Let’s make the best of it

Editor:

There has been a great deal of turmoil and a lot of good discussion among the government unions in regard to this upcoming pension adjustment. Representatives from each of the unions and government worked diligently to make the best of a bad situation, and from my perspective as an IUOE Local 942 member, I am proud of how our representatives worked to get the best that could really have been accomplished to maintain the base for retirees and to limit the long- term effect for those that are working toward retirement.

Some may say that the actuarial accountants hired as consultants on this job are in the pocket of the current Liberal government, I don’t agree; but I do believe that running two thousand or more various pension scenarios, as they have done, has led us to the best that we can expect in the situation we find ourselves.

The leadership of some unions, per usual, can not see the forest for the trees and must always fight against government. This same leadership is now spending a lot of their union dollars on TV and radio ads to stir members up to fight against this pension adjustment, with only inferior alternate proposals to offer. It is not the job of your union leadership to constantly go against government, it is their job to work in the best interests of the membership - to work toward, what in this case would be the best for the unions, the government and the people the union members all work for - the people of P. E. I.

Please, if you haven’t attended one of the information meetings, do so. The sessions are very well done and informative. And if you need any further clarification on some aspects of the plan, ask for a copy of the IUOE 942 information sheet our members received. It is well done and doesn’t leave much room to find better alternatives.

None of us wanted or asked to be in this position, but here we are — let’s make the best of it. Chris Spenceley, Member IUOE 942, Charlottetown