Do you feel sorry for public sector union members who are seeing their benefits slashed?

Unions were good at one time in this country. Now they are outdated and not needed. Unions are the reason this country is in such dire straights.

Nope - dont feel sorry for 'em in the LEAST bit!

let them pay for part of their benefits like the rest of us have to.

Sorry, but I think it must still be better than SS, and if it isn't you picked the wrong team.

Try working 20 years and getting laid off or fired with nothing.

They're benefits are outrageous.

I think there are 2 classifications of 'public employees,' and I feel differently about them.

In one I put police, firemen, teachers (and any other essential services). They -- particularly police/firemen -- put their lives on the line for us, and I don't have a problem saying Thank You. The other group is clerical workers, elected officials, etc. Them I'm not as sorry for. :)

I agree totally with number-crunching to see what a viable pension should be and revising it as needed (COLA, for instance).

This is a two fold problem one that the Unions had the guts to demand these insane gifts at every other American expense and the gutless Politicians who made these agreements to get reelected. The so-called guardians of our purse strings knew one that they would be out of office when the bill came and second they knew that they could just shift the blame to the people in office when that bill was due. They should get the same as any other working stiff...a 401k in which they put money in and are matched to some extent and to pay for a portion of their medical plans. not given free everything in which every other American has to pay for.

I think that after many - without a doubt, no less than 20- years of service, a person should be able to retire and earn something. Most people in the private sector pay in a little each pay period and the company matches it, so why not expect the same of public sector employees.

The problem is those employees who have retired or have already been with the cities/counties, etc., who were "banking" on getting a full retirement after 20-25 or more years and then cutting them to practically nothing. That, I don't believe is right-just. I can see cutting current retirements to no less than 400% of the poverty level for areas that are truly bankrupt.I think we need to begin initializing new retirement deals for all newer and future hires at all levels. Don't punish them for working for a "government" entity as a "career" choice, but don't reward them more than those who are working for private-sector entities.

What needs to happen is that police, firemen, garbage men, etc. should not have 1% of their pay cut until administrative officials have theirs cut at 2x the cut they expect of the actual WORKING employees.

On Public Sector Unions - No, they need to go.

Public sector unions shouldn't exist. Period. Public sector employees work for the taxpayers. Unionizing them pits them AGAINST the tax payer in collective bargaining.

I feel sorry for the union people because they were blindsided by their union...They are getting screwed everyday....And if municipalities go belly up...So does their pensions....They follow blindly and will do the will of the unions...Sorry..I checked the wrong box...They are people to....Just like us...The unions are machines made to break and brainwash

Union corruption is rampant.

As a retired former public sector worker, after 331/2 years, I receive about 1/2 of my earnings/wages. I contributed to a pension plan which had matching funds from the employer. I was fortunate enough to get some medical coverage which will run out in a little over 2 years from now, so I will be looking for coverage for my wife and myself at that time. I don't know of anyone who can work 5 years, and get 70% of their wages! If that were the case, I'd think everyone would be scrambling for those jobs! So, if I may be so bold as to ask...who gets 70% of their wages and only has to work 5 years in a public sector job other than Congressmen or Senators....? If they are who you are referring to, also consider there are not very many of them, so what actual percentage of the population are you talking about here?

many contribution defined benefit plans vest in 5 to 7 years

Gov Walker laid the ground work. Twice, the good citizens of Wisconsin, mostly those who are MAKERS, not TAKERS backed him. Now, it's up to other states that are facing bankruptcy to follow suit.

i feel sorry for the one's who lost there job's not the one's raping the system on my tax dollar.

especially after a end of career boost that basically makes it 100% insane!

I don't feel sorry for them. Public sector means that they work for the public, not a private company. There should not be a 'public sector union'.

I have very little sympathy at all for the public sector union members, even though I am one. The public sector unions are the reason that so many municipalities are near bankruptcy, the teachers' unions are the main reason that public education is failing the youth of this country, the postal unions are the reason that the postal system is bankrupt.

Defined benefit plans are unrealistic; they pull numbers out of thin air and try to make reality fit. They are nothing more than Ponzei schemes based on fuzzy math. It would be better if they went to defined contribution plans like a 401K where you contribute an amount specific and the employer may or may not match a certain percentage.

As a retired former public worker, that is exactly what I had to do...every single month I worked, for 33 1/2 years, no matter what the title or position, a set specific percent amount was taken from my check and deposited in a pension plan. After 33 1/2 years I'm now retired and earn about 1/2 of my original salary. When my Medical plan runs out in a little over 2 years, I will be just like the rest of America, hunting for an affordable medical coverage plan for my wife and I. So, wherever or whoever is putting out the 75% of salary figures, it doesn't jibe with reality. I could have worked until I dropped, but life isn't really meant to be lived as a slave/drone, is it?

I think 401k's are a more realistic way to plan for retirement. Sorry to hear about your situation.

I feel sorry for the people that will feel the wrath of disgruntled Union workers.

Watch closely for 'terrorist-like' attacks!