The November Elections and a 13th Check from ERS

Thank you for voting in the November election.

Whether you voted early, mailed in your ballot, or came out in person on Election Day, your participation will help secure a stable future for retired public employees like you and me, who spent our careers making Texas safer, stronger, and healthier.

Of the three dozen legislative candidates AFSCME Texas Retirees endorsed, more than 25  won. We will work closely with these leaders from both parties day in and day out to secure a 13th check from the Employees Retirement System (ERS) and a long-term Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA).

So many Retirees like you understood your essential role in choosing leaders who will take Texas in the right direction and help our former public employees.

As you know, Texans also re-elected all of the incumbent statewide officials who were on the ballot. Those office-holders include Comptroller Glenn Hegar, who was an early supporter of efforts to shore up the ERS.

Last session, the full Legislature backed those efforts through a law that invests more than $ 1 billion in new money each biennium in ERS. That law was the first step toward making ERS actuarily sound. We are hopeful it will clear the way for the COLA in the next few years, and we will continue to work closely with state leaders on these efforts.

We will stay in close touch with you in the coming months about our efforts – and let you know when you can help by reaching out directly to your lawmakers about the needs of retirees. Thank you for all you do.