June 12, 2019 - 8:49 AM
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - A group of retired public employees has defied Puerto Rico's government and reached a deal with a control board overseeing the island's finances as it works to restructure more than $50 billion in pension liabilities.
The employees said the deal would protect more than 60% of retirees from any cuts. They also said it limits cuts to a maximum of 8.5% for those receiving $1,200 or more a month in retirement benefits. The board sought a maximum of 25% in cuts.
The deal announced Wednesday angered the U.S. territory's government, which insists on not slashing a crumbling public pension system amid a 13-year recession.
It still has to be approved by a judge overseeing a bankruptcy-like process for Puerto Rico's government.
The cuts would start July 2020 at the earliest.
News from © The Associated Press, 2019