The toughest one to solve

Here's the toughest issue to solve.  Please send in your ideas.

I think that unions and politicians are in cahoots.  Politicians KNOW they can't afford a big raise during contract talks, so the union reduces their demand for a pay-raise from (example) 8% to  "only 3% plus another pension perk" and the pols kick the can down the road 10 or 20 years.  THIS IS THE HARD ONE TO SOLVE!