My understand is Walker is not even addressing salaries, just pensions.
(and they’re still crying like someone killed their pet)
The original system is going broke, teachers never were required to make any contributions, politicals spent the money they had agreed to put in.
The second system has teachers put in around 6-7 K/year tax free into a 401 type retirement plan; almost all the money is their own contributions. Most teachers will retire close to their normal pay after 25 years. It works out pretty good actually. My wife and I are both under the second plan and even though I heard the NEA cry bloody murder at it's inception; really pretty good deal as it takes the politicals out of the equation.
Where were the Wisc. teachers 15 years back when Alaska was seeing the writing on the wall? For the life of me, I can't figure why they are complaining anyway? I'd much rather depend on my own contributions and keep the political thieves out of the picture.
Walker is not addressing salaries, that is correct. Not yet. Likely it is coming and the union cry babies and thugs know it. Oh well...too bad, so sad. My husband has had no job at all TWICE since Barry was illegally sworn in. And still we have to pay TAXES to support these worthless “workers.” Let them join the Real World.
What Walker is really addressing here is not merely the union “workers” contributing to their health insurance and pension. The BIG thing the Union is afraid of is that Walker is seeking to set aside collective bargaining (what the union calls a right...but it isn’t a right). It is THIS that would in effect break the backbone of the Unions if not outright BUST them completely.
I support Governor Walker 100% and have emailed my support. Other WI taxpayers might want to do the same. Supportive calls and emails are more important than some realize at a time like this.