WORKERS PROTECT RETIREMENT SECURITY, HEALTH CARE AFFORDABILITY WITH CALPERS BOARD WINS
Contact: Mike Roth, 916.813.1554
Maria Elena Jauregui, Spanish-language, 818.355.5291
Sacramento, CA — Members of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) in California celebrated the election of David Miller and Jose Luis Pacheco to the board of the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) today. After endorsing Miller and Pacheco, SEIU members worked to educate their fellow CalPERS members and engage them in voting for the candidates who would protect members’ hard-earned retirement savings and the health care benefits CalPERS members and their families count on.
The following statement may be attributed to Riko Mendez, Chief Elected Officer of SEIU Local 521 and Executive Board Member of SEIU California:
“SEIU members showed up to make our voices heard in this election because who we elect to the CalPERS board determines the security of our retirement savings and the health care our families are counting on now more than ever. We worked hard to elect David Miller and Jose Luis Pacheco because we know we can trust their experienced, pro-worker leadership with the nearly $500 billion in hard-earned pension dollars California’s state, municipal and school district workers need to retire in dignity. With 1.5 million CalPERS members and family members, CalPERS wields enormous purchasing power in the health care market; we can be sure Miller and Pacheco will help CalPERS lead the way in making health care more affordable for all Californians.”
About the CalPERS board members elected today:
David Miller serves on the CalPERS Board, where he has fought to protect pensions and healthcare benefits of CalPERS members. He has a 30+ year career in public service, working as a senior environmental scientist and serving as a union leader.
Jose Luis Pacheco serves as President of the California School Employees Association, Chapter 363, fighting to provide families with a living wage and dignity in retirement. He has a B.A. in Economics and holds a professional certificate in advanced accounting proficiency from Santa Clara University.
# # #