Reader’s Editorial: CalRTA delivers -- from pension power to Social Security fairness, retired teachers get it done

Source:  California Retired Teachers Association

November 2, 2025 (San Diego) - During this year’s Retired Teachers Week, we proudly look back to January when the California Retired Teachers Association (CalRTA) achieved our biggest legislative victory when the Social Security Fairness Act was signed into law. CalRTA helped spearhead this successful national campaign and was the only West Coast organization working directly with the bill authors to secure this historic change. This landmark achievement repealed the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO), policies that had unfairly reduced the earned benefits of retired educators and other public servants for decades.

The first full week of November we also honor the tremendous contributions that retired educators continue to make in their communities. Retired teachers have not only spent decades shaping future generations, but they continue to give back long after their classroom careers have ended. Statewide, CalRTA members donated more than $42 million worth of volunteer time to local communities, enriching lives in schools, libraries, community centers, and countless organizations.

According to Pension-omics 2025 from the National Institute on Retirement Security, in 2022 California saw $89.8 billion in total economic benefit from pension benefits paid out by state and local pension plans. Because retirees spend their benefit checks locally, their spending ripples through the economy as one person’s spending becomes another person’s income. The positive economic impact of California pensions is impressive by any standard:

• $89.8 billion in total economic output generated by retirees’ spending.
• 421,219 jobs paying $29.6 billion in wages and salaries supported by retirees’ spending.
• $13.2 billion in federal, state, and local tax revenues generated by retirees and their spending in California.
• $42+ million worth of donated time from retired educators

CalRTA members are part of this powerful pool of retirees whose pension checks help stimulate California’s economy. In addition, members contributed more than $750,000 in grants, scholarships, and donations last year.

CalRTA highlights these contributions by celebrating Retired Teachers Week, the first week of each November. This year’s event, November 3-9, marks the 27th annual celebration honoring retired educators across the state.

“Our organization’s greatest strength is our members,” said Mark Allen, CalRTA State President. “Their tireless advocacy helped deliver the passage of the Social Security Fairness Act, and their continued service in local communities demonstrates the enduring value of retired educators. Together, we are ensuring retirement security for today’s retirees and future generations.”

CalRTA calculates the value of our members’ volunteer time using figures from the website independentsector.org. In 2024, California’s value of one hour of volunteer time volunteer time was $40.14 per hour. At this time Division 69 has collected 12,793.5 volunteer hours in 2025 and we have four months left to collect.

Learn more about CalRTA online at calrta.org or on Facebook/CalRTA.

The opinions in this editorial reflect the views of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of East County Magazine. To submit an editorial for consideration, contact editor@eastcountymagazine.org.