by rondelord | Apr 18, 2014 | Fire, Labor, Pensions, Police, Politics, Unions
TALLAHASSEE — Lawmakers may have found a solution to the longstanding problem of trying to financially strengthen city retirement plans for police officers and firefighters, while keeping both the cities and unions happy about the resolution. “It’s been a long...
by rondelord | Apr 18, 2014 | Collective Bargaining, Fire, Labor, Pensions, Police, Politics, Public Employees (Non-Sworn), Unions
“Once people get the facts, they do not support slashing people’s pensions.” – Dave Low, chairman, Californians for Retirement Security (Washington Post, February 25, 2014) Really? Making sure “people get the facts” is difficult when most “facts” the public sees...
by rondelord | Apr 18, 2014 | Collective Bargaining, Fire, Labor, Pensions, Police, Politics, Public Employees (Non-Sworn), Unions
Gov. Chris Christie is to be commended for allocating $2.25 billion of his fiscal year 2015 budget to New Jersey’s state-administered pension funds. He is indeed correct that this amount – while far short of the actuarially required contribution – is large for New...
by rondelord | Apr 18, 2014 | Fire, Labor, Pensions, Police, Politics, Public Employees (Non-Sworn), Unions
Memphis has underfunded its city-run pension plan since 2009, putting the cash toward its budget. Tennessee lawmakers want to attach a cost to that kind of scrimping on retirement expenses. Legislators are poised to take up a bill this week requiring cities, school...
by rondelord | Apr 18, 2014 | Collective Bargaining, Fire, Labor, Pensions, Politics, Unions
City officials will try to restart talks Friday with the Jacksonville firefighters’ union over benefit changes that an influential task force says are critical to reform the city’s pension plan. Scaling back annual 3 percent cost-of-living increases for current and...
by rondelord | Apr 18, 2014 | Fire, Labor, Pensions, Police, Politics, Public Employees (Non-Sworn), Unions
The “pensions timebomb” keeps on ticking and as societies we become less prepared by the day. Yet another report shows that the U.S. public pension system is in dire straits. This one comes from renowned hedge fund manager Bridgewater Associates. The study estimates...
