Press Release: 2025-01-06

AFSCME’s Saunders: Finally, GPO-WEP is gone for good

MEDIATE RELEASE

SUNDAY, JANUARY 05, 2025

Contact: Nick Voutsinos

Email: nvoutsinos@afscme.org 

 

WASHINGTON – AFSCME President Lee Saunders released the following statement after President Joe Biden signed The Social Security Fairness Act into law:

“Finally, GPO-WEP is gone for good. These outdated rules denied over two million retired public service workers their hard-earned Social Security benefits. Today, with President Biden’s signing of the Social Security Fairness Act, GPO-WEP becomes a thing of the past. Thousands of AFSCME members can now retire with peace of mind, and passionate jobseekers will be inspired to pursue these critical careers knowing their futures will be secure. It’s a game-changer for public service.

 

“This historic victory follows decades of relentless organizing. AFSCME members, both on the job and already retired, along with fellow public service workers nationwide organized petitions, letter-writing campaigns, called representatives in Congress and even traveled to DC to demand answers face-to-face. It was a steep hill to climb, but today, we see the results of our tireless advocacy.

 

“On behalf of AFSCME’s 1.4 million members, we thank our Congressional allies – especially Sen. Chuck Schumer, Sen. Sherrod Brown, Rep. Abigail Spanberger and Rep. Garret Graves – for standing with us to right this wrong. And we applaud President Biden for delivering another monumental win for public service workers.”