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Faculty push for the face-to-face classes that students want
In-person college classes improve learning, build campus community, and lifelong connections
Joshua McCann much prefers going to campus for his San Diego Community College District classes. Now in his second year and intending to transfer to a UC and major in political science, McCann says connections on Zoom or in your Canvas inbox can’t compare to being with a person in real life.
McCann goes to campus for three out of his four classes. The other night after his philosophy class, he stayed for office hours with the teacher, and ended up having a two-hour conversation about the class with some of the other students.
Retrospective: Organizing to win in tumultuous times
Reflecting on five years of union gains for UC librarians and lecturers
By Mia McIver, President, University Council-AFT
When I was elected president of University Council-AFT in 2017, I never could have predicted that the next five years would be as tumultuous as they turned out to be. I also could never have foreseen how our union of University of California lecturers and librarians would organize, build power, win contracts, and accomplish gains that far exceeded my hopes and expectations.
California voters crucial to holding U.S. Senate and House
Your vote as a CFT member matters more this November than ever!
You’ve no doubt heard pundits debating the fate of the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives. Like most midterm elections, this November will be crucial in determining the tone and tenor of national politics, as well as the ability of our elected representatives to get things done on behalf of educators and working people.
Though California is often described as a “safe blue state,” it has an important role to play in protecting progressive incumbents and working to flip House seats.
Where CFT stands on the seven ballot propositions
CFT recommendations for the November 8 ballot explained
There are seven ballot propositions on the Statewide General Election on November 8. The CFT Committee on Political Education has analyzed the measures and, after careful review, taken positions. You will find our positions explained below. Find all of union’s endorsements here.
We are united for education and justice
Back-to-School tour and opinion poll provide strong foundation for strategic planning
By Jeffery M. Freitas, CFT President
Another school year has started. As an educator, August and September have traditionally been the time when I set New Year’s resolutions for the coming academic year. It starts me off on a positive note to identify my goals, my priorities, and the areas in which I want to learn and grow.
I think about our work at CFT in much the same way, and just like when I was teaching, beginning a new school year as an organization is not just the work of one person. Setting goals for the CFT is not just the work of leaders or the Executive Council. Rather it demands real-time feedback from our membership so that we, as a statewide union, can respond to the issues members identify as top priorities. To do that important work, we have undertaken a number of projects to listen to members and respond to what we have heard.
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month at school and home
Honoring Latinx history and achievement September 15 to October 15
Hispanic Heritage Month takes place September 15 to October 15 every year to recognize and celebrate the contributions, diverse cultures, and histories of the American Latino community. With California’s Latino population continuing to grow, and to make up nearly 40% of the state, it’s particularly important to recognize accomplishments and history. In fact, two of the state’s most iconic labor leaders, Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta, the founders of the United Farm Workers, are Latino.
Find Key Resources
WEP/GPO Repeal Toolkit
TAKE ACTION
Sign the AFT Petition!
The AFT is collecting signatures to help repeal the WEP and GPO.
Sign the Move-On Petition!
The national Alliance for Retired Americans started a petition to push the U.S. Congress to enact legislation that will repeal the WEP and GPO. Add your support by signing on to the Moveon.org petition. It’s fast and easy!
Contact your Congressional Representatives
Please contact your elected representatives to urge support of these bills before the U.S. Congress. The legislation listed below is current as of December 15, 2021.
- Contact your member of the U.S. House of Representatives (search by zip code upper right)
- Contact California’s U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein and Alex Padilla
Priority Bills
H.R. 82 The Social Security Fairness Act of 2021 was introduced by Rep. Rodney Davis (D-IL) and would repeal WEP and GPO. It is the most comprehensive and bipartisan piece of legislation with 301 co-sponsors as of September 27, 2022!
H.R. 5723 Social Security 2100: A Sacred Trust was introduced by Rep. John Larson (D-CT) on October 26, 2021, and would repeal WEP and GPO, among other issues. The bill has 194 co-sponsors, all Democratic.
S. 1302 The Social Security Fairness Act to repeal WEP and GPO was introduced by Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) on April 22, 2021. The bill has 36 co-sponsors, 30 Democratic, 2 Independent, and 4 Republican.
