CORRE Blog

If you didn't see this in Friday's Sentinel, you should read it here.

Ex-OR workers need relief, respect

By Jackie W. Sims, Citizen's Voice
Saturday, September 20, 2008

In his book, Tom Brokaw described "The Greatest Generation" as 
"American citizens who came of age during the Great Depression and 
the Second World War and went on to build modern America."

More than 65 years ago, many of these good folks came to work for 
government contractors in Tennessee as part of the Manhattan Project. 
They were employed at places such as K-25, Y-12 and X-10.

There's no doubt that their work made a major contribution to our 
victory in World War II and helped secure our freedom. Unfortunately, 
our nation's government, rather than showing appreciation for their 
efforts, has denied them fair treatment.

Those government contractor workers in Tennessee, like those who 
worked in other parts of the country, were guaranteed pensions. In 
other states, those pensions were adjusted over the years to help 
retain purchasing power as the cost of living went up.

These Tennessee retirees have seen only a very few meager 
adjustments, and their pensions have so eroded in purchasing power 
that it is a national disgrace.

For years, pleas have been made for relief and equitable treatment. 
In 2000, the Coalition of Oak Ridge Retired Employees was founded and 
took up the cause. Despite the good efforts and some moderate success 
of the group, the government continues to treat our retirees like 
stepchildren.

Their plight still has not been relieved despite the fact that, in 
some cases, they require public assistance for food and medical care. 
Contrast this with these facts: The retirement trust fund set up 
specifically for the benefit of the Oak Ridge contractor retirees 
contains approximately $800 million beyond projected needs.

Comparable government retirees in other states have received needed 
pension adjustments - not the case in Tennessee.

The impacts do not end with "The Greatest Generation" retirees and 
their families.

In total, there are approximately 12,000 retired Oak Ridge contractors.

Equitable adjustments to their pensions could result in a positive 
impact of approximately $70 million a year on the local economy - $70 
million that citizens of this area are now being shortchanged.

This outrage has gone on too long. We need action, and we need it now.

Let your elected officials and those running for office at every 
level up to and including the president know that this situation is 
unacceptable, must be rectified without further delay and that your 
vote depends on it.

On Sept. 24, CORRE will hold its annual meeting in Oak Ridge.

Show your support for this cause by attending - the public is invited.

If you are one of those retirees yourself, I urge you to join CORRE.

Its excellent Web site at www.corre.info includes the history and 
background on this compelling issue and tells you how to contact your 
representatives.

CORRE's mailing address is P.O. Box 4266, Oak Ridge, TN 37831-4366.

This problem must be fixed.

Which administration will step up and do it - Bush/Cheney, Obama/
Biden or McCain/Palin?

Jackie Sims is an Alabama native and longtime Knox County resident. 
She was employed at Oak Ridge National Laboratory for more than 20 
years.

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.