Retirees
Sign the petition to restore the COLA
Respect Ohio's Retired Teachers, Restore Their Promised COLA. The cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) is suspended for all retired teachers indefinitely. STRS board members said they will not review that decision until May of 2022. It is only through a COLA that retired teachers can keep up with inflation. Learn more.
Retirees rally for COLA restoration
Retirees from across Ohio will attend the June 21 STRS Board meeting to urge restoration of the cost-of-living-adjustment to their pensions. We encourage members to attend the meeting to have your voices heard and see firsthand how your retirement board operates - we want you to be informed. The board meets 9 a.m. June 21 at STRS, 275 E. Broad St., Columbus, OH 43215.
What are STRS, SERS doing to your future?
Mark your calendar for June 15 and plan to attend a board meeting to see what your pension trustees are doing that will impact your retirement.
STRS eliminates COLA to protect pension
Faced with massive unfunded liabilities, the State Teachers Retirement Board in April voted to eliminate cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) starting July 1. Health care premiums for those covered by STRS are expected to increase as cost trends continue to go up.
SERS seeks legislative change to protect your pension
The pension fund for non-teaching school employees, SERS Ohio, is drafting a bill that would give that pension board the authority to change the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for retirees; that authority now rests with legislators. While the pension fund is currently within the legally required 30-year funding liability period, gaining the authority to make changes itself would allow the board to be more agile in protecting your pension.
Engagement with STRS at regional meetings raises awareness
Thank you for attending recent regional meetings to discuss your pension with representatives of STRS Ohio; your engagement has increased awareness around the issues important to OFT members. See what decisions lie ahead.
Avoid group seeking money to watch your pension
A group is asking our retirees to pay for pension protection. Avoid these solicitations from Protect Ohio's Pension, Inc. (POP5).
National Public Pension Coalition
The National Public Pension Coalition (NPPC) was established in 2006 by the AFT and other labor unions to act as an early warning system and make strategic assessments of policy proposals that threaten defined-benefit pensions. Find out more.
Retiree chapters keep OFT members informed, involved
As OFT members transition to retirement and the close of your career, you won't leave OFT. We have three active retiree chapters to keep you informed about issues impacting retirement and pensions. Retiree chapters are also a good way to stay in contact with friends and colleagues.
For info on joining the Cincinnati Federation of Teachers retiree chapter, Local 1520-R, call 513-961-2272. For info on joining the Cleveland Teachers Union retiree chapter, Local 279-R, visit http://ctur.oh.aft.org or call 216-861-7676. For info on joining the Toledo Federation of Teachers retiree chapter, Local 250-R, call 419-535-3013.