DC – Protect Retiree Benefits

Washington, D.C.

End the Unfairness — Joseph Rugola, executive director of OAPSE/AFSCME Local 4, calls on Congress to fix laws that now jeopardize the retirement security of public employees. 
Photo Credit: Jay Mallin

Joseph Rugola, executive director of the Ohio Association of Public School Employees (OAPSE)/AFSCME Local 4, called on Congress to repeal two federal laws that cut into the retirement benefits of hundreds of thousands of retired government employees.

The Government Pension Offset (GPO) and the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) reduce spousal and earned Social Security benefits of public-sector retirees who pay into public pension plans but did not participate in Social Security in their government jobs.

“AFSCME is a strong supporter of the Social Security system. We are troubled that the benefits of many of our members are unfairly reduced through the arbitrary application of these two laws,” Rugola, also an International vice president, told members of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Social Security in January.

Rugola also pointed out that most private employees are not required to contribute to their pension plans and pay only into the Social Security system, “yet they can receive a full pension and a full Social Security benefit, with no offset of any kind.”

To learn more about this important topic, visit the “Retirement Security” section of afscme.org.