3% COLA APPROVED AND THE REMOVAL OF AGE 60 REQUIREMENT FOR ACTIVES FOR FULL BENEFITS

Tom Curtis' comments on today's STRS Board meeting

From Tom Curtis

March 17, 2022

Today is a great day for retirees and many actives. 

After much lobbying by ORTA, MOF and WATCHDOGS for several years, the STRS Board voted to approve a 3% Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) to eligible retirees for the 2022-2023 fiscal year and remove the age 60 requirement for retirement eligibility with full benefits that was scheduled to take effect in 2026. 

Watchdogs, all of our efforts have started to pay off. 

Now, it is time to continue our work for the actives. Actives need to place non-OEA active members on the Board so the reduction of the 14% active contribution can be reduced ASAP. VOTE for actives STEVEN FOREMAN & JULIE SELLERS and retirees VOTE for retiree ELIZABETH JONES.

Actives please understand: 

The OEA did not support the 3% COLA, even though they NOW claim they did. The OEA is passing along false information to actives telling them that if the COLA was reinstated that there would be no money for the actives. That simply is not true! The OEA has tried to divide the actives and retirees with their propaganda. That is so very foolish on their part as that indicates that they do not support retirees. So, the organization you have paid dues to all of your career does not support you once you retire. That makes no sense! 

Tom Curtis