muck,It was corrupt unions that agreed to the end of defined benefit. It doesn't matter who proposed the change it was the sorry unions that agreed to it. You did not see any real unions agree to do away with defined benefit. Electricians, Iron Workers, Carpenters, Plumbers, Laborers, etc. would never agree that new members are second class members. They all retain defined benefit pensions. But the sorry public sector union leaders did and do not have good moral character or understand the concept member solidarity. The state said to the public sector unions we have to make cuts but the cuts won't affect you and your other current members. You will all get to keep your wonderful platinum retirements, if you agree to do away with pensions for future members. The greedy members and boss members agreed to take no cuts themselves and to throw new members under the bus. So everybody keeps their lovely pensions and the newbies will have no pensions. To bad for newbies. Sad unions indeed.