DEFINED BENEFIT
VS.
DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PENSION PLANS

There has been an explosion in the growth of defined contribution (401K) pension plans around the country.  Despite claims to the contrary defined benefit pension plans (NDPERS) provide the safest and most secure future for retired government workers and those who are planning their retirement.

Click on "Pension Plans" to learn more about the advantages/disadvantages of these two types of plans.

"Pay for Performance” or “merit pay” is a system of compensation where pay is linked to job performance and can be based on either individual or group performance.  In Pay for Performance systems, performance standards are set and performance is measured against those standards to determine pay. 

 Click on Pay for Performance above to learn more about this system in the private and public sectors of our country.

Collective bargaining is a process in which employees work together, through their union, to negotiate a written agreement, or contract, with their employer.  The contract usually covers such items as wages, benefits, working conditions, employee rights on the job and employer and employee responsibilities.  Once an agreement is reached between the employees and employer, the employer is legally required to live up to the terms of the contract.  Employees, through their union, have the legal right to make sure that the terms of the contract are enforced.

Click on the "Collective Bargaining" link above to find out why NDPEA supports collective bargaining!

Privatization is a term that may have different meanings to citizens, consumers of public services, state legislators, and public employees.  The most common form of privatization is when a government agency contracts with a private corporation or non profit agency through a formal contracting process to deliver or maintain a public service.

The two most stated reasons state by government agencies to privatize services are to save money and improve service delivery.

Click on "Privatization" above and learn more about this issue.