Teamster Members Challenge Florida Pension Law

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International Brotherhood of Teamsters

Jul 20, 2011, 04:56 ET

Law Enforcement Officers Fight to Preserve Retirement

WASHINGTON, July 20, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Teamster public employees joined a lawsuit today against the State of Florida over changes to the Florida Retirement System that will require up to 655,000 employees to contribute 3 percent of their salaries into the state pension fund. The change went into effect July 1.

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Steve Helmer and Michael Agostinis, members of Teamsters Local 385 in Orlando, filed the motion to intervene with the support of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and Joint Council 75, becoming parties to a lawsuit filed by a coalition of public sector unions. This legal action contends that the contribution requirement for state and local government employees is a breach of contract with existing employees and impacts their right to collectively bargain.

"My retirement was fully funded. Now the state is taking money from my salary to fund its obligations under the plan. I'm at the end of my career, but I'm joining this lawsuit for the younger guys. This is not what we were promised," said Sgt. Steve Helmer, who has worked for the Volusia County Sheriff's Office for 23 years.

"When I was hired I understood that I would not make a lot of money, but would get a pension that would compensate in return for the low pay," said Mike Agostinis, Deputy Sheriff with the Volusia County Sheriff's Office. "I was entering into a career in public service and enforcing the law when broken. Well, a law has been broken and our constitutional rights have been violated to make up for the state budget woes that we did not cause. It is absurd that they are attacking public employees."

Michael Filler, Director of the Teamsters Public Services Division, praised the courage of the deputies.

"All Americans deserve a decent retirement income. It's wrong that the state has decided to ignore valid employment contracts for those who serve the public," Filler said. "If corporate executives can get high-priced golden parachutes, then middle class working Americans should be entitled to modest pensions."

Teamsters have united around the country to stop anti-worker legislation and fight back against the coordinated war on workers. For more information, visit: www.teamster.org or www.stopthewaronworkers.org, visit TeamsterNation on Twitter and join the official Teamsters group on Facebook at www.facebook.com/teamsters or www.facebook.com/stopthewaronworkers.

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.

SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters