Prichard retirees boiling over pension

PRICHARD, Ala. (WALA) - At a fish fry on Highway 45 in Prichard Saturday, the oil was boiling, but it certainly wasn't the only thing boiling.

"I never imagined in my wildest dreams this would happen," said 66-year-old Alfred Arnold.

Arnold spent 35 years as a Prichard firefighter. His wife spent another 40 as a police officer. The two retirees were hoping to collect their pension, but that hasn't been available since the city filed for bankruptcy last September.

"I'm on social security," said Arnold. "That helps some, but not much. We haven't gotten paid in almost a year, and we're down to our last dime. If they don't do something, I don't know what I'm going to do."

Saturday morning the Prichard Retirees Relief Fund hosted a fish fry to help the 150 retired city workers who are looking for the pension. Organizers were hoping to raise $3500 for them.

"I called some citizens who wanted to get together and had the same mindset," said Linda Burse, the chair of the Prichard Retirees Relief Fund. "The reason being is to help defray the costs for medical expenses and utilities for our pensioners pending court litigation."

In the last court hearing in July, Arnold said the city tried to offer pensioners $200 a month.

"The problem is myself and my wife both retired from the city of Prichard. I have no income. She has no income. $200. That's $400. That's not going to work," said Arnold.

The retirees said Saturday's fry was a small but appreciated effort to help.

"We can't mend the wound, we're just trying to fix it a little bit to make it bearable for the pensioners," said Burse.

The city and pensioners head back to court August 10. Burse said there will be more fund-raising events in the near future.