PA governor joins AFSCME retirees, President Moran to celebrate huge pension victory
The strength and dogged advocacy of AFSCME Retirees was showcased Monday during an event with Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, who signed an AFSCME-endorsed bill giving 60,000 retirees across the commonwealth a double-digit cost-of-living increase.
This brings closure to a decades-long fight led by the Chapter 13 Retirees to receive the COLA they’ve needed for so long and earned over years of service. The much-delayed pension increase offers comfort to retirees in need now, but Chapter 13 Retirees’ members took this moment to honor the retirees who fought beside them but died before seeing victory.
AFSCME President Patrick Moran and International Executive Board Retiree Representative Jeanne Weaver hosted Shapiro during the Retired Public Employees of Pennsylvania, Chapter 13’s 45th annual convention in Harrisburg.
Moran applauded Chapter 13 retirees for their relentlessness in their pursuit to pass the long-overdue COLA, including testifying before lawmakers, writing letters and sharing their stories about the struggle to afford groceries, housing and healthcare.
“Your victory means tens of thousands of Pennsylvanians can breathe a little easier. And it proves something important: When working people stick together, commit to organizing and refuse to quit, we can win,” Moran said.
The new COLAs range from 15%-24.5% for those who retired from public service before 2001, depending on their retirement date. It is the first pension increase for these retirees in more than 20 years. Working and retired members of Council 13 fought hard for the COLAs to be included in Pennsylvania’s most recent budget.
This COLA is a significant step in helping retirees keep up with rising costs of housing, health care, groceries, and other necessities during the affordability crisis.
“This COLA will make a huge impact on them and their ability to support themselves after a lifetime of hard work,” Weaver said.
Shapiro said retirees would see the increase in their pensions starting this month, and he commended AFSCME Retirees for their tireless advocacy.
“That’s an extra $2,000 on average each year for retired teachers, cops, firefighters, and state workers who, for 25 years, squeaked by on the same pension payment,” Shapiro said on his social media account. “These fine public servants have more than earned this – and this COLA will make sure they can live out their retirement with dignity and peace of mind.”
