With a Republican Congress and Republican Administration, past cuts to USPS operations and Union members were threatened even further. Postal Unions had to cut some sort of deal to pay the blackmailers one way or the other in hopes they would go away. So it was agreed by all that tens of thousands of postal retirees who didn’t belong to Medicare would have to pay up to the tune of well over a hundred dollars a month. Do the math, its millions a dollars A MONTH into Medicare. What’s perplexing is that Medicare, while receiving a huge cash influx, will now become the primary payer for all these new people. How long have we heard about the financial troubles of Medicare? And now, with having to pay out who knows how much money for older individuals (a group well known to have very expensive medical costs in their older age bracket) Medicare is supposed to be better off? How long before Republicans are raising a hue and cry that Medicare benefits must be cut? Its a slippery slope and the door has been opened. Where do Postal Unions draw the line in the sand?
Now never mind that President Dimondstein’s Members First Team in the 2013 APWU National elections made promises to protect postal retiree benefits in response to former APWU President Guffey’s waffling testimony on the same in front of Congress. The Federal Government players have changed and have the Unions over a barrel. Extortion is now the name of the game. But blackmailers always come back for more. H.R. 756 is full of equivocal words like “may” “should” “possibly” as pointed out by APWU member Dan Kuralt. Try enforcing a collective bargaining agreement with such language. There are no guarantees! I can see where we have to pay up now or face terrible consequences like the threat of USPS running out of money only months from now. But you can bet the blackmailer will be back asking for more. How much more do we have to pay? When do we say enough is enough?
First Name: Paul
Last Name: Browning
Email: oldhipster54@hotmail.com
Union/Local: Retiree Chapter Michigan Postal Workers Union
Office held if any: President-Central Region Retiree Delegate APWU National Convention
Union and NAME of Local/Branch
APWU, SWMBAL
Office held, if any
Maintenance Craft Director (past)
The government already extorted $55B from its “quasi-independent” corporation to pre-fund all retiree health insurance benefits for 75 years into the future. None of us should have to pay a nickel more; nor should we be forced to accept the sub-standard benefits available under Medicare, as it instantly becomes the primary payer. (Many doctors refuse to accept Medicare patients, simply because of the reduced fee regulations.)
Union and NAME of Local/Branch
Pittsburgh PA Retiree Chapter.
Office held, if any
President Pgh Local 1974-1994, APWU DIR 1980-1983
Desi, please email me w/your email addy. I have been switched from Verizon to AOL, having a bit of trouble with emails. Regards, John
jprichards1@verizon.net
Union and NAME of Local/Branch
APWU - Florida State Retiree Chapter
Office held, if any
former Sec-Treasurer Pgh Metro Area Local (1994-2011)
It seems that medicare integration is finally taken serious by retiree activists. I remind you that I voiced my opposition to medicare integration from the get go. Too bad so many activists were enamored of the current administration to see the danger of medicare integration.
dneurohr@pgh-metro.net
Union and NAME of Local/Branch
President APWU - Pittsburgh PA Retiree Chapter
Office held, if any
President Pgh Local 1974-1994, APWU DIR 1980-1983.
Guffey et al paid the price for his debacle, although a few fish that should have been replaced escaped that net. They and the new team now huckster this law just as that team huckstered that contract. Remember the rogues who opposed? We were right! Will this team ‘suffer’ the same fate? I lived through the days of John L Lewis, UMWA legendary President, standing up to the US Senate and not backing down or making devil’s deals. If this is the best the new team can do is it time to clear the bench and bring in a new team? We stood tall in 1970 at greater risk than resisting would do now. The entire Federal health system is being put at risk as Postal retirees take the first bullet. The active members have so much at stake too. Where are those voices?
Union and NAME of Local/Branch
APWU - Oakland Local #78
Office held, if any
Retiree Chapter President
Every phase of life we have only one quest, The Truth! Thats the epiphany of life, Live on! Just tell your members and supporters the truth, which reveals itself regularly!