OSEA Board Votes to Hold Politicians Accountable for Cuts to PERS
Lawmakers broke promises to public employees by attacking retirement benefits.
On Friday, Oct. 4, the Oregon School Employees Association (OSEA) Board of Directors voted unanimously to hold lawmakers accountable for broken promises to OSEA members over retirement benefits. The Board passed a motion to withhold endorsement during the 2020 election cycle from any legislator who voted in support of Senate Bill (SB) 1049.
SB 1049 made changes to the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), some of which result in dramatic reductions to the pensions which public employees will receive.
“PERS is a benefit that was promised to public employees, including OSEA members. Many candidates campaigned on guarantees to protect our pensions during the 2018 election, only to vote to cut those same pensions the following spring. We rely on those pensions, and we will not forget this,” said OSEA President Lisa Gourley.
OSEA is part of Keep Oregon’s Promise, a coalition of organizations that is suing the state over portions of SB 1049, which are considered an unconstitutional breach of contract.
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