Urgent: POAM Call to ACTION

Update via: Kenneth E. Grabowski, POAM Legislative Director 

POAM will be co-hosting a RALLY AT THE CAPITOL

Wednesday, November 29 at 9 a.m. to support the Governor’s Task for Recommendations on Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB) and pension benefits for public safety and municipal employees. We need your attendance!

POAM expects legislation to be introduced that goes further than the task force report, potentially impacting the benefits you have been promised. This rally will be co-hosted by all public safety organizations to send a message to lawmakers: 

  1. Protect the benefits we have earned by supporting the task force recommendations
  2. Don’t take away the benefits that we have earned or have been promised

Police & Fire Rally at the Capitol Details

WHERE
Michigan State Capitol Lawn (East side)
100 N. Capitol Avenue
Lansing, MI 48933

Dress appropriately for the weather as we will be outside on the capitol steps and lawn.

WHEN
Wednesday, November 29

TIME
9:00AM

FACEBOOK EVENT: http://bit.ly/2j68XHM

QUESTIONS?

If you have any questions, please contact POAM at 313-937-9000.

Be sure to follow POAM on Facebook, Twitter for updates.

26 responses to “POAM Call to ACTION: Police and Fire Rally at the Capitol

Posted by Scott Gray

P.O.A.M if not already done. We need to go to as many television stations as possible, to get this more out in the open again and put some pressure on the people behind this. A lot of retirees don’t follow facebook and have no idea what is going on again. I contacted ever retiree contact I have last night after I found out yesterday. If we loose our medical insurance, a lot of us retirees, and their families will be in bad financial situations. It could bankrupt a lot of us on a fixed income. I believe we should be offered our old jobs back if this happens, only fair if they are going to take away what they said they were going to give us.
Scott Gray
Retired Deputy Genesee County Sheriff Department

Posted on November 30, 2017 at 9:52 AM

Posted by POAM

Scott, thanks for all you’ve done. We do have a list of retired individuals from our membership lists we keep informed via the POAM newsletter. But, all help counts.

Posted on November 30, 2017 at 3:07 PM

Posted by Gerald Austin VanWormer

Does this mean I can unretire and go back to work with full seniority and pay?? If they don’t have to abide by a lawfully binding agreement then I shouldnt be held to it either

Posted on November 29, 2017 at 12:35 AM

Posted by Kirk E Filsinger

Nice message Harry, I just had hip replacement so can not make the trip but I know I will be well represented! Let me know if you need any future help.

Posted on November 28, 2017 at 11:45 PM

Posted by Patricia Nowak

What happens to us when we are now too old to be employed? We couldn’t put in to Social Security due to our organizations rules and we are left with what???

We shouldn’t be left aside and discarded – we were hard working people with our only desire to protect our community- help us please. We will always lay our lives down for you

Posted on November 28, 2017 at 8:23 PM

Posted by Joe Hetu

I’ll see you there tomorrow.

Joe Hetu
Northville Township P. D. , Retired.

Posted on November 28, 2017 at 2:39 PM

Posted by W. Roger Stielow

I have always voted republican candidates, in the past but if you change retirement benefits for police, fire, and EMS, the only thing I can do is to vote for Democrats. I am embarrassed to say that I am a republican.

Posted on November 24, 2017 at 1:39 AM

Posted by Erik Sanders

Thank you for the information. As law Enforcement officers we continue to put our trust in Republican politicians and continue to elect those whose main goal seems to eradicate what we have worked our entire adult lives to obtain. When will we learn that the goal of the Republican party continues to be to eliminate unions and benefits of those who will ultimately be the first people they call when they need help. From “Right to work” legislation to “Emergency Managers” that gut benefits, the Republicans have done NOTHING to help those of us in the middle. Many of us hold degrees and advanced degrees. We all have worked in a field for far less than we could have made in the private sector for the promise of a pay off in the end. Now they want to have we lower paid employees that risk their lives while employed AND not give the balance to that upon retirement. Even worse, they want to change the benefits to those who have been retired already? Shameful. The question must be asked…who will cover these benefits that are required to be covered when the citizen who worked 25, 30, 35 or more years to cover these benefits, can’t? These benefits were promised to each and every one of us, and in return we’d sacrifice the earning potential in the private sector for lower wages. Those of us with Municipal pensions already sacrifice a large percentage of social security benefits we’ve paid into. We sacrifice our earning potential. We put our lives at risk and many give the ultimate (his/her lives) so that those who count on us can attack us at every turn. I’ll be in attendance and I hope that every brother and sister in Blue will also attend. Where and when will these attacks stop?

Erik Sanders
Oak Park Public Safety Officers

Posted on November 23, 2017 at 6:24 PM

Posted by POAM

We are looking forward to seeing you. Thank you, Erik.

Posted on November 27, 2017 at 12:28 PM

Posted by Harry Valentine

Bringing a van full wish I had a bus

Posted on November 23, 2017 at 8:10 AM

Posted by POAM

We are looking forward to seeing you, Harry. Thank you.