Limited Scope Bills
H.R. 2337 The Public Servants Protection and Fairness Act was introduced by Rep. Richard Neal (D-MA), chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, and proposes a modified repeal of WEP. It has 183 co-sponsors, all Democratic.
H.R. 5834 The Equal Treatment of Public Servants Act of 2021 was introduced by Rep. Kevin Brady (R-TX) on November 3, 2021, and would eliminate the WEP. The bill has 38 co-sponsors, 35 Republicans and 3 Democrats, all Texans.
THE FACTS
Quick Definitions
The WEP and the GPO are penalties that negatively affect retirees who receive pensions from government agencies that do not participate in the Social Security system. This includes California teachers who are in CalSTRS. Many of these retirees have earned Social Security retirement benefits from other work during their lifetimes or for being an eligible spouse. The GPO and WEP cut or eliminate earned Social Security retirement benefits.
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WEP — Windfall Elimination Provision
Can cut an amount up to to half the value of your pension from the Social Security you have earned in other work. The WEP may reduce your Social Security benefit, but it will not eliminate it. -
GPO — Government Pension Offset
Affects your spousal, widow or widower Social Security benefits that are based on your spouse’s earnings. If you are married to someone who is earning Social Security, you will probably lose all spousal or survivor retirement benefits due to you from taxes paid by your spouse during the marriage.
Resources
U.S. Social Security Administration
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Windfall Elimination Provision
Use the WEP online calculator and WEP reduction chart. -
Government Pension Offset
Use the GPO online calculator.
CalSTRS — How does Social Security affect me?
Congressional Research Service — Search for WEP and GPO to find current reports.
Books
Social Security Offset Penalties
By Jeanette A. Wicks (Cactus Valley LLC)
Covers how each offset penalty will affect you, how
offsets are calculated, why they are unfair, and how to
take action to end them.
The Hero’s Penalty
How Social Security Works for Educators
By Devin Carroll
Directly focused on the WEP and GPO, but more from the viewpoint
of how to work around them rather than how to repeal them.
Carroll also has a YouTube channel
that covers retirement issues.
Social Security Works!
Why Social Security Isn’t Going Broke and How Expanding It Will
Help Us All
By Nancy J. Altman and Eric R. Kingson (The New
Press)
A highly respected, thoroughly detailed factual rebuttal of
misrepresentations of Social Security’s problems, a book
that offers solutions in a progressive framework that make
clear sense about how to resolve “the crisis.”
NEWSROOM
These articles help explain the impact of the WEP and GPO on California teachers and other public service workers.
From the CFT and AFT
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Retirees
gearing up for national midterm elections: Voices of experience
hope to educate younger Americans, reverse Social Security
penalties
CFT United, May 31, 2022 -
What are the WEP and GPO and how will they affect your
pension?
CFT United, December 10, 2021 -
Texas retirees fight to repeal rules that cut benefits
AFT, December 13, 2019
From the General Media
-
Retired teachers in California struggle to make ends meet with
no access to Social Security
KTVU, September 21, 2021
Find all of our articles related to retirement security in the CFT
Newsroom.
RESOLUTIONS
The CFT has passed the following resolutions in support of repealing WEP and GPO.
-
Reform
the Social Security Act to eliminate WEP and GPO
March 27, 2021
The AFT has passed these resolutions.
- Repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset (2022)
- Achieving national retirement security for all workers (2018)
- Strengthening Social Security (2008)
- Social Security offset and public employees Social Security benefit reductions (2002)
PARTNERS
In addition to working with the AFT and the NEA, the CFT partners with the following organizations, to fight for elimination of the WEP and GPO.
National WEP/GPO Task Force
A national coalition of representatives from retiree
organizations including the CFT working to repeal the WEP
and GPO.
Social Security
Fairness
A grassroots coalition working to change the WEP and GPO that
deny many public employees, including California teachers, the
Social Security benefits they have earned.
California
Alliance for Retired Americans
The statewide alliance that unites retired union workers and
community groups to win a more secure future for individuals,
families, and future generations.
California Retired Teachers
Association
CalRTA’s mission is to protect and advocate for retired and
active educators’ pensions and other retirement benefits and to
support public education in our communities.