Members of the West Virginia Coalition of Retired Public Employees (CORPE) will gather at the state Capitol for a breakfast on Tuesday, Jan. 30, to remind legislators of the thousands of retired public employees who are struggling to get by.

“Our pensions are stagnant and it’s been many years since we’ve had a Cost of Living Increase, while PEIA is underfunded and health care costs continue to rise,” noted CORPE spokesman Ernest “Spud” Terry. “West Virginia’s public retirees have been neglected for far too long.”

The coalition includes the West Virginia Association of Retired School Employees, West Virginia Public Retirement System Association and West Virginia chapters of the American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees; Communication Workers of America; National Active & Retired Federal Employees; American Federation of Teachers, and National Education Association

Among the legislative goals CORPE members will discuss with legislators are a cost-of-living pension increase, a severance tax on Marcellus and other gas extraction to be directed toward state public employee retiree benefits, and fully funding the Public Employees Insurance Agency.

Legislators are invited to an 8 a.m. breakfast meeting in the Capitol Cafeteria, located in the basement. Members of the media are also welcome to attend and interview participants.

Who: Coalition of Retired Public Employees

What: Annual CORPE Day Breakfast Meeting

When: Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2018 at  8 a.m.

Where: Capitol Cafeteria, basement of state Capitol Main Building