[quote=briansd1][quote=CA renter] BTW, the unions were opposed to the “contribution holidays” in most cases. If not for the lack of contributions during the good years (saving the taxpayers money in the short run), the pension plans would be much better off today.[/quote]

So wouldn’t it be fair that we ask for those employee contributions now?

I support pensions, but the system needs to be reformed. Employees and employers should always contribute.[/quote]

I’ve always said that employees should pay their fair share, not to mention the fact that some pensions are too generous and (IMHO) need to be reduced in some way. It’s not just the employee portion, but the *employer* portion that was not paid during the “contribution holidays,” so if we’re to increase contributions from employees (which I agree with), we also need to understand that the employer portion needs to be made up as well. This is where the anti-union folks get their fodder, though. They don’t understand that “taxpayers” (employers) weren’t paying ANYTHING toward pension contributions during the glory days of the stock market bubble.