Legislation to Restore Pension Augmentation in Duluth Did Not Pass

Jen McEwen detailed in a letter written in February 2020 how pension benefits were allegedly lost from union workers due to unanimous, bipartisan legislative action. This issue affected 119,000 union workers and involved a potential $1 billion liability. McEwen subsequently introduced legislation aimed at restoring augmentation, but the measure did not pass.

The issue centers on the allegation that politicians violated a worker contract with the state regarding pension benefits. The matter involves the state's potential liability for pension wage theft and the challenges faced by the state's legal apparatus.