Members of the West Virginia Coalition of Retired Public Employees (CORPE) will gather at the state Capitol for a breakfast on Thursday, February 14, to remind legislators of the thousands of retired public employees who are struggling to get by.

“Retirees who are part of the Public Employee and Teachers retirement systems are dealing with undue hardships because they have not had a Cost of Living Adjustment and are not provided the tax exemptions that other West Virginia public retirees get on their pension,” noted CORPE spokesman Ernest “Spud” Terry. “Meanwhile PEIA is underfunded and health care costs continue to rise.

“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 and exempting Social Security benefits from personal income tax. 

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.

Who: Coalition of Retired Public Employees

What: Annual CORPE Day Breakfast Meeting

When: Thursday, February 14, at 8 a.m.

Where: Capitol Cafeteria, basement of state Capitol Main Building