Category Archives: OEA News

LANDMARK Victory! GPO and WEP Repealed

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A win forty years in the making, NEA secures full retirement benefits for educators

https://www.nea.org/nea-today/all-news-articles/landmark-victory-gpo-and-wep-repealed

A bill to repeal the decades-long Social Security penalty on teachers, police and other government retirees won final passage on the night of Friday, December 20 after the Senate voted overwhelmingly to grant nearly 3 million Americans their full benefits.  The bill will now be sent to President Biden’s desk, where it awaits his signature to become law.

This bill repeals provisions that reduce Social Security benefits for individuals who receive other benefits, such as a pension from a state or local government.

The bill eliminates the Government Pension Offset, which in various instances reduces Social Security benefits for spouses, widows, and widowers who also receive government pensions of their own.

The bill also eliminates the Windfall Elimination Provision, which in some instances reduces Social Security benefits for individuals who also receive a pension or disability benefit from an employer that did not withhold Social Security taxes.

“Ohio’s public school educators dedicate their lives and careers to serving our students and creating a brighter future for everyone. But, for educators who came into the profession after working in the private sector, or for survivors depending on the hard-earned benefits earned by their spouses, GPO/WEP made it so they could not receive most of the Social Security benefits they had earned through years of paying into the Social Security system. That is unfair, and it is wrong. But now, our federal lawmakers have stood together to make things right,” said Ohio Education Association (OEA) President Scott DiMauro.

“On behalf of Ohio’s public school educators – past, present, and future – the Ohio Education Association is sincerely grateful to all 15 members of the US House and both Vice President-Elect J.D. Vance and Senator Sherrod Brown, who voted to repeal the punitive, outdated federal laws,” DiMauro said. “OEA is especially grateful to Sen. Brown for his unwavering determination to get his Social Security Fairness Act across the finish line so Ohio’s educators and other public servants can retire with dignity after decades of service in our state.”

Ohio is one of about a dozen states where GPO/WEP has prevented public servants from receiving all of the Social Security benefits they’ve earned. Nearly 250,000 Ohioans will be affected by the repeal of those unfair laws.

“For too long, the federal government has failed to provide the full Social Security benefits many public school educators earned. For too long, potentially great educators have chosen not to enter this profession because they would lose much of the Social Security benefits they had previously earned if they entered a life of public service. That changes now,” DiMauro said.

These changes are effective for benefits payable after December 2023.

https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/82

https://apnews.com/article/social-security-congress-565aaf221de6d607f207e286655eef25

https://www.ohea.org/oea-celebrates-passage-of-social-security-fairness-act/

Action Alert – GPO/WEP

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OEA Member to Member Election Information

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OEA Voter Information Guide

 

 

Important Dates for November 5 General Election

  1. October 10: Voter Registration Deadline Register to vote here
  2. Check your driver’s license. You cannot vote in person with an expired ID. Whatever you are using must be current. Acceptable IDS are, Unexpired Driver’s License, State ID card or interim document. Passport. Military ID, Ohio National Guard, US Department of Veterans Affairs. Screen shots are not acceptable nor are utility bills, other government documents, paychecks or bank statements
  3. Check here to make sure you are registered, and your address is correct. Do not presume anything.
  4. October 11: Early In Person Voting Begins.  View Early Voting Schedule here
  5. October 29: October 29:  Last Day to Request a Vote-by-Mail Ballot.  Print Vote-by-Mail Request Form here  If you plan to vote by mail apply for a ballot NOW. Use the application sent to you by the Secretary of State, download an application from your county Board of Elections website or use the link above.
  6. Vote-by-Mail Ballots must be received at the County Board of Elections Drop Box by 7:30 PM on November 5—Election Day.
  7. Remember, if you apply for an absentee ballot, and you attempt to vote at your polling place on Election Day, you will have vote a Provisional Ballot.
  8. Download a sample ballot. In many counties there may be issues and candidates that you are not familiar with. Do your research. Whether you vote in person or by mail you need to vote the whole ballot. Judges are particularly critical. Levies matter OEA will have lists of endorsed candidates to guide you.
  9. November 4—Last Day to Postmark your Vote-by-Mail Ballot. Get a postmark from a clerk or use Automated Postal Service Kiosk postage for a valid postmark date.
  10. November 5, 6:30AM—7:30 PM Vote on Election Day. Plan to stand in line if you are going to the polls, and dress for the weather. Try to go to the polls in the down times. Mid-morning and mid afternoon are usually best. Avoid lunch time and after dinner. If you are in line at closing time you will be allowed to vote but not one minute after.

