In a landmark event, CEA leaders joined Senator Richard Blumenthal and representatives from various public service unions at a news conference in Hartford to celebrate the historic repeal of the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). These long-standing and unjust policies, which for over four decades denied millions of public servants their hard-earned Social Security benefits, have now been repealed.
“This is a monumental step toward fairness,” said Blumenthal. “This victory shows the undeniable strength of unions in achieving economic justice. Teachers and other public servants flooded Congress with messages, demanding action—and it worked.”
CEA President Kate Dias emphasized the significance of the repeal. “For years, we were told this was never going to happen. When we talk about the importance of unions, this is it.”
CEA played a key role in this victory, lobbying members of Congress and working with education members in unions across the country to get WEP/GPO repealed.
“Our union partners in other states were educated and given talking points to help guide their practice to be advocates and speak with their lawmakers across the country about the critical need to repeal these unjust policies.”
Last month, the House voted 327 to 75 to repeal WEP/GPO and on December 21, the U.S. Senate followed suit and voted 76 to 20, putting an end to the punitive policies that stripped millions of public servants of their earned Social Security benefits.
Dias said the punitive nature of WEP/GPO was a burden for educators, especially second-career educators, who wondered how and when they could retire. She said the repeal will make a huge difference for the profession moving forward.
“It’s not just about fairness, but about our ability to recruit and retain more teachers,” said CEA Vice President Joslyn DeLancey.
“This allows us to recruit and get people to come into our profession and not be penalized by having to give up the Social Security they have earned.”
CEA Vice President Joslyn DeLancey, who served on the Repeal WEP/GPO National Task Force, said it was a great honor to be part of this monumental victory that will be felt for generations.
“It’s not just about fairness, but our ability to recruit and retain more teachers, as well as the economic impact of putting nearly $20 billion a year back into the economy for people to live happy and healthy retirements,” DeLancey said. “Coming together in a bipartisan effort shows us we can all work together to impact meaningful change.”
“This is an example of a grassroots movement,” said Bette Marafino, chair of the Repeal WEP/GPO National Task Force. “Everyone from Maine to Alaska was on the task force. Even though this fight is over, we are going to stick together, and the task force will work on issues to preserve and strengthen Social Security.”
CEA-Retired Vice President Mary-Beth Lang, CEA Vice President Joslyn DeLancey, Senator Richard Blumenthal, CEA President Kate Dias, and CEA Political Engagement Coordinator Gus Melita celebrate WEP/GPO repeal.
Dias thanked Connecticut’s Congressional delegation, as well as state legislators and Governor Lamont for supporting this effort and sending letters to Congress, urging repeal.
“We are proud of this work and look forward to the next task, which is fully funding social security,” said Dias.
Blumenthal said he has been assured by the White House that President Biden will sign the legislation into law in a matter of days.
“Beginning retroactively for 2024, more than 32,000 Connecticut retirees will begin receiving as much as $600 or more,” said Blumenthal. “That’s real money in the pockets of our retirees, but we need to do more and increase Social Security payments with cost-of-living increases with Social Security 2100 to make it solvent for everyone.”
