December 20, 2024

For Immediate Release

Contact: Matthew Hardy (510-703-5291)

WASHINGTON, DC – CFT – A Union of Educators and Classified Professionals released the following statements from President Jeff Freitas and CalSTRS Investment Committee Vice-Char  and AFT 1521 Treasurer Sharon Hendricks following the US Senate’s overwhelming bipartisan vote in support of HR 82, the Social Security Fairness Act, which will repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO).

From Jeff Freitas:

“California’s educators are grateful for today’s overwhelming, bipartisan vote for the Social Security Fairness Act in the Senate and an overwhelming majority support in both houses of Congress. The message here is clear: it’s only fair that if you pay into Social Security, you have a right to the benefits that you earned. 

“Existing law punishes teachers and faculty for paying into their pensions in addition to qualifying for Social Security outside of public service, leaving educators vulnerable in their elder years even after dedicating their lives to students. I don’t know a single educator who chose teaching to make money; we do this work because we want to make a difference in our students’ lives. But educators shouldn’t have to sacrifice hard-earned Social Security benefits because we chose this vital profession. 

“Too many of our nation’s educators end up in poverty when they retire instead of being celebrated for their dedication to our students. This legislation is critical to helping educators retire with dignity. We look forward to President Biden signing the Social Security Fairness Act before the end of this year.”

From Sharon Hendricks:

“The passage of the Social Security Fairness Act (HR 82) means that public servants, including public educators in the state of California, can retire with dignity. Our CFT members who have paid into Social Security and CalSTRS benefits will no longer have their Social Security benefits reduced or eliminated when they start receiving their mission to secure the financial future and sustain the trust of California’s educators.”

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CFT – A Union of Educators and Classified Professionals represents 120,000 teachers, faculty, and school employees in public and private schools and colleges, from early childhood through higher education. It is the statewide affiliate of the AFT. More information at www.cft.org.