COUNCIL 2 RETIREES
Who “has your back” in retirement? Your union – the Retired Public Employees Council of Washington, AFSCME Retirees, Chapter 10. Every year, state and federal lawmakers try to claw back the hard-earned retirement benefits of public sector retirees. Your union will fight to protect your state and federal retirement benefits.
When you retire, you cannot continue your membership with Council 2, but you can join RPEC. All your AFSCME benefits and discounts will continue as an RPEC member.
Make RPEC your voice for retirement security.
With a 50+ year history, RPEC is the premier retirement advocacy organization for Washington PERS, SERS, and PSERS retirees with 13,000 members statewide.
Don’t let your retirement security be at the mercy of lawmakers. Become a member of RPEC today to join the fight in protecting the benefits you’ve earned.
- Select Committee on Pension Policy (SCPP)
- Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB)
- Washington State Investment Board (WSIB)
- DRS Advisory Committee
- Washington State Alliance for Retired Americans (WSARA)
- Washington State Senior Citizens’ Lobby
- Healthcare is a Human Right Coalition
- PEBB Stakeholders’ Medicare Coalition
Legislative & Policy Successes:
- In 2023, the Legislature passed ESSB 5187 which aims to hold the Health Care Authority more accountable to both retirees and the Legislature. We initiated this bill.
- In 2023, the Legislature passed SB 5350, which provided the one-time COLA along with requiring the Select Committee on Pension Policy (SCPP) to study and recommend a proposal to the Legislature to restore an ongoing COLA to PERS/TRS Plan 1 retirees. RPEC shaped the outcome of this bill. We also secured one-time 3% increases for PERS/TRS Plan 1 retirees in 2020 and 2022.
- In 2019, we secured SB 5360 which changed the default pension for new employees from Plan 3 to Plan 2.
- In 2018, we secured a one-time 1.5% increase for PERS/TRS Plan 1 retirees, the first since the repeal of the UCOLA for Plan 1 retirees in 2011.
- In 2013 – 2014, we stopped efforts to pass SB 5851 which would have created a Plan 4 pension, which would have undermined current pensions and cost the state a lot of money.
- In 2005, we succeeded at getting official representation with the Select Committee on Pension Policy after an RPEC member was added to their executive committee.
- In 2004, we secured a minimum benefit of $1,000 per month for PERS retirees who have been retired at least 20 years and have 25 years of service credit.
- In 1995, we secured the Uniform COLA ensuring that every PERS 1 retiree who has been retired at least a year receives a COLA at age 66.
- In 1989, established a COLA for retirees age 65 and over whose pensions had lost 40 percent of its original purchasing power.
Help secure your retirement by joining RPEC!
CONTINUE THE FIGHT!
You have spent your career fighting beside your union brothers and sisters for your rights as a worker! We need you to now join many of those same brothers and sisters and fight beside them for the benefits that will allow you to live your retirement with dignity and security! Benefits you worked hard for and are well-earned. Won’t you join us?
FREE ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP FOR ACTIVE EMPLOYEES
Are you retiring in 18 months or less? Start your FREE membership today by completing an Associate Membership Application. Dues are just $7 per month once you retire.
RETIREE MEMBERSHIP
Dues for Retiree Members are just $7 per month and can be automatically deducted from your pension check. Membership includes all the member-only benefits of AFSCME Advantage plus much more! Visit the RPEC website for more information, or email us at info@rpecwa.org.
