Washington

Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin

(130,849 posts) Sat Nov 8, 2025, 02:40 PM Saturday

'At any cost': Snohomish bargaining to replace union pensions

SNOHOMISH — During ongoing bargaining sessions, Snohomish officials have made it clear they wish to exclude a union pension from the city workers’ next contract, a Teamster representative said.

The city has 38 employees represented by Teamsters Local Union No. 763. As part of their 2023 contract, employees are required to contribute to the Teamsters Pension Trust, which funds monthly retirement payments for life.

“Early in bargaining, when the city proposed withdrawing from the Teamster pension, we were stunned,” said Tammy Ayers, a Teamsters’ business agent, during a City Council meeting Oct. 28.

“My perception of what they’re doing is that they are intending to get rid of Teamsters pension at any cost,” she said in an interview.

https://www.heraldnet.com/news/at-any-cost-snohomish-bargaining-to-replace-union-pensions/

2 replies

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'At any cost': Snohomish bargaining to replace union pensions (Original Post) Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Saturday OP

That would be foolish NotHardly Saturday #1

I have a decent and secure retirement ONLY because of my union contract mike_c Saturday #2

NotHardly

(2,226 posts)

1. That would be foolish

Reply to Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin (Original post)

Sat Nov 8, 2025, 02:55 PM

Saturday

mike_c

(36,835 posts)

2. I have a decent and secure retirement ONLY because of my union contract

Reply to Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin (Original post)

Sat Nov 8, 2025, 03:24 PM

Saturday

My employer would have happily eliminated our pensions if we had allowed it, or converted them into some ghost of a retirement living, aka 401k accts. We have good healthcare as well, the pension pays our Medicare and supplemental insurance premiums, and we get annual COLA increases. THAT is what a "union pension" should be-- the means to a secure and reasonably comfortable retirement. Whenever an employer seeks to eliminate genuine, defined benefit pensions, it's always because they have someone else's interests in mind, not their employees'.

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