Early Retirement
In 2010, the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) and the Washington Teachers’ Union (WTU) signed a contract that included the Early Retirement Option cited below.
4.5.5.3.2 Option 2: Early Retirement:
Excessed permanent status Teachers with twenty (20) or more years of creditable service shall have the option of retiring with full benefits. This provision shall be subject to necessary government and budgetary approvals. i
Unfortunately, DCPS asserts that it has no money to fund the early retirement option. The WTU is deeply concerned with DCPS’s position and urges DCPS to honor its contractual obligation to D.C.’s veteran teachers.
In a recent interview with the WTU, an excessed veteran teacher, Mrs. W, discussed her concerns “I was excessed after 25 years of service and now at the age of 57, I am given one year to either find a permanent placement in DCPS or forcibly retire without the benefits promised. While I love to teach, I am tired of the insecurity and have a right to option 2.”
The District’s refusal to honor their contractual obligations to our teachers is unconscionable. Prior to signing the 2010 contract, Mr. Natwar M. Ghandi, the Chief Financial Officer for the D.C. Council certified that the District could pay for the early retirement option.ii In fact, Mr. Ghandi’s statement was confirmed by David Umansky, the spokesperson for the D.C. Treasury, who remarked that there would be no problem in funding the early retirement provision through a District of Columbia Retirement Board plan.iii
The Washington Teachers’ Union encourages DCPS to abandon the false notion that the District has no money to fund the early retirement option and has filed two grievances on behalf of effected teachers.
WTU holds DCPS accountable to their contractual obligations and urges the District to provide what is rightfully owed to D.C.’s most experienced and accomplished educators.
i Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Washington Teachers’ Union and the District of Columbia Public Schools, from, http://www.washingtonteachersunion.org/custom_images/file/Final%20WTU%20DCPS%20Tentative%20Agreement.pdf
ii Bill, T. (November 17, 2011). D.C. says there’s no money for contract early retirement provision. Retrieved December 07, 2011 from http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/dc-schools-insider/post/dc-pleads-poverty-for-teacher-early-retirement/2011/10/25/gIQAXaxRUN_blog.html
iii Bill, T. (December 2, 2011). DCPS inaction scuttled teacher early retirement. Retrieved December 05, 2011 from http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/dc-schools-insider/post/dcps-inaction-scuttled-teacher-early-retirement-cfos-office-says/2011/12/02/gIQAoydGMO_blog.html