Issued May 03, 2017
WASHINGTON, D.C.— SEIU Local 1000 President Yvonne Walker spoke out Wednesday after members of the U.S. Senate voted to rollback U.S. Department of Labor guidelines for state-based retirement plans such as the California Secure Choice Retirement Savings Program. Walker chairs the Service Employees International Union’s Retirement Security Committee.
“Today’s vote sadly affirms that self-interested politicians in Washington, D.C., are willing to put corporate interests ahead of the needs of working families who want the opportunity to retire with dignity. Nevertheless, these resolutions will not stop the movement to ensure all working Americans have the retirement they’ve earned. We must continue to stand up and fight back to address the retirement crisis in this country. Without action by our elected officials, many working parents will have to rely more on their children for financial support when they can no longer work. For millions, it will mean not being able to retire at all. It’s imperative that we keep fighting.”
Walker was joined by Nancy Harvey, a child care provider from Oakland, Calif., who has been advocating for the California Secure Choice Retirement Savings Program. Harvey said the Senate has let down ordinary Americans by continuing to rig the system against everyday people in favor of large financial institutions and insurance companies.
“These awful policies are another example of how President Trump and Republicans in Congress are out of touch with the needs of working families. Many of the financial institutions that have pushed for these resolutions have already ignored the retirement needs of ordinary working people who can’t afford their products. Americans of all income levels want an opportunity to enjoy a simple dignified retirement when we can longer work. That’s why working parents, grandparents and Millennials have spent years advocating for these bills. Now, we must continue to fight for retirement security.”