CEA leaders pivotal in ending unfair penalties against public servants
Teachers, firefighters, police officers and other public service workers are celebrating today after a historic vote by the Senate to repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO). After 40 years, this unjust policy— which stripped millions of public servants of their Social Security benefits—has finally been overturned.
“Together we made history,” said CEA President Kate Dias. “This monumental victory is a testament to the perseverance, determination, and strong union activism of teachers and public servants. The repeal of WEP and GPO ensures that educators and other public workers will receive the retirement benefits to which they are rightfully entitled. It’s a new day for fairness and justice.”
In a 76 to 20 vote, the U.S. Senate ended the injustice of WEP/GPO, with Connecticut Senators Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy standing alongside a bipartisan coalition of their colleagues. This follows last month’s overwhelming bipartisan House passage of the Social Security Fairness Act (H.R. 82) by a margin of 327 to 75. The bill now heads to President Biden, who is expected to sign it into law, permanently rectifying decades of inequity.
“The repeal of WEP/GPO would not have been possible without the collective power of members in unions across the country and the support of a bipartisan group of congresspeople who understand the importance of repealing this law,” said CEA Vice President Joslyn DeLancey.
CEA played a pivotal role in this victory, lobbying members of Congress, working with education associations in all 50 states, and participating in numerous actions to amplify its message to get this bill passed.
Dias and DeLancey both traveled to Washington, D.C., numerous times to lobby Congress, and last week, they attended a national labor news conference where Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer committed to bringing the bill to a vote.
Dias said, “This victory belongs to every teacher, every firefighter, every police officer, and every public servant who stood up and said, ‘Enough is enough.’ Your emails, calls, and stories moved mountains. Together, we flooded Congress with over 130,000 emails from people in all 50 states. Union members nationwide kept the repeal of WEP/GPO at the forefront, leaving no doubt about the urgent need to pass this bill.”
DeLancey highlighted the significance of the repeal. “The impact of this victory will be felt for generations. By ending WEP/GPO, teachers and public servants can now retire with the financial security they deserve,” she said.
“What we’ve accomplished together is extraordinary,” said Dias. “This victory proves the power of our union, the strength of our collective voice, and the possibility of achieving what once seemed impossible. Future generations of educators and public servants will benefit from our efforts, and that’s a legacy we can all be proud of.”
