Pension not to blame
When I came to work for the Bakersfield Fire Department in 1974 the pension that I was paying for was considerably less than my current one and the age at which I could draw it was later. At that time I was aware of the fact that firefighters, on an average, lived eight to 10 years less than the general population and usually died from heart disease or some type of cancer, and I might not live to see that pension.
In the years from 1974 to now, I have seen my pension get better and the age at which I could draw it got sooner. But make no mistake, this did not come from the generosity of the Bakersfield City Council or city manager. We negotiated in good faith with them and we gave up pay raises and other benefits to get it.
But rather than keeping the monies aside for the day when it was not overfunded, they chose instead to spend it on ice rinks, water parks and new offices for City Manager Alan Tandy. Now, the whole national, state and city economy is in trouble and to hear Councilman Zack Scrivner et al, it is because I have a 3 percent at 50 pension.
Bull. If the city is in such dire straits, why did the other unions and the city manager receive an 8 percent raise and why were the firefighters and police offered the same?
If the council has buyer's remorse, then get back and do some good faith bargaining.
ALAN NEUMANN
Bakersfield
