UNIVERSITY STAFF ASSOCIATION MEMBERS:
 A reminder that the Government Pension Offset (GPO) and Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) issue will be discussed at the October 31st Membership Meeting schedule from 12-1:00 in Campus Center #174-176. Jo Ann Fitzgerald from MTA will be at the meeting to answer questions and concerns.

AS A PUBLIC EMPLOYEE: DO YOU THINK YOU'RE ELIGIBLE FOR YOUR SPOUSE'S FULL SOCIAL SECURITY SURVIVOR BENEFITS? DO YOU BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE ELIGIBLE FOR FULL SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS BECAUSE YOU HAVE CONTRIBUTED INTO THE SYSTEM?

Springfield Technical Community College is taking a lead role in organizing campuses across the state to focus attention on the inequity of the Government Pension Offset (GPO) and the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) for state workers. Our goal is to force repeal of the legislation that prohibits state workers from collecting their full social security and also their spouse's full benefits if their spouse predeceases them.

In a nutshell, the GPO applies to married couples and reduces an individual's social security survivor benefits by an amount equal to 213 of his/her public pension. The WEP applies to every public employee and changes the formula used to figure benefit amounts causing public employees to lose up to 60 % of their social security benefits. There are 15 states that fall victim to this discrimination against public employees and Massachusetts is one of them.

THESE LA WS TAKE A W AY SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS THAT YOU OR YOUR SPOUSE HA VE EARNED.

There are currently several bills before the 107th Congress, in both the House and Senate, to repeal part or all of the GPO and WEP. Senators Kennedy and Kerry and the ten Congressmen and Congresswomen from Massachusetts are in support of all or some repeal of this legislation.

WE WANT THESE LAWS COMPLETELY REPEALED.

We are asking that all higher education institutions begin to organize and work to change these discriminatory laws. We are requesting that each campus form a committee, select a chair and come together to build a strong coalition to work on the repeal of these unfair laws.

As a major step in this process, STCC is hosting an informational meeting on our campus on Wednesday, November 20,2002, at 1:15 PM, Building 17, Room 102 and representatives from your campus are invited to attend to hear Congressman Richard Neal discuss this issue.

Please email or phone me to reserve your place at this critical meeting. Unite to speak together in solidarity and strength concerning this penalty to people who have dedicated their lives to public service.

On behalf of the STCC Committee to repeal the GPO and WEP, I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Professor Carole Dupont
STCC Professional Association
413-755-4609 cdupont@stcc.edu