TRS MEMBERS— CALL/EMAIL COMMITTEE MEMBERS MONDAY, March 25!

We won’t have another chance for TWO MORE YEARS!

           Calling all active and retired teachers, bus drivers, cafeteria workers, librarians, custodians, nurses, maintenance workers, classroom aides, secretaries, sign-language interpreters, counselors, police officers, administrators, and all other public-school employees!!!!  Remember: the Texas Legislature only convenes every two years, so when this session ends, they won’t be able to make any changes to our health care and pensions for TWO LONG YEARS!

           Tuesday morning at 8 a.m., the House Pensions, Investments and Financial Services Committee will meet.  In that meeting, they will discuss HB 9, which is OUR GREATEST HOPE at making TRS actuarially sound so those still working will be able to collect the pension you are earning now and those of us who are retired have hope of eventually receiving a long-overdue cost-of-living adjustment (COLA).  HB 9 is MUCH better for us than the Senate version, SB 12, and we need to fight for it!

            HB 9 calls for the state to increase their contribution to TRS from the current, low 6.8% (compared to their contribution to the retirement system for all other state employees AND for legislators, ERS, to which they contribute 9.5%) to 8.8% by September 1, 2025.  HB 9 does NOT seek an increase in contribution rate for already-cash-strapped TRS members and school districts, while the Senate version calls for an increased contribution from both.

            Additionally, HB 9 calls for a one-time supplemental payment (aka 13^th check) up to $2400 for all current TRS retirees.  The Senate version also calls for this supplemental payment but caps it at $500.  While a one-time payment is not a COLA, by increasing the state’s contribution rate, TRS will become actuarially sound.  Only when this happens will we be able to receive a COLA.   

            So here is MONDAY’s CALL TO ACTION FOR ALL ACTIVE AND RETIRED TRS MEMBERS:

1.  IF you can be at the capitol Tuesday morning, Texas AFT Retiree+ is hoping to “PACK THE HOUSE.”   The committee meeting begins at 8 a.m. in room E2.026. The time and room are subject to change, so check when you arrive to make sure it has not been moved.

(NOTE:  Please remember this is NOT about which organization is asking for what.  I am a member of the Texas Retired Teachers’ Association (TRTA) and a member of Texas AFT Retiree+.  This is about TRTA, Texas AFT Retiree+, Texas AFT, TSTA, TCTA, ATPE, and all other organizations coming together for the good of all of us!)

2.  IF you canNOT be at the capitol Tuesday morning, PLEASE call and/or email each member of the House Pensions, Investments and Financial Services Committee and let them know WE WANT HB 9!!!!!    Here is a quick chart with the phone number, email address, and Twitter handle of each committee member:

3.  Although this committee does not directly handle our healthcare, I, personally, urge everyone to let the committee members know when you call and/or email that WE EARNED HEALTH CARE AS GOOD AS ERS MEMBERS’ HEALTH CARE!  We canNOT wait two more years for them to ROLLBACK OUR HEALTH CARE!

Chris Ardis retired in May of 2013 following a 29-year teaching career. She now helps companies with business communications and social media and works as a sales coordinator for Tony Roma's and Macaroni Grill. Chris can be reached at cardis1022@aol.com. (Photo by Linda Blackwell, McAllen)

Calling ALL TRS MEMBERS! MONDAY, MARCH 11, IS A DAY OF ACTION!

            According to the TRS of Texas website, there are 1.5 MILLION TRS members, including both active employees and retirees.  Monday, March 11, that should mean AT LEAST 1.5 MILLION people either…

      
       ¨      in Austin for March To The Capitol

      

                                              ¨   or contacting your representative and senator, as well as Gov. Abbott and                                               Lt. Gov. Patrick 

                ·         Click here to find the contact information on your TEXAS HOUSE                    and TEXAS SENATE representatives.  Click on their names for                        the contact information and CALL OR EMAIL THEM TODAY! 

                ·         Call Gov. Abbott’s office:  (512) 463-2000 - Main Switchboard                          (office hours 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.)

                ·         Call Lt. Gov. Patrick’s office:  Office Line: (512) 463-0001 (8 a.m.                      to 5 p.m.)

TALKING POINTS (Click on all of the purple links below for more information)

If you are a retiree:  Let them know you support HB 9, authored by Rep. Greg Bonnen, because it gives TRS retirees a 13^th check and increases the state contribution to TRS over the next five years, from 6.8 percent in 2020 to 8. 8 percent in 2025 and does NOT require an increased contribution from active TRS members or from school districts, as both groups are already cash-strapped.  You may also want to express your opinion about our desperate need for a COLA (cost-of-living adjustment) since most of us have never received one AND respectfully but boldly telling them we need our affordable healthcare restored!

Please consider contacting Rep. Greg Bonnen’s office to thank him for this great start AND respectfully asking him to add in RESTORATION OF TRS AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE FOR RETIREES and a COLA.

If you are an active TRS member (still working):   Let your representative, your senator, the governor, and the lt. governor know where you stand on the $5,000 raise (currently for teachers and librarians only), about your healthcare costs, and about school funding. 

Here are some additional resources (Knowledge is power!) and CALLS TO ACTION for today:

1.  A side-by-side comparison of TRS vs. ERS

2.  Sign this petition:  RETIRED EDUCATORS HAVE SUFFERED ENOUGH! IT’S TIME TO GIVE THEM A COST OF LIVING INCREASE!

3. Five Things All Texas Teachers (and all other TRS members) Should Know About Their Retirement Benefits

4.  If you are on Twitter, follow the events in Austin at #Marchtothecapitol

5.  I will be posting on my FB education page during the rally and other events in Austin.  I will be on the McAllen AFT bus, and we will be posting there throughout the day, too, as will other groups.  (Keep in mind, this is NOT about one group vs. another group.  We’re all in this together.)

TAKE ACTION MONDAY, MARCH 12

SHOW UP!  STAND UP!  SPEAK UP!

And invite your family members, friends, current/former students, and your community to join us!

Chris Ardis retired in May of 2013 following a 29-year teaching career. She now helps companies with business communications and social media and works as a sales coordinator for Tony Roma's and Macaroni Grill. Chris can be reached at cardis1022@aol.com. (Photo by Linda Blackwell, McAllen)