Teachers would have to pay to keep their pensions

Teachers would have to pay to keep their pensions | MLive.com
Most teachers and other public school employees could see more than 10 percent of their paychecks go to retirement costs next school year under legislation that would take some of the burden for retiree benefits off school districts' shoulders and hand the cost to workers.

Teachers unions and public retiree groups say it's just one more attempt by Republican lawmakers to shift the cost for retiree benefits to current and former teachers.
They argue the state stopped prefunding retiree health care in the 1990s and now is taking money from individuals to make up for its mistake.
Retiree health care benefits make up the bulk of the $45 million hole Michigan finds itself in for unfunded school employee liabilities.
Asking so much from teachers "is not very fair," Michigan Education Association spokesman Doug Pratt said Friday.