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graphic Retirement Benefits: Pension and Retiree Health Care Resources for Local 21 Members
As a union representing more than 7,000 public employees in the Bay Area, Local 21's guiding principles are based on two central themes: Public employees who have dedicated their careers to serving and improving their communities deserve the retirement benefits they have earned; and Benefits that attract and retain highly skilled employees to the public sector help build good government and good public policy.

From negotiating improved pensions and fighting givebacks, to campaigning against Governor Schwarzenegger's pension reform initiative that sought to privatize and jeopardize the retirement security of hundreds of thousands of public employees, IFPTE Local 21 has been at the forefront of the fight to secure public employees' retirement benefits.
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Menu down graphic In 2007, as a response to new accounting rules (GASB 45) which require public agencies across the country to report any unfunded costs for non-pension post-employment benefits (primarily retiree health care benefits), public agencies began taking aggressive steps to minimize their liability. IFPTE Local 21 is playing a leadership role in advocating responsible action which safeguards retiree health benefits for public employees who have dedicated their lives to public service.

In November 2007, Association of Engineers and Architects (AEA) chapter president Matt Loesch was victorious in his campaign for the City of San Jose Retirement Board and has subsequently been appointed to the Board by the City Council for a four year term. Loesch's campaign had outstanding support from many in the South Bay including a number of unions and employee associations. He won with nearly two to one votes over the second place finisher in the election.

This page contains information and research conducted by Local 21 and other groups across the country working to safeguard retirement benefits and address potential cutbacks in pension and retiree medical benefits. While much of the resources on this page are specific to Local 21's work in San Francisco, many of the lessons learned, as well as research and general pension and retiree health materials are relevant across Local 21 chapters around the Bay Area.

Do you have questions about retirement issues or want to learn more about how to get involved in protecting retirement benefits at your workplace? We welcome additional information and links on retirement, pensions, and retiree health benefits that may be of interest to Local 21 members and public employees.

Email us! retirement@ifpte21.org
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Agreement Reached with CCSF Regarding Pension & Retiree Health Benefits
Menu down graphic After three months of intensive negotiations, a tentative agreement has been reached between the Coalition for Pension Reform (CPR) and the City and County of San Francisco regarding changes to the contribution rates and vesting schedules for retiree health benefits for new employees, and a pension improvement for all employees.

Local 21's San Francisco membership will be reviewing the agreement and will decide later this month whether to accept its terms and conditions before it can be approved by CCSF Board of Supervisors on February 26, 2008. Final approval must come from San Francisco voters in the form of a Charter Amendment on the June 2008 ballot before any agreement can be implemented.

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Letter from Local 21 Regarding the
Pension & Retiree Health Benefits Agreement (download pdf)

Informational Meetings & Vote (download schedule)

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What to learn more about the details of the tentative agreement reached between CPR and CCSF? CPR Newsletter 3, CPR and City Reach Agreement Download PDF

Have questions about the agreement? See CPR Newsletter 4, CPR's Most Frequently Asked Questions about the Tentative Agreement Download PDF

What does the new pension package mean in dollars and cents? Download PDF

What would my estimated retirement benefits be according to the new and old plans? Use CPR's retirement calculator to see how the pension improvement will impact you
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Want to learn more about Local 21 and CPR's fight for securing pension and retiree medical benefits in San Francisco? see Retirement Resources Subpage
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GASB 45 & Retiree Medical Benefits
Menu down graphic The Governmental Accounting Standards Board is a non-governmental, non-profit organization that monitors and establishes financial accounting and reporting standards and practices for US State and local governments.

GASB Statement 45 was passed as an accounting standard, mandating public agencies to estimate and report unfunded costs for non-pension post-employment benefits (primarily retiree health care benefits) for employees over the span of their career. GASB 45 does not require agencies to currently have funds available to pay these future costs or earmark funds -- only a reasonable plan to meet these estimated costs and fulfill their obligation for providing workers with promised benefits. While GASB 45 is an obligation to disclose liability, it is not a funding requirement or a mandate to change previously adopted pay-as-you-go practices for providing retiree medical benefits. Despite the fact that GASB 45 is simply a change in accounting and reporting practices, and not a requirement for changing the way benefits are paid for, public employers across the US have been using GASB 45 as a pretext to cut benefits.

Want to learn more about the facts of GASB 45?
 What have other jurisdictions done to address GASB 45?
 How does CCSF currently compare to the vesting periods at other public employers for retiree medical benefits?

 What does the State of California's Public Employee Post-Employment Benefits Commission have to say about Funding Pensions & Retiree Health Care for Public Employees?
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