Question about city workers and management?

Why aren't reporters asking these questions of management at every level of government and in all publicly held companies?

As of 2007, the exempt employees (all non-union) paid a portion of their health insurance based upon their plan. It was $300/year for a single person; $480 for a 2-person family; and $660 for more than 2 covered on a family plan.

I believe that AFSCME Local 2058 also paid these amounts in 2007, though I don't know if their contractual amounts changed since that date.

When the city declared exigent circumstances, part of the changes were that the non-union, exempt employees starting paying the 10% employee portion of their PERS pickup that the city had been paying for them. In the past, the city has extended the pension pickups negotiated for union employees to the exempt employees.

I recall that Collins, in 2010, had presented an ordinance to again have the city pay that 10% after the mayor re-negotiated the union contracts and removed the exigent circumstances. I don't know if they actually voted on that agenda item.

I do not belong to an union nor does any member of my family. I am not anti-union and am old enough to remember why unions were formed.

However in my 50 years of working no one paid my share of social security nor do I know of anyone who has. I am lucky that I worked during the years when employers paid for pension, hospitalization, etc. for their employees. I will be forever grateful for these benefits.

Now when you are retired and you pay for Medicare, Medicare Supplements, Drug Plans, etc. you should also be grateful that they are there for you. Several generations ago the poorest of the poor were the elderly, especially elderly women.

Just for information only - I pay over $600/month for these benefits.