Former Minnesota public employees are asking a judge to overturn a cut in their retirement benefits. Last year the state Legislature reduced cost-of-living increases for retired workers, something the workers argue was guaranteed in contracts. The six employees who are suing are asking to represent around 130,000 other retired workers in a class-action. The workers say that the state had other options besides reducing their benefits. Minnesota is asking for the cuts to be upheld, saying that they made the choices they did for the benefit of all of the workers in the pension system.
See "Former Minnesota Workers Battle State in Court Over Law to Slash Pensions", Beth Hawkins and Andrew Harris, March 21, 2011