Retirees protest 'Suttlecare'

[Omaha Steve]

The City of Omaha is my employer. I have a lot riding on this. My local is fighting it.

http://www.omaha.com/article/20100429/NEWS01/704299797#retirees-protest-suttlecare

Published Thursday April 29, 2010

By Maggie O'Brien
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

Omaha Mayor Jim Suttle’s proposal to require retired city workers to pay more for health insurance was rejected Thursday by the city’s Personnel Board.

The unanimous vote brought cheers from retired police officers, firefighters and civilian workers, who packed the room at the City-County Building.

“Board members, when faced with the realities of this proposal and the impact this will have on people’s lives, saw the injustice of it,” said John Corrigan, an attorney who represents Omaha’s police, fire and civilian unions. “That’s encouraging.”

Suttle said in a statement that Personnel Board members “serve our city honorably, but they represent ideas that no longer fit the times.”

With the Personnel Board’s recommendation, the final decision is up to the City Council. Five council votes instead of four will be needed for approval since the board turned down the measure.

Council President Garry Gernandt, a retired police officer, said Thursday he didn’t know which way the council would lean.

FULL story at link.

[abelenkpe]

1. Good luck

I think it would be extremely unfair to ask retirees to pay more when they labored for years under the promise that they would receive that care. I understand that states and counties are desperate for more revenue but punishing workers is the wrong solution.

[nosmokes]

2. The personnel board's ideas obviously aren't corrupt enough to be up to

date like the mayor's.

[virgogal]

3. Can they do this? My son has 17 years as a police officer and one of the

things offered as a benefit was full payment of medical after retirement.

Can they change the rules in the middle of the game?