OPSEU members have the power to stop a government takeover of their pension plans, thousands heard on two “telephone town hall” meetings Monday night.
“This government can be swayed if there are enough people going in to see them,” said OPSEU Region 2 Vice-President Mike Grimaldi told callers. “There are already splits in Cabinet on this.”
Some 18,000 OPSEU members joined four telephone calls held Sept. 20 and 24 to learn more about the McGuinty government’s plan to pool dozens of pension plans to create a single super-fund controlled by private-sector managers.
“The only people who are going to benefit from this are actuaries who are going to figure out how this works and a bunch of investment bankers who are going control the fund,” said Grimaldi.
Many members were shocked at the possibility of losing control of their retirement savings, while others questioned the legality of the McGuinty plan.
“How can the government have the authority to just take control of our pension plans?” asked one caller. “What stops them from going into our bank accounts and taking our money?” asked another.
Grimaldi and fellow panelists President Warren (Smokey) Thomas and Region 5 Vice-President Nancy Pridham questioned whether the McGuinty plan could survive a court challenge.
“We like our chances on a legal challenge,” said Thomas, who emphasized the importance for members of political action.
“How they would craft legislation is still quite a mystery,” he said. “We’re not quite clear how they would proceed but our goal is to stop them from proceeding.”
Thomas and his fellow Executive Board Members called on OPSEU members to visit the web site at www.amatteroftrust.org and contact their MPPs.
“If you take four or five of your co-workers in to your MPPs office, that is going to have a major impact on the way this government moves,” said Grimaldi. “We can stop the government. The collective power of people can stop them.”
Dalton, enough is enough. Retirees have worked hard to achieve their pension, the working people are also working hard to achieve their pension so you don’t need to take it away.
I only have a small amount in my pension because I started contributing late. I am trying to deceide if I should take it out now before it becomes even less. What to do????
When I heard about upcoming negotiations – which certainly don’t look promising – and now with our pension fund, I immediately suspended my pension buy-back and I told OPTrust why.
What if anyone doing a buy-back right now would suspend it like I’ve done. Do you think it would have some kind of impact – kind of like a boycott?
This is pure greed on the part of this Government.It would be interesting to know exactly how many billions of dollars this provincial government receives and spends (wastes) from its taxes, OLG ,LCBO and whatever other sources of income it has. They are always finding new ways to get the money from everyday Ontarins who work hard for their money and they are now attacking the meagre pensions of those of us who have worked for many years and contributed our fair share to receive these pensions.
McGuinty managing our pension; that’s a laugh. We all know how good he is with our money. Shouldn’t we trust him to keep our best interests at heart? Bring on an election and kick him to the curb.
we are hard worker. and our earning is not that much.
those pensions are our rights, leave them alone.
Long-term financial security of pensioners should be the aim of every private and public sector pension plan. Pensioners must be able to predict how much money they can expect to receive every year for the rest of their lives. What is wrong with pensioners with money and having the confidence to spend it?
People who have a good pension that they can rely on support the economy, pay taxes, take trips. This increases the financial stability and profitability of the province. They have the means to eat well and thus remain healthy longer which reduces their reliance on expensive medical care. Many are able to live in their own homes instead of provincially sponsored retirement homes.
How is this bad for the province or retirees?
All pension plans should aim high – mediocre or underfunded plans should not be allowed to bring everything else down. Profitable pension plans should be left alone and unprofitable ones forced to be better managed.
How can this government have the RIGHT TO TOUCH OUR PENSIONS WE HAVE WORKED SO HARD FOR? They have no right to take from us to pay off a deficit they created. Why don’t they cut their own salaries instead of cutting ours? This is disgusting and unfair. Nobody has the right to decide on our pensions BUT US! we work hard and deserve to be protected. We are low on the totum poll and don’t make half as much as the heads of our government!
I couldent agree more.
There is only 1 Taxpayer and that is all of us
We have a city council and Mayor in Brantford who just voted themselves a Raise. Sorry but that is sending the Wrong message with all of the wage freeze and pensoin grab legislation in the works
Dalton you better make sure that you have your retirement plans in place. Your days in politics are winding down. If I were a Liberal I’d be so ashamed. KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF OUR PENSIONS
We need to band together as a collective group ..people think of every hour every minute of the day that you have spent saving and earning your pension future. Of the days that you left home to work to,make a better life for you and your family,!!! THINK ABOUT IT, why should anyone have the power to rip it out of your hands, your control…. Why should anybody settle ? I am not willing to settle, that would mean giving up hours days ,….time that we believed would benefit our lives, our future, our base as Canadians and our future as Canadians within the family as a unit, the family as a part of the future of Canada!!! Lets get a grip!!!
in the
am not willing to settle.
L
I agree. Dalton, KEEP YOUR GRUBBY HANDS OFF. We’ve worked hard for this. We don’t need you to take it away and lose it on ???
The word communism comes to mind….
i have been out on strike two times. If Dalton thinks that i wont strike for a third time he has another thing coming. KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF MY PENSION DALTON!
I did get your earlier voicemail but completely forgot to call (I can’t remember if I was called). Anyway, I was disappointed that I did not call in. Please keep us posted.
Many thanks and apologies once again.
This is theft. It is a criminal act. LEAVE OUR PENSIONS ALONE.