WHEREAS:

            The Government Pension Offset (GPO) provision of the Social Security Act penalizes retirees who receive public pensions from work not covered by Social Security; and

WHEREAS:

            The GPO requires these public retirees to offset two-thirds of their pension against any Social Security spousal benefit to which they would normally be entitled; and

WHEREAS:

            When the original offset was enacted by Congress in 1977, it was never intended to penalize moderate- and low-pension retirees, particularly women, who need their Social Security spousal benefits for basic income; and

WHEREAS:

            These women turned out to be the chief victims of the GPO, forced to add this pension penalty to the others they've endured, such as historically lower wages and caregiving years outside the paid workforce, both of which effectively reduce the size of their pension checks; and

WHEREAS:

            Many of these women are AFSCME members from states such as Ohio, Massachusetts and Louisiana, and cities such as Minneapolis, Chicago and Los Angeles, who are retired hospital workers, clerical workers, school bus drivers and crossing guards.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

            That AFSCME's 31st International Convention enthusiastically endorse H.R. 1897, a bill to reform the GPO, sponsored by Representative William Jefferson (D-LA); and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

            That AFSCME encourage other Representatives and Senators to sponsor and support legislation that would bring about GPO reform.

SUBMITTED BY: 

JoAnn Johntony, President and Delegate 
Sandra Wheeler, Secretary and Delegate 
OAPSE/AFSCME Local 4
Ohio