Find your polling location here

One of the most important issues on the Ballot is Issue One. The language on the ballot may be confusing and misleading. That is intentional. If you want to get rid of Gerrymandering you must vote YES.

OEA Recommended Candidates

 U.S. President/Vice President—Kamala Harris (D)/Tim Walz (D)

 U.S. Senate—Sherrod Brown (D)

 Ohio Supreme Court Justice

Melody Stewart

Michael Donnelly

Lisa Forbes

 Issue 1—Anti Gerrymandering Amendment   Vote Yes

Ohio House

HD 13 Tristan Rader (D)

HD 14 Sean Brennan (D)*

HD 15 Chris Glassburn (D)

HD 16 Bride Rose Sweeney (D)*

HD 18 Juanita Brent (D)*

HD 19 Phil Robinson (D)*

HD 20 Terrence Upchurch (D)*

HD 21 Eric Synenberg (D)

HD 22 Darnell Brewer (D)

HD 23 Daniel Troy (D)*

HD 31 Bill Roemer (R)

HD 33 Veronica Sims (D)

HD 34 Derrick Hall (D)

HD 35 Mark Curtis (D)

HD 52 Gayle Manning(R)

HD 53 Joe Miller (D)*

HD 57 Jamie Callender(R)

HD 58 Lauren McNally (D)

HD 64 Lauren Mathews (D

Ohio Senate

SD 2 Paloma De La Fuente (D)

SD 18 Katie O’Neill (D)

SD 24 Tom Patton (R)

SD 28 Casey Weinstein (D)

SD 32 Michael Shrodek (D)

US Congress

CD 9 Marcy Kaptur (D) CD 13 Emilia Sykes (D)

CD 11 Shontel Brown (D)

State Board of Education

Dist. 8 Karen Lloyd

Dist. 11 Delores Ford

* Indicates Friendly Incumbent

This listing includes NEOEA areas.

See the complete list of all Endorsed Candidates in a list that you can print and take with you to the polls: OEA Election Guide

Non-Partisan Guide to Presidential Candidates

OEA Endorsed Candidate Expanded Information Site

https://ballot.ohea.org/ballot/

 

Vote YES on Issue One

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OEA Past President and NEOEA-R Organizing Committee Member Patricia Frost-Brooks delivered an address on the need to pass the Constitutional Amendment to end Gerrymandering to Union Members at a Community Meeting in Sheffield on October 10, 2024.

Right now in Ohio, politicians and lobbyists manipulate voting districts to protect their interests and guarantee their re-election. As a result, incumbents running for reelection almost never lose. In other words, we let politicians choose their voters.

The Citizens Not Politicians Amendment bans lobbyists and politicians from the process and instead empowers voters to choose their politicians. Join us today to restore power to where it belongs: with citizens, not politicians.

July 2024 NEOEA-R Newsletter

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In the NEOEA-R July 2024 Issue:
July 2024

July 2024

Download the  NEOEA-R July 2024 Newsletter
  • NEOEA-R/KSEA Mentoring
  • Holden Arboretum Tour
  • Read Across America through KSEA 
  • OEA-RA Report
  • OEA Retired Delegate Election Results
  • NEOEA Summer Leadership – July 17 -18
  • What is PEP?
  • OEA-R Webinar Replays
  • Keep Your Information Up to Date
  • Join OEA-R/NEA-R as a Life Member 
  • Discounts
  • NEOEA Calendar

STRS Active Member Election

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OEA Recommends Sandy Smith Fischer for STRS Board

The OEA Board of Directors has recommended Sandy Smith Fischer for election to the STRS Board. She is running for an open seat representing active teachers on the eleven-member board.

Smith Fischer is an Intervention Specialist in the Streetsboro City Schools. She has twice served as President of her local association and is currently a building representative in her local in addition to serving as Secretary of her Leadership Council.

She strongly believes in standing up for others, especially her fellow educators, and sees serving on the STRS Board as a way to continue her advocacy for the profession. As a member of the Board, she will work to maintain a stable and reliable pension for current and future retired teachers, restore benefits, and manage risks to keep our pension system strong.

Ballots will be mailed to active employees who contribute to STRS and should arrive at their homes this week. Members can vote by mail, phone, or internet. Votes must be received by May 6, 2024.  If you do not receive a ballot by April 10 or lose your ballot, please email the Election Services help desk at STRSOHHelp@electionservicescorp.com or call 866-276-1506.

