PEBP board votes not to seek end for retirement health benefits

Earlier today, the PEBP board voted to withdraw the proposal for a bill that would freeze all current and future state public service workers from earning retirement health coverage. By a vote of 5-2, the Board voted not to seek a bill in the legislature that would freeze all current workers from earning credits towards coverage in retirement. This is good news for faculty and staff, who have committed their careers to serving students in Nevada.

This decision was influenced by the input from a wide range of public service workers including faculty and staff. Members of the Nevada Faculty Alliance spoke at the meeting against the proposal, including UNLV's own John Farley, CSN chapter president Sondra Cosgrove and NFA lobbyist Jim Richardson.

Particular recognition is due to the NFA member on the PEBP Board, Jacque Ewing-Taylor (a UNR faculty member) who made the case clearly and strongly on our behalf.

This is good news, but it is only the beginning of what will be a long effort over the coming year. Certainly this idea will be back in the legislature, as will other efforts to push an undue share of the burden of Nevada's fiscal crisis on faculty, staff and other public service workers and our families.

Now is the time to engage in the fight. Keep abreast of developments; attend Faculty Senate meetings. And join the only body which is specifically devoted to advocating publicly for higher education faculty and staff, the Nevada Faculty Alliance.