THE PRUDENT WAY TO TREAT PUBLIC RETIREES IS TO TREAT THEM FAIRLY TO THE EDITOR:.(MAIN)

Byline: EDWARD J. CLEARY President New York State AFL-CIO

I read with great interest your editorial on the issue of a cost of living allowance for public retirees (June 7). As you know the state AFL-CIO has been involved in the ongoing COLA discussions. I couldn't agree more that any COLA that is implemented must be one that is prudent. I disagree completely with your supposition that the current system of ad hoc supplementation is ``prudent.''

Under the current system, which is almost exactly the approach you suggested, a public retiree who retired in 1983 receives the same pension allowance today that they did in 1983. The cost of living has gone up …