Social Security Fairness Restored
After 40 years of relentless advocacy, union members have won! This week, President Biden signed the Social Security Fairness Act into law, repealing the unjust Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO). This historic victory restores retirement benefits for 150,000 public servants in Illinois and millions nationwide, including teachers, nurses, firefighters, and law enforcement officers. A heartfelt thank you to all our IFT members, especially our retirees, whose unwavering dedication and advocacy made this moment possible.
Our victory is a testament to the power of collective action, from letters and calls to lobbying efforts like the one I proudly joined as IFT president in Washington, D.C. last August. Dedicated public servants deserve a fair, secure retirement—and now they’ll have it.
The law strengthens retirement security and helps restore value and dignity to those who serve our public. It also ensures we can recruit and retain the next generation of public workers who keep our communities thriving. It’s proof of what we can achieve when we stand together in our unions.
As we begin the New Year, we look forward to continuing our fight for fairness and progress. Together, we are unstoppable!