Why You Should Join TSEU’s Retiree Organizing Committee (ROC)

FOR A PENSION INCREASE

• State and university retirees have not received a pension increase since 2001
  
• Since 2001, the cost of living has increased by more than 14 percent
  
• Both ERS and TRS pension funds are currently under funded
  
• Neither ERS nor TRS will increase monthly pensions until this funding liability is eliminated
  
• To eliminate the funding liability, the state needs to increase its pension contributions to the 1995 level, about 7.13 percent of monthly payroll
  
• It will take a large, organized movement of retirees and current employees to convince legislators to increase pension funding
  
• TSEU ROC is the only organization that can unite ERS and TRS current and retire employees to fight for increased pension funding.

TO PROTECT HEALTHCARE

During the last legislative session, a number of measures were considered that would have taken away many health care benefits for retirees including

• Making retirees and current employees pay the full premium for dependent healthcare coverage
• Taking away prescription drug coverage for retirees eligible for Medicare and forcing them to sign up for Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage.
• Requiring retirees and employees to pay 10 percent of our healthcare premiums.
• Increasing co-payment for retirees and current employees

  These proposals and others that seek to reduce healthcare coverage for retirees and employees will be considered again by the Legislature in 2007.

VICTORIES

During the 2005 legislative session TSEU ROC and other groups representing employees and retirees won some important victories

• The legislature increased the state pension contribution from 6 percent to 6.45 percent, not enough to eliminate the funding liability but a start toward that goal.
• Despite attempts to cut funding for retiree and employee healthcare coverage, the Legislature continued to pay 100 percent of the health insurance premium for retirees and employees.
• The Legislature continued to pay 50 percent of health insurance premium for dependents.
• We defeated attempts to create high deductible healthcare plans that would have significantly increased our out-of-pocket healthcare expenses.

Retirees can now be TSEU/ Retiree Organizing Committee members and have their $7 dues deducted from their pension checks. Retirees or soon-to-be retirees can sign up on a paper form or do it online at the ERS secure website.
.<CLICK HERE> to download a copy of the TSEU-ROC / ERS sign-up form
or...
.<CLICK HERE> to download a bank draft authorization form.
Your monthly $7.00 dues will be taken from your bank account.

Both of these forms are available at any TSEU office.

What is TSEU-ROC and how did it begin? <DETAILS>