Report from the Pension Committee

At the 2003 Annual General Meeting of the Alberta Retired Teachers, the Representative Committee presented 23 resolutions dealing with pension issues that needed to be dealt with by ARTA. Eighteen of the resolutions were passed and an ad hoc committee on pensions was established to deal with them. The 18 resolutions were:


1. That ARTA be granted equal status as
as stakeholders in the pension plan, and:

That ARTA be accorded full and equal
representation on the board which
administers the plan and on any
committees established to conduct plan
business, and:

That ARTA have its membership
restored on the ATA Pension Committee
and that the number of retired
representatives be proportional to the
number of retired teachers.

2. That ARTA commence advocacy on
behalf of retired teachers with
representation to be made to various
levels of government, opposition
members. The Teachers' Pension Plan
Board, the Alberta Teachers' Association
and advocates for seniors such as the
Alberta Council on Aging and the
Coalition of Seniors' Advocates.

3. That ARTA undertake and commence a
program of communications, with
information as to ARTA Policy to be
shared with retired teachers throughout
the province, with teachers currently
practicing and with various media.

4. That ARTA advocates that the Teachers' Pension Plan be removed from the total Control by government.

5. That ARTA advocates the election of a
board of officers to administer the plan,
such a board to be accountable to practicing teachers, retired teachers, and, where appropriate, surviving spouses.

6. That ARTA advocate that, as a condition of structure for said board, there be defined, a process for change, an on-going process for assessing the needs of retirees and a process for determining the degree to which the needs of retirees are being met by the plan.

7. That ARTA develop a program of education for both retired and practicing teachers, along with a plan for dissemination, the purpose of which will include familiarization with the workings of the Teachers' Pension Plan, information about pensions in general and an update on current issues and alternatives.

8. That ATRA advocates that the Teachers' Pension Plan be disassociated from the Canada Pension Plan or its successor.

9. That ARTA advocates that a bridge-benefit be implemented until disassociation can be effected.

10. That ARTA advocates that a plan be
developed for addressing the shortfall that has accrued on pensioners since the
Teachers' Retirement Plan and the Canada Pension Plan were blended and that said plan be implemented as quickly as possible.

11. That ARTA advocates that the loan-advance-coordination feature be removed when the bridge-benefit commences or the plan is disassociated.

12. That ARTA advocates that COLA be
adjusted to 100% of the CPI.

13. That ARTA advocates that an alternative index be used, such index to be more in line with real cost of living increases.

14. That ARTA seek means by which to better cost the losses by retired teachers due to the wage and salary rollback imposed by the government and that it then address this matter through advocacy on behalf of its members.

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ARTA © 2005

 

 

15. That ARTA advocates that a spousal benefit be the norm and not a reduced benefit.

16. That ARTA strive to move the Teachers' Pension Plan from the defined benefit structure to that of a non-contributory benefit plan wherein the employer's portion of the contribution . . . in essence, an amount negotiated as a part of the employment and salary contract . . . be administered under the
plan but that the employee share be self-
directed.

17. That ARTA explore the need to obtain the services of a legal firm from which legal opinions might be sought regarding ARTA business.

18. That ARTA strike an ad hoc committee on pensions to work towards resolving the issues outlined above and any other issues that may arrive.

The following pension-related happenings have occurred since the 2003 AGM:

The ad hoc committee on pensions has been changed to a Standing Committee on Pensions. The committee members have been charged with dealing with the recommendations and to make reports to all future meetings of ARTA.

Attempts have been made by the ARTA Pension Committee chair and the President of ARTA to gain representation on the Pension Committee of ATA. All attempts have met with defeat by the Provincial Executive Council of the ATA. It should be noted that ARTA is allowed to send two representatives to the ARA of the ATA for two years (ending this year) to speak on any pension issues put forth as resolutions on the Assembly floor.

The Standing Pension Committee of ARTA has sent out two questionnaires through News and Views and has received over 360 responses. The questionnaire dealt with many of the points raised above.

There are several strong indications that ARTA should:
- be full stakeholders on all committees
regarding teachers' pensions,
- work toward full annual cost-of-living
adjustment payments (COLA) payments
for retired teachers,
- provide more information regarding
ARTA work on pensions and other
matters that affect retirees,
- continue its advocacy on behalf of
retirees regarding any pension matters
that arise, and
- work towards the attainment of a full
2% pension at retirement.

The ARTA President met with the ATA President earlier this year to discuss some of the concerns regarding pensions and other matters. Although the ATA President was willing to listen to what was being said, he did not indicate his, or ATA's willingness to carry the discussion any further.

The Pension Committee has asked all Branch Presidents of ARTA to strike a pension committee for their branch. The purpose of these committees would be to be informed on pension issues, to disseminate that information to members and to further the implementation of these issues.

Church humour!
"Do you believe in life after death?" the boss asked one of his employees.
"Yes, sir," the new employee replied.
"Well then, that makes everything just fine," the boss continued, "after you left early yesterday to go to your grandmother's funeral, she stopped in to see you."