May 15, 2002 3 min read

Dear Editor: Why must your newspaper keep publishing less than truths in your news articles? Your latest one was on retired teachers (as you put in your headlines) when it should have said retired school employees, as not only teachers, but also secretaries, custodians, administrators and any other employee of school districts who are members of the retirement system were at the state capitol.

You were right in the fact that Act 9 gave active school employees a 25 percent increase to retirees. The fact is less than 20,000 retirees will receive that 25 percent. Also, the fact remains that more than 70,000 will not receive anything this year, and then they will receive in July of 2003 something between 2.27 percent and 9 percent, depending on the year they retired. Now, that is one of the reasons almost 10,000 retirees were standing on the steps of the capitol for almost two hours, and if necessary, we will be back stronger and louder.

All we ask for is our fair share. Are we not entitled to the same treatment the active employees receive? I think so and will continue to fight for equity.

Since I wrote this about an article in Wednesday’s paper, a correction appeared in the bottom corner of Thursday’s paper, but again, it was only half right. You corrected the percentage, but forgot to correct that over 70,000 will still not receive an increase until July 2003.

William W. Zink

president

Fayette County Association

of School Retirees

Casey respects workers

Dear Editor:

Pennsylvania was built on the blood and sweat of men and women who belong to labor unions. It is the history of our struggle for safe working conditions, decent pay and health benefits that established the blueprint for child labor laws, OSHA and legal binding arbitration.

However, organized labor has been forced to take many steps backward since the late 70s. In order to ensure that we won’t be forced into extinction, we need to elect government leaders that understand our values and the struggles that brought us together in brotherhood so many years ago. We have two friends that stand apart from other candidates for governor and lieutenant governor.

Auditor General Bob Casey and state Sen. Allen Kukovich have shown respect and support for the working families of Pennsylvania. Bob Casey has solid plans to help citizens by increasing the state’s minimum wage, providing more daycare and health care workers, improving our public education and establishing a better prescription plan for senior citizens.

Among his legislative priorities, Kukovich has worked tirelessly for children’s health programs and to provide low-wage workers with affordable medical insurance.

These are the goals of working class residents in Pennsylvania: good wages, good health care, good schools and security in the golden years. They are the goals of Casey and Kukovich.

Let’s not take any more steps backward. On election day, let’s support Casey/Kukovich. They are the candidates that have supported labor.

Stephen Baker, member

AFSCME, Local 2109