Sanitation Workers and 2 Pension Plans?
A Unique Request from Memphis Sanitation Workers

(CFN-Memphis TN 7-2008) - Because the plight of the Sanitation workers in Memphis Tennessee is at the heart of what we believe is so wrong with our existing system of government, we keep this issue alive because we believe that a wrong has been pepetrated against an iconic institution in America and it's struggle for civil rights. Decisions were made long ago that set us as a people on our existing course of unjust and unfairness as it relate to the American worker.

The most recent development in the sanitation workers request to the City of Memphis is that they now want to be apart of the social security system and the city's pension plan system.

Those that we have consulted with on and off the record say this is not likely to happen. The turning point seems to have been in 1966 when the sanitation workers elected to opt out of the city's pension plan. Years later, sanitation workers and administrators for the sanitation workers, along with many others, believe that this was the wrong decision for the union to have taken and did not consider all of the consequences relating to such a decision. We plan to bring you even more information on this issue with a series of interview from both sanitation workers, AFSME Local 1733 which is their Union, and local politicians.

We began with statements from Congressman Steve Cohen that we would like to share with you regarding this issue.

We asked the Congressman if he would support the Memphis Sanitation workers should they continue to engage in efforts to include themselves in the City of
Memphis' employee pension plan?

2) We also asked the Congressman how does he feel feel about the sanitation workers still not being apart of the City of Memphis' pension plan? Here is his response:

Mr. Yates:

This issue is very important to me, and I certainly support Memphis sanitation workers in their efforts. I greatly value AFSCME and all the City’s employees. I want them to get a fair deal with respect to retirement income, given many of these employees’ long and dedicated service to the City. In fact, along with Councilman Myron Lowery, I initiated a public meeting with representatives from AFSCME Local 1733 to discuss the issue and find out what could be done to reach an equitable solution for the City and its sanitation workers.

At the federal level, we have very few options available to remedy this situation outside of amending the Social Security Act, which is not what AFSCME wants. Preliminary research appears to indicate that the City Charter or other City laws must be changed in order to accommodate the sanitation workers’ request for enrollment in the City of Memphis’ employee pension plan.

A 1966 City referendum precluded City employees from electing both Social Security and employment-based retirement coverage, which is what I understand the sanitation workers want. Nothing in federal law appears to preclude City employees from both Social Security and City retirement coverage. Therefore, this does not seem to be a federal law issue, but rather a result of a City referendum – a situation that only the City itself can address.

I have informed the union, the City Council and the City Administration that I will work in whatever capacity they need to help all sides come to a mutually agreeable resolution to this problem. I have supported the City’s sanitation workers in the past and I will help them in any way that I can to get the benefits and compensation that they deserve.

Sincerely,

Steve Cohen
Member of Congress

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