For more information about OEA’s recommended candidate for the STRS Board, please visit https://www.ohea.org/get-involved/oea-strs-board-endorsements/

OEA Continues to Advocate for Member Retirement Security

Recommending qualified candidates for retirement system boards is just one way that OEA advocates for the retirement benefits that public education employees need and deserve. Others include advocating for active and retired members in retirement board decisions and legislative advocacy.

In recent years, as the financial status of STRS has improved, there have been several benefit changes to restore benefits to active and retired teachers. This includes a 3% cost-of-living allowance (COLA) for retirees in FY 2023 and a 1% COLA in FY 2024. Additionally, the retiree health care program is fully solvent and has seen lower premiums and rebates for enrollees in recent years.

Regarding retirement eligibility, the years of service required to retire continue to decrease incrementally. Last month, the STRS Board voted unanimously to make a permanent change to retirement eligibility to 34 years of service at any age for full benefits. Additionally, members can retire with reduced benefits with 29 years of service at any age. OEA continues to advocate that benefits be restored to active and retired members as the financial condition of STRS improves.

Additionally, OEA supports legislative proposals to increase the employer contribution to STRS to improve the financial status of the pension plan and speed the restoration of benefits. Employer contribution rates have not changed in decades and lag behind other states. At the same time, employees have seen their benefits cut and their contributions increase. This will be a difficult road, but OEA is committed to working with our members and other stakeholder groups to seek this needed change.

Another area of OEA’s advocacy is in fighting for fairness for public employees by seeking repeal of the unfair Social Security offsets. The Government Pension Offset (GPO) and Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) are provisions of federal law that reduce the earned Social Security benefits of public employees who also receive a public pension in states like Ohio that do not pay into Social Security. OEA and NEA members have long advocated for repeal of these laws. Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown is the lead sponsor of a bill to repeal GPO and WEP and a bill in the US House of Representatives has over 300 bipartisan cosponsors. OEA members can also help by contacting their State Senator to support House Concurrent Resolution 6, which would urge Congress to support the repeal of GPO and WEP. Members can take action by clicking here.

OEA Fund Bowling Tournaments

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Please join North Eastern OEA Members and their families from across the NEOEA Area for a fun evenings of bowling and camaraderie.

The events will include complimentary food and beverages, and bowlers and spectators alike will be entered to win prizes throughout the evening. Three inaugural events have been planned at various locations throughout the NEOEA District.

When: Saturday, April 13th 2024

Where: Spins Bowl – Independence

5619 Brecksville Rd., Independence OH, 44131

Time: Doors Open at 1:30 PM. Bowling Begins at 2:00 PM

More information and registration: https://oeafund.info/neoeaclebowling

 

When: Saturday, April 6th, 2024

Where: Nautical Bowling Lanes

184 Miller Road., Avon Lake, OH 44012

Time: Doors Open at 1:30 PM. Bowling Begins at 2:00 PM

More information and registration: https://oeafund.info/neoeafirebowling

 

When: Saturday, March 23rd 2024

Where: Westside Bowl

2617 Mahoning Ave., Youngstown, OH 44509

Time: Doors Open at 1:30 PM. Bowling Begins at 2:00 PM

More information and registration: https://oeafund.info/neoeamahbowling 

 

 

 

OEA-R Racial and Social Justice Committee Book Study

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Join the OEA-Retired Racial and Social Justice Committee Book Study for another year of exciting discussions!

All OEA members are invited to join us on this journey. We aim to inspire engaging conversations on books that relate to everyday experiences on the topics of racial and social justice. This will help us learn from each other and grow in understanding.

All sessions will be virtual on Zoom and most sessions will take place the third Monday of each month from 7pm-8pm with exceptions for holidays.

The January and February 2024 dates will occur on: 
Tuesday, January 16th at 7pm, Monday, February 26th at 7pm

Book Reading Schedule:

  • Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann (January/February 2024)
  • White Rage by Carol Anderson (March/April 2024)
  • You Don’t Even Know Me: Stories and Poems by Sharon Flake (May 2024)
  • Change Sings by Amanda Gorman and Getting Away with Murder: The True Story of the Emmett Till Case by Chris Crowe (June 2024)
  • One Person, No Vote by Carol Anderson (July/August 2024)

A certificate of attendance will be issued to all participants based on the hours they attend. Approval for CEU credits is dependent upon your local LPDC committee.

* If you have registered for an event before, you do not have to register again.

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Please contact Bob Maher, Co-Chair, OEA-Retired Racial and Social Justice Committee, rm823990@ohio.edu     with questions regarding the study.