Or other public employees.
I'm in Tier 4 of the NYS employee retirement system. I can't retire before 65 without taking a large hit in benefits. I can collect a partial pension at age 55 with 30 years service, but not anything close to half pay.
I paid into my pension up until the last contract, when the State (in a shameless vote-buying attempt cancelled) the contribution for employees with ten years service. Of course, this hurt the pension fund, and when the stock marked dropped the taxpayers had to make up the difference.
I also contribute towards my health insurance, and it's significantly more expensive for family coverage. The TWU pays nothing and gets free family coverage.
The TWU refuses to allow a second retirement tier for new employees that would require them to work to age 62 and pay into their pensions and health insurance. Touissant called this "selling out their unborn." Since when do Libs have a problem with that?
As an example, a bus driver for NYC Transit makes about twice what a DOT plow truck driver does, with much better benefits.
Unlike the TWU, which refuses to adopt one-person train crews, DOT's CSEA-represented drivers have accepted one-person plow truck crews. Not as safe, and much harder on the drivers, but it saves the taxpayers a ton of money and puts more trucks on the road with the same number of employees. DOT drivers also "shift", working either early morning or afternoon/evening during the snow & ice season in order to cut down on overtime.
Thanks for your comments, and your info on the various benefit programs. I just heard some transit worker whining on TV about the idea of having to pay a dime on her health care. Join the club, honey.