chair’s Report neepawa Area

Pensions coMMittee chair’s rePort

submitted by anne Monk A Breakthrough and a Legacy

As our members know, the RTAM Board took a neutral stance in the 2011 provincial election campaign, but viewed it as an opportunity to continue to profile the teachers’ COLA problem and advocate for a resolution. Four activities were the focus:

• letters to the political parties regarding an RTAM AGM motion about COLA improvement; • a special election section in KIT asking our members to get engaged in the campaign and providing questions to ask candidates;

• plansformeetingswithcandidates by chapters and members; • a questionnaire to candidates in the three main parties asking them about their support/commitment for COLA improvement, and a follow-up letter to members informing them of questionnaire results and allowing them the opportunity to make their own individual judgments about party responses.

It is difficult for us to know the impact of our efforts, but we do know that the survey responses produced significant results that were both a break through and a legacy for retired teachers regarding COLA improvement.

Why a break through?

The positive responses of the Progressive Conservative and Liberal Parties, answering YES to our survey questions about a resolution of the COLA problem, is a major break through for RTAM. We now have two political parties indicating they are onside with RTAM regarding its approach for COLA improvement.

For several years RTAM has advocated that the parties sit down and discuss a fair and long-term funding resolution of the COLA problem. While the PC and Liberal Parties have generally been supportive of RTAM, their responses to our questionnaire went a step further in indicating explicitly support for our positions regarding COLA improvement. In particular, the PC Party leader’s letter of intent accompanying his survey response made a direct commitment to do just what RTAM has been advocating – to work with the parties to discuss a fair and long-term funding resolution on a priority basis. Similarly, the Liberal leader, consistent with his historical support and positions, indicated significant support. The NDP, however, has shown no movement in its approach to the COLA problem.

Why a legacy?

The PC and Liberal Parties’ indication of support/commitment for our COLA approach and positions are a legacy from our election efforts on which RTAM can build in our ongoing advocacy efforts regarding a COLA resolution. In particular, the letter of intent provided personally by the PC leader to RTAM officials and directly to all members in our election mail-out can be regarded as a covenant with our 8000 members, a commitment to which the PC party should be held.

This outcome is a result of our years of advocacy, our strategy of being neutral with respect to the political parties and our rational and reasonable positions. It has been a major accomplishment on the part of RTAM. Both the PCs and Liberals deserve our gratitude for the support they have provided to RTAM. Past and present Pensions and Political Action Committees, as well as various RTAM Boards, chapters and members who have supported and participated in our advocacy efforts, deserve a pat on the back.

Who’s conFused?

In responding to our questionnaire, the NDP did not directly answer our questions but provided comment only. Its comments are familiar to RTAM and generally sidestepped addressing our direct questions about COLA improvement. RTAM has responded to these typical NDP comments in the past and briefly commented upon them in our election letter to our members.

However, one comment is noted for highlighting – that is, the NDP response to our question #3 regarding support/commitment for similar significant COLA funding for retired teachers or a funding plan as has occurred respectively for civil servants and nurses. The NDP states, “There has been some recent confusion regarding a number of developments in other pension plans and how these compare to TRAF.”

This is not the first time the NDP has responded in this way to RTAM’s comments in particular about recent COLA funding for retired civil servants. A logical inference from this statement is that RTAM and retired

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