Ballots are in the mail for the PERA Board election. The MNCORA Board has endorsed me for the Retired, Disabled and Survivors seat.
There is another person also running. Dennis Flaherty, former police officer and former head of the MPPOA.
In the late 90's when we were working on creating the PERA Correctional plan the MPPOA under Dennis Flaherty's leadership opposed it!
In 2017 LELS/MPPOA backed
DECREASING the PERA Correctional COLA from 2.5% to 1%. They wanted to "share the pain" to help bolster the weaker PERA Pensions like Police and Fire. Fortunately I was at that meeting and was able to stop it.
As recently as last year the MPPOA supported legislation to add Dispatchers to the Correctional plan and submitted a letter of support along with several letters from their LELS members. While Dennis Flaherty was no longer with the MPPOA it shows their continued disdain for for Correctional Officers and they view our healthy pension as one to be raided to bolster others.
Police and Fire already have a dedicated seat on the PERA Board. There are no Correctional Officers on the PERA Board.
I personally attend PERA Board meetings. I have never seen Dennis Flaherty at any of them!
My seat will require representing Retired, Disabled and Survivors, I will treat that responsibility with all the passion I had representing members as a Union steward. I will have a vote on all issues coming before the PERA Board.
The PERA Correctional plan has about $1 Billion in it and no dedicated voice.
We need a CO's point of view. Police and Fire already have one dedicated seat.
I will represent all PERA members without trying to bolster one group at the detriment of another.
I would appreciate your support when you receive your ballot.
Wade Laszlo
President MNCORA
