The Diane Rehm Show

thank god diane said to kerpen what do you mean by lavish? He couldn't answer her! He stuttered and said he didn't know the actual figures. In other words he couldn't back up his nasty statements with facts--all through the show. He just makes assertions and tries to link worker negotiation with "Centrally Planned Economies". Hmm, wonder which--he couldn't mean Communist,could he? We are hip to him and his slurs. Too bad his group couldn't get a better spokesman. What's his salary i wonder? And benefits? Does he have group insurance or does he buy individual policies on the open "Free Market."!!

Marjorie Taylor,,

I too live in a 'right to work' state. What that really means is that you can be laid off at any time or any reason. Like so many of these framed mottos 'right to work' is actually the opposite of what it represents.

Right to Work State also means I am not forced to confirm to a certain ideology and have my dues go without any say.

Diane,
i wanted to write immediately when i heard mr. cerpen's comments, but i had to leave my office to go teach my class in my unionized job at the State University of NY.
union participation is "forced" upon all those employees for whom the union negotiates the contract that governs the terms and conditions of employment (like wages, health benefits, hours, etc.). no one is forced to become a "member", and those who don't are termed "fee payers".
union dues and fees DO NOT GO TO UNION BOSSES, but are given to the union. my union (UUP) is democratic governed. we elect our executives. the members decide collectively on union actions, policies, on how are funds are to be spent and on who is to be supported politically. of course we support politicians who support our positions, just like corporations do. (we're not idiots.)
union members are like any other human beings. if we can get a better compensation/benefits package in contract negotiations, then of course we will pursue them. but the final agreement is a compromise that both sides agree to. if the state does not want to agree, they don't have to. (in NY, we are legally forbidden to go on strike, but in return, when our contract lapses, our basic compensation/benefits will "coast" until a new contract is negotiated.)
in NY, our union dues CAN NOT be used for direct political activity in support of specific candidates. any funds used to support candidates is only by VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTION from the members.
when i ever do encounter any of my colleagues who object to being "forced" be represented by our union (there are a few), i tell them that they should negotiate directly themselves with governor, and arrange their own wages and benefits; we won't stand in their way.
winfield ihlow
SUNY at Oswego
UUP VP for Professional Staff

Thank you, Ms. Rehm, for challenging Mr. Kerper's assertion that public employees enjoy a lavish pension. A a retired teacher, I can attest to the fact that my retirement is not a lavish reward. It is a compensation to which I contributed a portion of my salary to the California State Teachers Retirement System (CalSTRS) every month of the 27 years I worked for the Los Angeles Unified School System. The District did match my contributions each month to CalSTRS, and we employees were often reminded that those District contributions were part of our compensation package. When we were offered higher pay in lieu of decreased retirement or health benefits, we chose the security that our pensions and health benefits would afford rather than the immediate gratification of the higher pay. CalSTRS is responsible for the investment of those funds to increase the value and the ongoing viability of the system. Many people do not realize that a teacher resigns from the district, and then retires from CalSTRS. Is this "lavish"? I think not!