Washington state retirees win pension COLA increases through persistence

It took persistence, but retirees in Washington state will soon see a 3% cost-of-living (COLA) increase.

The increase will benefit those enrolled in the Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS) Plan 1 and largely resulted from members of Retired Public Employee Council of Washington (RPEC), AFSCME Chapter 10 calling, writing and holding virtual lobby sessions with their legislators.

Although AFSCME retirees’ pension plan in that state has enjoyed COLA increases in the past, regular increases were taken away after the Great Recession.