PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — More public employees in Oregon are retiring early, apparently to lock in medical coverage before state lawmakers tighten benefits.
The Oregonian reports nearly 1,700 public employees retired in the first three months of the year — a 50 percent increase over the average. At this pace, the Public Employees Retirement System is likely to have it highest level of retirements since 2003, when the Legislature changed the retirement plan.
The system covers more than 200,000 public employees.
A state human resources administrator, Diana Foster, says workers don’t want to risk possible changes. And Ed Hershey with the Service Employees International Union says workers are saying, “I’m going to get out before they take it away from me.”
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Information from: The Oregonian, http://www.oregonlive.com
