Leaders from major labor unions, public workers, and lawmakers gathered in Washington, D.C., on December 11 to demand a Senate vote on the Social Security Fairness Act.
According to the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), the rally addressed long-standing issues caused by the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO), which reduce Social Security benefits for public service workers.
IAFF General President Edward Kelly opened the event, calling for action: “This Congress has an obligation to fix that.
“It’s time for our leaders in the Senate to bring this to the floor, call for a vote, and let’s see who’s with the middle class and who isn’t.”
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) announced during the rally that the Senate will call a vote on repealing the WEP and GPO.
Schumer stated: “What’s happening to you is unfair, un-American, and I will fight it all the way.”
His commitment underscores bipartisan support for addressing these provisions, which have impacted retired public workers for over 40 years.
Principal officers from unions such as the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC), and others expressed their solidarity.
AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Fred Richmond emphasized the widespread support for repealing WEP and GPO among union members.
Multiple members of Congress, including Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Representatives Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) and Garrett Graves (R-LA), voiced support for the legislation.
Spanberger highlighted the impact of the provisions: “Workers who devoted themselves to service and paid into a system see their earned benefits taken away because of an accounting gimmick that Congress enacted decades ago.”
Graves applauded bipartisan efforts, stating, “Despite the odds, we have actually gotten this bill through the House with an overwhelming bipartisan vote.”
Over 2 million retired public workers are affected by the WEP and GPO, with reductions in benefits exceeding $500 per month for many.
The Congressional Budget Office estimates that if these provisions are not repealed, $195 billion in benefits will be withheld from retirees over the next decade.
Elizabeth Warren noted: “Without the firefighters, without the teachers, without the nurses, without every government employee who fights for them, we’d be nowhere.”
Public service workers, union leaders, and lawmakers gathered in Washington, D.C., to demand a Senate vote on the Social Security Fairness Act.
The event focused on repealing the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO), which reduce Social Security benefits for retired public workers.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer pledged to bring the issue to a vote, highlighting bipartisan support.
The provisions currently affect over 2 million retirees, with financial losses exceeding $500 per month for many.
Congressional leaders emphasized the importance of addressing the long-standing impact of these measures.
