Karen Ruth Ferguson (born Willner; February 17, 1941 – December 23, 2021) was an American workers' rights advocate.

During her time there, she learned that corporate interest groups planned to undermine the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.

[6] Ferguson helped draft and pass the Retirement Equity Act of 1984 which strengthened the position of a pensioner's partner.

[1] She was known for being involved in all aspects of American pension law at the time[1] and this included helping to draft and pass the Butch Lewis Act.

The bill, part of the American Rescue Plan Act, created a federal assistance program for failing multiemployer pension funds.