Posted at: 07/11/2009 6:47 PM
Updated at: 07/11/2009 6:52 PM
By: Cris Ornelas, Eyewitness News 4; Charlie Pabst, KOB.com

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State employees upset over upped retirement pay

Lawmakers raised pension contributions for workers, but not themselves.

State lawmakers who passed the bill didn't include themselves.

Employee unions say they are angry that they have to pay more and legislators don't, but surprisingly, they say they don't want lawmakers to have to pay as much as they do.

At a hastily-called press conference, members of the state's teacher's union raged against state lawmakers.

Union representative Sara Attleson said Saturday, "I spoke with my neighbor, who is also a teacher with APS, and we are both insulted. Once again, the legislature insults us."

They say they're upset when the legislature decided to force all state employees, from teachers to corrections officers, to put 1.5% more of their pay into their retirement plans to save the state money.

The fact that those same lawmakers are exempt has made them livid, they say. Union members say the extra money taken out of their checks amounts to a pay cut.

Tim Crone, another union representative, said "We have to pay more for groceries; we have to pay more for gasoline."

Union reps say they don't want state lawmakers to have to pay more into their pensions like they do.

"I don't want more money taken out of their retirement, that's not what this is all about. We do want them not to take more money out of our retirement," Crone said.

They say they want the bill that started it all repealed and they are waging a petition drive to make it happen.

Unions say if there is a special session later this year, as expected, they will make a strong push to get the bill repealed.