CLEAR COALITION URGES LAWMAKERS TO SUPPORT COST-OF-LIVING INCREASES FOR STATE RETIREES
HARRISBURG (October 17, 2023) – Leaders of the CLEAR Coalition joined together with retirees at the Capitol today to announce their support for cost-of-living increases for state retirees.
Many state retirees, who provided essential services to the Commonwealth for decades before retiring, are struggling to make ends meet. Rising inflation means that their pensions provide less than ever before. Those who retired before Act 9 of 2001 are especially struggling – they have not received a cost-of-living increase for more than 20 years.
“With every year that goes by without a cost-of-living adjustment for these retirees, their lives get harder, and their money doesn’t go as far,” said PSEA President Aaron Chapin. “It is long past time for policymakers in this building to step up and restore the promise of a secure retirement to our retired public servants.”
CLEAR Coalition leaders and active union members were joined by retirees who shared their struggles.
“My colleagues and I worked hard for our pensions, and it’s disheartening to feel like we’ve been forgotten by state lawmakers,” said Patti Defibaugh, Chair of SEIU 668’s Retiree Committee. “Providing a cost-of-living adjustment would provide a secure and dignified retirement for our state retirees.”
Several bills that are circulating in the Legislature would provide cost-of-living adjustments for retirees, with varying increases based on retirement dates. Analyses from the Independent Fiscal Office show that the state can afford to help this segment of the senior population without placing any further burden on school property taxes.
The CLEAR Coalition represents more than 900,000 Pennsylvanians from seven public employee unions in Pennsylvania: AFSCME Council 13, APSCUF, Pennsylvania AFL-CIO, Pennsylvania Professional Firefighters Association, PSEA, SEIU and UFCW 1776.