WHEREAS:

Retired public employees have the right to retirement income sufficient to provide economic security and the right to have adequate health insurance coverage; and

WHEREAS:

Inflation has an enormous impact on retired workers who live on fixed incomes, and with increases in the cost of living and rising out-of-pocket health care expenditures, retirement income is becoming seriously eroded,

WHEREAS:

Some public employee benefit plans do provide automatic annual cost-of-living adjustments, but many are limited to a maximum 3% cap. Other state and local governments have granted retired workers ad hoe adjustments, but many retired public employees have never received any pension cost-of-living adjustments; and

WHEREAS:

Many employers do not offer continuation of health insurance coverage to retired workers, or do not contribute to the cost of continued coverage, which in many cases is less comprehensive than that provided to active workers.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

That AFSCME Councils and locals continue their efforts to gain adequate pension cost of living adjustments for retired workers, and recognize the effects of inflation on retirement income by working toward permanent, automatic cost-of-living adjustments, or regular ad hoc adjustments until automatic adjustments are achieved; and

THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That AFSCME councils and locals become more aware of the need for adequate health insurance coverage for retirees, and encourage continuation of employer-paid group health insurance coverage for retirees. Plan coverage should be at the same level as when actively employed with the exception of non-duplication of Medicare provided benefits for those eligible for Medicare.

SUBMITTED BY:

George Whitaker, President
Pamela J. Pierce, Secretary
Local 53
Tacoma, Washington

Sue King, President
Beverly Hermanson, Secretary
AFSCME Local 443, Council 28
Olympia, Washington