Posted on November 27, 2017 at 12:28 PM

Posted by Jesse Bartlett

I have voted republican for years. It is my party that is backing these bills which would include the governor. Democrats ARE NOT BACKING THESE BILLS. Needless to say I will be re-thinking my vote reference the state of Michigan. I hope police and fire personnel both active and retired pay close attention to the state reps and senators who are voting for these bills. These same people ask us to put our lives on the line and this is the thanks we get. We need as many fire and police personnel at this rally on the 29th.

Posted on November 22, 2017 at 6:52 PM

Posted by Charles Lux

I will be there at the rally. I contacted my state representatives where I live ( Livonia) never heard back from them. I guess that tells me all I have to know about them. It is time we stop electing these people into office. They are anti Police, Fire and Teachers. Pretty much any public employee that is in any union. This administration has started Right to Work in Michigan and started taxing our pensions. They wonder why so many people move south after retirement. No pension tax and some states no state income tax or at least lower taxes then in Michigan.

Posted on November 21, 2017 at 12:39 AM

Posted by sgt wm trout, retired

I wish the people in Lansing would stop trying to invent the wheel leave the cities and municipalities alone if they do not need help .one size does not fit all .I did my 32 years on the road and got my benefits through collective bargaining. If I lose my health care I have to sell my house in Michigan and I will stop paying taxes in Michigan. But before I go you can be sure I’ll be voting.
.

Posted on November 21, 2017 at 12:20 AM

Posted by Charles Frisby

The retiree health benefits for Saginaw Co. Sheriff retirees have already been reduced to the health care provided by Medicare. Our former benefits were agreed to thru collective bargaining and were promised to us. Saginaw Co now claims they are not bound by former contracts and taken away benefits earned by many who faithfully served Saginaw Co for 25 to 30 + years. Uor prescription plan has elevated 3000% and may rise higher the first of 2018. Many of our retirees are existing on pensions established 25 to 30 years ago and now must choose what medication and medical treatment to receive because of the exorbitant cost they now face becsuse of the dishonesty of Saginaw Co Commissioners. Please support this movement as what has happened to us will surely happen to yo.

Posted on November 20, 2017 at 11:08 PM

Posted by Harry Valentine

Sent to the Govenor
Governor Snyder,
I have been told the following, a bill in draft form dealing with the subject of OPEB will curtail or severely alter first responder retirement medical benefits, end the fair and responsible negotiation of such benefits for existing first responders, and create hybrid emergency management committees to act without restriction. I am informed you will ignore the Committee For Responsible Retirement report and if passed sign the formal bill. As a life a long Michigan resident, and recently retired 30 year deputy sheriff I would like the truth. Is my information correct? If not what is incorrect about it? No one in the legislative branch appears to know, however the Mackinac Center for Public Policy and individual Legislators all of keep talking about it, while saying nothing of substance to us.
As the father of a disabled adult, whom my wife and I care for, medical benefits are essential to our health and economic existence. To end or alter my health care, a benefit I earned through service and sacrifice will jeopardize my family. I take my family very seriously. Other fellow deputies are in similar predicaments. Retirement benefits are not a one size fits all. Our union, its members, and Washtenaw County made sacrifices and negotiated fairly for what it could afford. The only credit we receive is medaling from the state. As a deputy I expected attacks from the criminals. I should have watched my back for politicians. You can’t let this happen. You need to follow your committee’s findings and end these last minute legislative attacks on first responders. As fathers we all have situations and issues that are serious to our family’s existence. This is mine. I don’t expect to hear back from you. I know how the system works. The Bible says, Cast your bread on the water it will come back to you. Thank you for your time. Where is your bread this Thanksgiving?
Respectfully
Harry Valentine

Posted on November 20, 2017 at 8:28 PM

Posted by D/Sgt Mark Relich

We were there last year, we’ll be there this year. Grosse Ile PD.

Posted on November 20, 2017 at 1:49 PM

Posted by POAM

Thank you, guys. We are looking forward to seeing you.

Posted on November 27, 2017 at 12:30 PM

Posted by Kurt Skarjune

Ken,

Found task force recommendations online. Thanks. Again, I’m on board for the rally.

Kurt Skarjune Oak Park PSD

Posted on November 20, 2017 at 1:27 PM

Posted by POAM

See you there, Kurt! Thank you so much.

Posted on November 27, 2017 at 12:30 PM

Posted by R. Scott Goosen

Could you post what are the proposed changes that some law makers want? Could you also post what was recommended this past Summer?
R. Scott Goosen
FHPD

Posted on November 20, 2017 at 12:23 PM

Posted by POAM

Here you go: //www.poam.net/legislative-updates/task-force-report/

Posted on November 27, 2017 at 12:32 PM

Posted by Robert Brzak

I will not be able to attend but I will continue to write to people who will be making these decisions. Wayne Schmidt who is my Senator refuses to respond to my emails . I have sent two emails so far looks like I’ll try again . Too busy must be to respond. Too bad

Posted on November 20, 2017 at 12:20 PM

Posted by POAM

Thank you for all of your efforts, Robert. We know that you are there with us in spirit.

Posted on November 27, 2017 at 12:31 PM

Posted by Keith Waller

I will be unable to attend, I will be in Minn for Thanksgiving.

Posted on November 20, 2017 at 12:15 PM

Posted by POAM

That’s a long Thanksgiving. You’re a lucky man, Keith. We know you are there with us in spirit.

Posted on November 27, 2017 at 12:31 PM

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