MSTA West

Jeff Mimnall
Concocheague ES Washington
Head custodian

"I’m in here to Push for Pensions. I have 22 years and just recently learned what it’s all about. I’m pushing 43 and in another 20 years I would like to have a little something to retire on."

Linda Clites-Michael
Washington MS Allegany
Teacher

"I’m a rep, a delegate, the pension chairperson for Allegany County. I’m here because I didn’t start teaching until later in life so I really need to push for a better pension for my retirement. Both of my children just graduated and they are teachers. They’re both considering the move to Pennsylvania for both the salary and pension. We really need this now – It is now or never."

Earl Paul
Fort Hill HS Allegany
Special education teacher

"I am closer to retiring than to just getting started and I need to work on helping my family out after I retire. I’m also helping other teachers by trying to raise their benefits. I feel the retroactivity would be a good thing."

Stewart Monroe, Jr.
President, Allegany Educational Services Council

"It was a good meeting tonight. We’re glad that they listened to us. They took our input to try to improve the pensions up to a 2.0 that is the minimum that we can accept."

Sally McAteer
Allegheny HS Allegany
Instructional assistant

"My daughter is a fourth grade teacher in Frederick and she is considering moving away – we have a lot young people from Frostburg State with us tonight because they are very concerned about the pension. They’re so concerned; in fact, they’re looking at jobs in other states. We are going to lose a lot of great teachers if we don’t improve our pension."