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Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Battle brews over teachers’ pensions
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Retired and current teachers are outraged over a plan by Gov. Sonny Perdue to eliminate the guaranteed cost-of-living increases paid to retirees.
Currently, retired teachers automatically receive a 3 percent cost of living increase every year. But Perdue wants the Teacher Retirement Board to vote on these increases annually - meaning there’s a chance the extra money will be denied when the economy is weak.
Many retired teachers say the increases are needed because they were underpaid when they worked in classrooms.
It’s interesting that while retired teachers were given a 3 percent raise, current teachers typically receive only a 2 percent raise from Perdue and the Legislature. (Some local districts kick in extra money.)
Should retired teachers be guaranteed standard-of-living increases? We all know the great service teachers provide, but how many other professions are promised this?
UPDATE: Some Clayton teachers protested Perdue’s proposal today.
