Rally For Social Security Fairness for Teachers

More than 3 thousand teachers, elected leaders, educational and retirement organizations, and community members will rally for Social Security Fairness.


WHEN: Saturday May 30, 2009
11:00am – 12:30pm

WHERE: Berkeley Community Theater at Berkeley High School
1930 Allston Way, Berkeley, CA

Purpose of rally:
To inform, and unite. We are demanding repeal of two provisions in Federal Social Security law— the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset (WEP & GPO)— that prevent second-career public servants from collecting earned Social Security Benefits when they retire or when a spouse dies.

In the state legislature, Assemblymember Tom Torlakson (D-Antioch) is carrying AJR 10 “The Social Security Hero’s Penalty Resolution” to urge Congress to support legislation authored by Rep. Howard Berman and Senator Diane Feinstein to eliminate the public servant penalty.

Rally organized by Committee for Social Security Fairness. Cosponsored by California Retired Teachers Association, and supported by CTA, NEA, BRTA, DVRTA, CTA-Retired, NEA-Retired , NARFE, Phi Delta Kappa, and more.


SPEAKERS:
Janet Roosevelt Katten, niece of FDR and Eleanor Roosevelt
Congresswoman Barbara Lee
Steve De Pue, CTA Retirement Committee Consultant
Ken Hewitt, CRTA Legislative Committee Chair
Gail Mendes, Secretary/Treasurer, CTA
Marc Sternberger, NEA Board of Directors
Assemblymember Tom Torlakson, author of AJR 10
Assemblymember Nancy Skinner
Abram Wilson, Mayor – San Ramon
Doug Cembellin and Karin Alexander will MC the event.


Background:

More Than One Million Second-Career Public Servants in California are Denied Their Earned Social Security Benefits When They Retire or Spouse Dies.

The WEP and GPO provisions of social security law have financially disadvantaged teachers for decades. These two unfair laws dictate that teachers who worked in the private sector prior to teaching or during teaching, may not collect full Social Security from deceased spouses, or collect Social Security at levels other participants in the Social Security system do, even when they paid the same amounts as others into the Social Security system. In many cases the benefit is dramatically cut or completely eliminated.

President Obama stated he would approve the new legislation if it reaches his desk. So the time is right to act on this.

Most of the public, unfortunately, is not aware of this injustice facing teachers. In fact, many teachers are not even aware of it until they retire. While they receive Social Security statements each year stating what they will receive upon retirement, it is only later that they learn the statements don’t apply to them because they are teachers in CA. And many, who became teachers later in life, were not told this when they were hired by school districts.

A fantastic band, The Angry Tired Teachers, will open and entertain intermittently throughout the rally. Their songs will energize and bring smiles -- with lyrics tailored to our cause.

Contact information:
Karin Alexander, Chairperson, Committee for Social Security Fairness:
courses4teachers [at] yahoo.com
925-683-8826 Karin Alexander, cell (leave voice mail)
Website: http://www.socialsecurityfairness.com