Image provided by: SEIU Local 503; Salem, OR
About The Oregon public employe. (Salem, Oregon) 1981-???? | View Entire Issue (March 1, 1994)
— The fight is on: Dueling ads hit airwaves * Following days of mean-spirited misinformation about our pensions in a series of radio ads produced by Bill Sizemore and Bob Sizemore and Tieman were attacking. Apparently, Sizemore and Tiernan, we launched an ad campaign that gives Oregonians a more balanced view of the work public employees do and just who saying they’re is not mean-spirited. We’ve aired another ad giving Tiernan didn’t like our message and came out with an ad on April 1 voters more information about our work and our pensions. THEM US THEM IS The Tieman, Sizemore ad But, when they Ouch! They were stung Voters heard the facts was misleading... heard our ad... and aired this ad... about public employees... MDid you know that, after a few years on the job, public and Bill Sizemore have been 6 All of us are frustrated tSWe’re not attacking 4 Recently, Bob Tiernan firemen and librarians. We’re at the cost of government. We’re school teachers (no matter how attacking the public employees simply telling Oregonians the looking for more efficient ways to unsatisfactory their performance) of Oregon. To hear them tell it, facts about the high cost of get things done. But, there’s a most of Oregon’s problems can excessive public pensions. True, lot to get done. There’s no be solved just by cutting public those facts are shocking, and the shortage of kids to teach or that insists on this ridiculous employee jobs, salaries, and facts do make taxpayers feel like criminals to catch. policy even though it weakens pensions. Sounds easy, doesn’t they’re being taken to the clean our schools. it? Way too easy. Public em ers. But, the next time you hear simple world anymore. That’s almost cannot be fired? It’s the teachers’ union We just don’t live in a ployees are the police who patrol a radio ad attacking Bill why simplistic solutions generally only 12 years’ experience, our neighborhoods; the Sizemore or Bob Tiernan, say to end up doing more harm than Portland-area school teachers firefighters who protect our yourself, why are they attacking good. collect about $70,000 a year in homes; the teachers who edu the messengers? What's the salary and fringe benefits, cate our kids. message they don’t want us to Bob Tiernan. They want to cut hear? the salaries and pension of over Did you know that after including an unbelievable retire ment program! Seventy thou Public employees are our neighbors. They share in our This is Bill Sizemore for Take Bill Sizemore and 180,000 working men and sand dollars a year and they get hopes, our worries, and they pay Oregon Taxpayers United. women in Oregon. They make it 3-1/2 months off. the same taxes as the rest of us. We’re not mean-spirited about sound like public employees are They — and Oregon — deserve public employees, but fair, rich when the average salary is really care about kids didn’t better than the mean-spirited sensible people. When handed barely over $25,000. They make become teachers just for the misinformation campaign being the facts, we’ll recognize that it sound like public employee money. But, the teachers’ unions put out by Tiernan and public employees retirement pensions are too much when the have so strong-armed the school Sizemore. benefits have crossed the line. average pension is just $714 a They’re excessive, and they’re month. The good teachers who districts into providing such extrava Oregonians are en Why attack the people gant benefits that, frankly, the kids gaged in a debate about the unfair to the rest of us who, are now being made to suffer future. About whether we build paycheck to paycheck, are who do the work? Why not work because of program cuts and fewer up Oregon out of hope, or tear it financing pensions for public together to solve Oregon’s teachers. down out of frustration. We employees that we ourselves problems. We stand with those stand with those Oregonians could never even dream about. For a free brochure on waste in our public schools, call who are committed to building a Oregon Taxpayers United Educa better Oregon. Stand with us. tion Foundation at 251 -1635. A message from the Want the hard facts on public employee pensions? Call us at 251-1235.” Stand with us. A message from the public employees of Oregon — public employees of Oregon — firefighters, teachers, policemen firefighters, teachers, policemen and women, librarians, child care Phone 251-1235 and ask that they and women, librarians, child care workers, and all the others who mail you a copy of the “hard facts” workers, and all the others who serve Oregon well. so you can compare it with what serve Oregon well. you know to be true about PERS. Page 2 Oregonians who are committed to building a better Oregon.
