The MTA is supporting legislation that would provide increased economic security for retired public-sector workers, and we need your help to secure a favorable report out of committee.

The bill, S.1638/H.2505, An Act to provide fair and affordable public retiree benefits, was filed by Senator Julian Cyr (D-Truro) and Representative Dan Donahue (D-Worcester). It would immediately increase the COLA base from $13,000 to $18,000 and over time would raise the base to align with Social Security’s maximum allowable benefit for an individual worker, which is $43,524 in 2023. The legislation would also freeze the health insurance premium contribution share for current municipal retirees at the percentage they are paying upon the effective date of the bill while also locking in the percentage for future retirees based on their retirement date. Lastly, this bill would cap out-of-pocket expenses for public-sector retirees over the age of 65 who are not Medicare-eligible. To learn more about this legislation, please click here.

Please email your legislators right away and urge them to co-sponsor the MTA-backed fair and affordable retirement bill and to request a favorable report out of the Public Service Committee! Please also consider calling your legislators to follow up on your email. You can find your legislators’ phone numbers by clicking here.