Retirement Security

Fewer employers today provide defined-benefit pensions for their workers—and among those that do, many are offering “defined-contribution” (like 401[k]s) rather than traditional “defined-benefit” pension plans.

That’s why Social Security insurance is essential for millions of retirees. Nearly two-thirds of retirees count on Social Security for half or more of their retirement income and for more than three in 10, Social Security is 90 percent or more of their income. It is a safety net that keeps retirees out of poverty.

It’s also important to figure out what you will need to retire. Talking a look at how much Social Security will provide, whether you have another form of pension and how much you spend are all components in determining when you can retire.

For decades, workers achieved retirement security because their retirement income flowed from a combination of employer-provided pensions, Social Security and personal savings. But the recession has exposed the severe deficiencies in our retirement system. We need to develop a new way to provide workers with lifetime retirement security beyond Social Security.

More about this issue:

Jul 23, 2021 | News Story

On Monday, July 19, the IBEW hosted a webinar with nearly 700 IBEW officers, local union business managers, staff, and rank-and-file members to hear from U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm about the Biden Administration's push for a bipartisan infrastructure bill.

Jul 23, 2021 | News Story

The workers of Volunteers of Legal Service (VOLS) announced this week the formation of the VOLS Union, which will be a chapter of the Association of Legal Aid Attorneys (“ALAA”) – UAW Local 2325, and have called on management to immediately recognize them.

Jul 20, 2021 | News Story

Workers’ rights are under attack.

Our outdated labor laws have been chipped away and weakened by anti-worker legislators. Every day, we hear about corporations openly union-busting and retaliating against working people without consequence.

Jul 16, 2021 | News Story

2020’s growth in pay inequity between workers and CEOs confirms the “executive base salary reductions” touted during the COVID-19 crisis were just lip service, per this year’s AFL-CIO Executive Paywatch report.

Jul 16, 2021 | News Story

Workers at the Hispanic Society, which runs a museum and library in upper Manhattan dedicated to the arts and literature of Spain and Latin America, this week voted to join UAW Local 2110.

Jul 16, 2021 | News Story

Our outdated labor laws are no longer strong enough to protect us in the workplace. High-profile corporations openly union-bust without facing consequences. Anti-worker lawmakers have passed wage-killing and racist right to work laws in 27 states.

Jul 9, 2021 | News Story

On Wednesday, New York City held a ticker-tape parade to honor the essential workers who helped the city through the COVID-19 pandemic. The Hometown Heroes Parade kicked off at 11 a.m.

Jul 9, 2021 | News Story

Actors’ Equity Association is thrilled with the news that the House of Representatives Appropriations Committee approved President Biden’s full budgetary request of $201 million for the National Endowment for the Arts, a record for the agency.

Jul 9, 2021 | News Story

There’s still time to enroll for the Fall 2021 semester at SLU. If you have participated in some of SLU’s public programs, you have already been introduced to some of the School’s renowned faculty.