were complaining that they had to pay more for the luxury of flying because a low fare carriers' work force was trying to negotiate a better contract.