Ohio Public Unions Organize Against State Overreach on Pensions
A coalition of six public sector unions, including the AFL-CIO, several teachers’ unions, police and fire unions and more, are pushing for state politicians to stop making changes to retirees’ state pensions.
“This coalition will highlight the many ways that hard-earned retirement income strengthens our economy and supports local communities,” said Tim Burga, Ohio AFL-CIO president. “Every worker deserves to retire with dignity, and we are here to remind legislators of the promises made — and of the contributions and sacrifices workers have made to earn that right.”
The Ohio Public Pension Coalition is made up of the Ohio Federation of Teachers, the Ohio Education Association, the Fraternal Order of Police of Ohio, the Ohio Association of Professional Firefighters, AFSCME Ohio Council 8, and the Ohio Association of Public School Employees, along with the Ohio AFL-CIO and the National Public Pension Coalition.
The coalition cites a variety of reasons why it is concerned, including a recent state budget amendment that changed the structure of the State Teachers Retirement System board to gradually replace voted members with appointed; an Ohio Senate bill from February announcing reforms to the state’s five public sector retirement systems and a recently introduced bill, House Bill 478, which would bar public employers from paying employee retirement contributions.