Latest News

Retiree Turnout Sealed Victories

SEPTEMBER 10, 2014: Association members turned out in droves in support of our endorsed candidates on primary Election Day.

On a day when overall turnout amongst the general voting public was very low, retirees helped propel Deb Goldberg and Steve Kerrigan to victory in the Democratic primary for State Treasurer and Lt. Governor, respectively. Goldberg now faces Republican Michael Heffernan in the General Election November 4^th.

Retirees Support McLaughlin & O’Reilly

AUGUST 29, 2014: An election is now underway for the two elected positions on the City of Boston’s Retirement Board. Our Association is proud to support the reelection of Boston teacher Michael McLaughlin, along with the election of Boston fire fighter Michael O’Reilly.

This is a quick reminder of our upcoming ANNUAL MEETING:

DATE:    SEPTEMBER 5, 2014
TIME:    11:00 A.M.
SITE:     LANTANA, RANDOLPH

U.S. state and local-government pension investments gained the most in three years as stocks soared, according to a report to be released today by Wilshire Associates Inc.

3% For Most Retirees & Survivors

JULY 18, 2014: With the approval of a 3% COLA for state and teacher retirees contained in the FY15 budget signed into law by Governor Deval Patrick on July 11, members can be assured of receiving a new COLA payment in their July pension check. The state has maintained the COLA base at $13,000, thus setting the maximum annual COLA at $390. Eligible retirees for the 2014 COLA are those having retired prior to July 1, 2013.

The Retired, State, County and Municipal Employees Association of Massachusetts announced its unanimous endorsement of Steve Kerrigan for lieutenant governor, noting that the former longtime aide to Sen. Ted Kennedy is the right person to help lead Massachusetts forward.

The endorsement comes on the heels of Kerrigan’s victory at the Massachusetts Democratic State Convention in June. The former Lancaster selectman won the most support among the four candidates for lieutenant governor.

Applies Only To State Chartered Banks

JUNE 20, 2014: “In our July 2014 issue of the Voice, we included an article reporting on the Association’s successful enactment in 1984 of a law that prohibited a bank from imposing any fee or assessment on a checking or savings account of a person 65 or over,” according to Publisher Nancy Delaney. “We termed it the "Bank Fee Waiver Law".

Insurance Moratorium Pending

JUNE 6, 2014: Following the passage of the Fiscal Year 2015 budget in both the House and Senate, legislative conferees are now negotiating a final unified state budget that will likely receive final approval in late June or early July.

New York Times
April 16, 2014

Detroit’s pension boards and a retirees’ group say they have reached tentative agreements with the city that could serve as a breakthrough in its quest to settle with its major creditors and propel itself out of bankruptcy before the end of the year.

By Kathy McCabe
Globe Staff April 10, 2014

Winchester selectmen have scaled back a plan to make retirees pay half the cost of their health insurance premiums, a plan that ignited a backlash from retired town workers.

The Board of Selectmen now proposes increasing premiums to 30 percent for people who retired before 2004, and phasing in the plan over an 18-month period, starting July 1. Later retirees would still pay 50 percent of their premiums, but it would be phased in over two years, according to the proposal.

FY2015 Insurance Rates Hold Steady at 1% Increase

MARCH 6, 2014: State and municipal retirees, receiving their health insurance through the state’s Group Insurance Commission (GIC), received welcome good news on Wednesday – health insurance premiums for FY15 will remain largely unchanged.

FEBRUARY 21, 2014: Heeding calls from retiree advocates (including our Association) and Democratic Leaders, President Obama has dropped a provision from his federal budget proposal that would have used the chained CPI to calculate Social Security COLAs.