Strengthening ERS, Defending Voting Rights

This month marks an important milestone in protecting the Employees Retirement System’s (ERS) pension plan, which provides the lifelong retirement annuity that you receive each month. 

Just before Labor Day (appropriately), Senate Bill 321 took effect. This law requires the state to deposit $1 billion of new money in the pension plan this biennium. Similar payments will continue in the years ahead, so long as the Texas Legislature does not change the new law. This funding moves the pension plan towards becoming actuarily sound — the legal requirement to ultimately enact a Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) for retirees. 

Your support was vital in passing the legislation. You called, sent emails, and let lawmakers know how important this money is to retirees who spent their careers making Texas safer, stronger, and healthier. 

Our work continues. AFSCME Texas Retirees is already planning for the 2023 legislative session. We will advocate for continued funding for your pension plan. And we will push for retirees to receive a 13th paycheck — just as retired teachers received two years ago and will get again this year — on the way to a COLA. 

You’ve also heard about the new state law that restricts early voting, voting by mail, and other voting rights. These changes impact senior citizens and Texans with disabilities and could affect some of our members. So we will stay in touch with the latest information on how to cast a ballot in advance of the 2022 primary and general elections. 

Thank you for all your work in passing SB 321 and for your support moving forward. Rest assured, we will continue fighting for retirees like you in Austin, Washington, and beyond.