Quote Originally Posted by Novine View Post
"Does anyone know if there is legislative history about this clause that would lock in the interpretation that the unions have been arguing? To me it just seems you could read this clause two ways and one way would justify a reduction of retiree's payment without violation"

The terms of the pension payouts are determined at the point a person retires. Changing those after the fact is changing the terms of the contract to the detriment of the pensioner.
Correct the terms are determined at the point of retirement, but that is not what is literally stated in the Section 24 of the Constitution. Changing the terms of what the pensioner was told he should be able to withdraw doesn't appear to be a violation of the "contract clause."

Again, the clause states that no person can diminish the "pension plan." Your statement is akin to my example where you modify the amount each retiree is allowed to withdraw from this plan. However, you still haven't "diminished" or reduced the amount in the pension plan.