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AFL-CIO Government Affairs State Government Relations

AFL-CIO Government Affairs State Government Relations. Pensions April 8, 2013 Via Webinar Speakers: Jordan Marks, Exec. Director, National Public Pension Coalition Naomi Walker, Asst. to the President, AFSCME – Retirement Security for All Coalition . AFL-CIO. Pension Webinar

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AFL-CIO Government Affairs State Government Relations

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  1. AFL-CIO Government AffairsState Government Relations • Pensions • April 8, 2013 • Via Webinar • Speakers: • Jordan Marks, Exec. Director, National Public Pension Coalition • Naomi Walker, Asst. to the President, AFSCME – Retirement Security for All Coalition

  2. AFL-CIO Pension Webinar April 8, 2013

  3. NPPC National Partners National Public Pension Coalition

  4. Upcoming 2013 Battles • Pennsylvania • Illinois • Nevada • Texas • Mississippi • New Jersey • New Mexico • Louisiana • Florida • Kansas • Kentucky • Wyoming • Maine • Arizona • Montana

  5. 3 Key Take Aways - NPPC Has Resources for your state pension battle • Financial • Organizational • Communications • Research • Pew Is A Dangerous Enemy • Early Organizing is Essential

  6. Elements of a Campaign Plan • Legislative Targeting • Member Education • Member Mobilization • Communications • Earned Media • Release of White Papers • Letters to the Legislature • Constituency Groups • Consider Research Needs • Timeline and Budget

  7. Coalition Building and Strategy • Labor Must Prepare • Organize Early and Pay Attention to Pensions • Focus on lobbying, communications, member education and mobilization • Engage allies • Coalitions Should Hold Regular Meetings on Lobbying, Tactics, Organizing and Communications • Use Opposition Research to Drive Strategy and Rapid Response • Line up 3rd Party Surrogates, Economic Validators • Expose the Hypocrisy of Politicians Who Call on Public Servants to Sacrifice but Do Not Sacrifice Themselves

  8. How to Talk About Pensions • Move to Fire Fighters VS politicians • Keep the message simple • Highlight the fact that average pension is modest • Workers put their life savings into their pension • Many public workers do not receive Social Security • Show impact on worker • Expose hypocrisy • No one is more committed to the solvency of these funds than the men and women who depend upon them

  9. NY MI VA Pension Changes Enacted in 2012 WA WI MN WY CA OH KY MD KS NM SC SC AL LA New plan (DC, combo or cash balance) Benefit Changes (Contribution Rates, and/or Retirement Age, and/or Multiplier Changes, and/or COLA Cuts, etc. ) Study Commission

  10. Playing Field

  11. Pew • Funded by the John and Laura Arnold foundation which seeks to end DB pensions in the public sector. • In addition to KY, will provide recommendations to AZ, MT and NV. Pew’s aim is to inform policy decisions in states across the country on how to address pension fixes. • Early Organizing is Essential

  12. 2013 Coalition Building: A look at three states • Illinois • Pennsylvania • Kentucky

  13. Illinois • State has $96 billion unfunded liability as politicians failed to pay into the system • Gov, legislative leaders claim false choices • Attacks from democrats, social service organizations and other labor groups. • Coalition created their own plan with assistance from International unions • Central coordinator essential

  14. Pennsylvania • $40 billion liability • Labor believes Gov. is vulnerable in 2014 • Proposal will reduce benefits for current workers, move new workers to 401k. • Editorial board outreach • Scheduled research • Testimony with 3rd party validators • Labor has taken silo approach to organizing efforts

  15. Kentucky: Key Takeaways

  16. Lessons Learned

  17. Organizing Tactics

  18. Communications Successes

  19. Communications Successes

  20. Lessons Learned • Pew is an Enemy and they are Probably in your State • Dedicated Staffing is Essential for Mobilization, Press, Lobbying; with Specific Plans for Mobilization and Press • Cash Balance Plans Emerging and Difficult to Fight; • Dedicated Research is Essential for Scope of Cuts, Exposing Anti-Worker Committees • Need To Better Engage Allies; Other Public Workers, Advocates, Clergy, EARN Networks • Pro Public Pension Testimony, White Papers to Counter Cuts

  21. For More Information Jordan I Marks Executive Director National Public Pension Coalition 202-657-1549 (cell) jmarks@nppconline.org Truthaboutpensions.org

  22. Retirement Security for All Coalition For more information: Naomi Walker Assistant to the President AFSCME nwalker@afscme.org

  23. Questions and Discussion QUESTIONS? UPDATES FROM YOUR STATE? Upcoming Webinars • Collective Bargaining/Paycheck Deception • Right to Work Part II (Messaging) • PLAs/Prevailing Wage For more information: Peggy Shorey, Director, State Government Relations pshorey@aflcio.org Christine Silvia-DeGennaro, State Legislative Issues Coordinator csilvia@aflcio.org

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