PERS News & Information

PERS Updates

Lipscomb Decision Q&A (word document)
August 30, 2005

Letter to Paul Cleary, Executive Director of PERS (pdf document)
August 26, 2005

Facts About PERS (word document)

PERS Member Update (word document)
From the PERS Coalition
March 29, 2005

PERS Newsletter Article (word document)
March 10, 2005

Supreme Court Decision - PERS Q & A (word document)
March 10, 2005

PERS Media Press Release (word document)
From Oregonians for Retirement Security
March 8, 2005

PERS Plantifs (word document)
From Oregonians for Retirement Security
February 24, 2005

 

---

PERS Updates

September 20 , 2005

Dear AAUP Bargaining Unit Members,

On September 23rd the PERS Board will meet to make decisions about your retirement and how it will be affected by the Lipscomb decision.

The PERS Board decision will impact both active and retired PERS Members. Active members will see a reduction in their PERS account and retirees will have their monthly benefits reduced and will get an invoice for $400 up to $9,000.

Many of you have asked how you can help. Here are the 3 best things you can do at this time:

1) If you are planning to attend the meeting (September 23rd, 1-3pm), please RSVP to Beckie Lee (blee@easystreet.com or (503) 248-7099). Members of the PERS Coalition plan to meet as a group in advance at 11:30am at the Oregon Education Association Office (just down the block from PERS Headquarters) to provide you with an update on what is going to happen, how you can get involved beyond the meeting, and lunch!

(OEA is at 6900W Atlanta St in Portland, just off the Haines Street exit on I-5. Directions are available at: http://www.oregoned.org/site/pp.asp?c=9dKKKYMDH&b=140217)

2) Submit your comments to the PERS Board and Governor Kulongoski online at http://ors.kintera.org/commentcard. Your comments will be emailed to the PERS Coalition/Oregonians for Retirement Security who will turn them in together at the PERS Board meeting. After submitting your comments, please forward this link on to others you know. Our goal is to collect 1,000 comment cards to turn in at the meeting.

3) Send us your story. We are collecting personal stories of how the recent Supreme Court decision and the changes to PERS over the last two years affect you. Tell us your name, your job, how long you’ve been there, and how these changes impact you. (Email your story to Beckie at blee@easystreet.com or mail it to the PERS Coalition/Oregonians for Retirement Security – PO Box 3203 Portland, OR 97208.

If you have any questions, please feel free to call Julia Getchell at (503) 725-4414 or Beckie Lee at (503) 248-7099.

For complete questions and answers on the recent Supreme Court decision, please visit http://www.oregoniansforretirementsecurity.org/documents/ Q&A%20Lipscomb%20Decision.pdf

Sincerely,

Julia Getchell
Chapter Coordinator
PSU-AAUP
503-725-4414
aaup@psuaaup.net

back to top

---

August 11 , 2005

Dear PSU-AAUP Member,

I'm sorry to report that today's Oregon Supreme Court opinion in City of Eugene et al v. PERB is a setback for Oregon public employees past and present. The Court did not address the merits of our Appeal, but did find the appeal moot because of a recent settlement between PERB and employers and subsequent legislation.

The ruling will mean a loss in retirement benefits for those public employees who have retired and those currently working for Oregon public employers. The likely result is that current public employees and those who retired after March 2000 will be receiving a bill from PERS requiring they pay back money.

Retirees can expect a bill ranging from $300 to over $8,000, depending on when they retired and what benefits they earn today. Current employees will see a decrease in their retirement account when they receive their annual statements.

PERS is expected to post something on their website today about the decision. It is expected to include examples of the effect of the today’s decision in addition to information about the implementation of the settlement agreement. Check www.pers.state.or.us for more details.

Julia Getchell
Chapter Coordinator
PSU-AAUP
503-725-4414

back to top

---