Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/2788
Bay Area rallies against Social Security offset law F or San Francisco Bay Area middle school teacher Kar i n A l e x an d e r, t h e decadesold injustice of edu cators in California and 14 other states being denied full Social Security benefits just because they chose to teach was too much to take. So Alexander mobilized, recruiting many other sup porters, and the result was a huge May 30 rally in Berkeley attended by about 1,800 Bay Area teachers, parents, state lawmakers and others. The re markable "S ocial S ecurity Fairness for Teachers" rally at Berkeley High School was cov ered by local media and rein troduced this injustice to new supporters. "No campaign for equal rights has ever been won based on silence," said Alexander, a teacher at Iron Horse Middle School in San Ramon Unified School District. "People in pub lic service who dedicate their lives to helping others should not be penalized for doing so." She spoke at the rally, as did CTA SecretaryTreasurerelect Gail Mendes. "Due to the state budget crisis, some lawmakers want to cram as many children as they can into our class rooms — and attack our health benefits," said Mendes. "Fed eral lawmakers want to con tinue shortchanging us on our Social Security benefits. No wonder school districts are finding it hard to recruit and retain teachers in California." Teachers and other public service workers in California and 14 other states are short changed on benefits because of two federal laws that penalize people who held private sector jobs before becoming public employees by denying them full Social Security benefits. The 1983 Windfall Elimi nation Provision (WEP) re quires that a teacher's Social Security retirement or disabil ity benefit be reduced when they're also entitled to a public pension from a job — such as teaching — in which he or she didn't pay Social Security tax. In California, teachers pay in to the State Teachers' Retire ment System, but not into So cial Security. The Government Pension Offset (GPO) became law in 1977 and can reduce or elimi nate the Social Security bene fit for spouses. Nationwide, nine out of 10 public employ ees subject to the GPO lose their entire spousal benefit, even if their deceased spouse paid Social Security taxes for years, according to the Nation al Education Association. In an Oct. 22, 2008, letter to NEA, thenSen. Barack Obama expressed his clear support for repeal of the Government Pen sion Offset and the Windfall Elimination Provision. "Nobody should be penalized for serving our children, and that's why I Continued on page 37 Programs for California Professionals in Education Designed to advance your career Credentials and Certificates u u u u u u u u Masters Multiple and Single Subject Administrative Credentials CTEL Education Counseling School Psychology Special Education Reading and Language Arts Child Life Specialist u u u u u u u u u Bachelors u Liberal Studies u Child Development • Small classes with professionally active faculty • Programs in La Verne and numerous campuses throughout the state • Flexible scheduling • Nationally recognized, CCTC approved and WASC accredited programs Educational Management School Counseling Special Education: Mild/Moderate School Psychology Reading Special Emphasis Child Life Child Development Advanced Teaching Doctoral u Organizational Leadership (Ed.D.) Not all programs offered at all locations. Celebrating more than 100 years of excellence in teacher education University of La Verne COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AND ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERSHIP 1950 Third Street La Verne, CA 91750 Call toll free: (877) GO-TO-ULV or email: degreeinfo@ulv.edu www.ulv.edu/welcome june 22-40 June.09.indd 23 2009 | www.cta.org 23 6/4/09 2:01:20 PM