Publications

Chapters in Action

AFSCME Retiree Council

Representatives from AFSCME’s 38 retiree chapters gathered in Chicago, Illinois, Aug. 5-6, for the 26th Annual Meeting of the AFSCME Retiree Council. The following week (Aug. 7-11), the entire Retiree Council attended the International Union’s biennial Convention — serving as official delegates with full voice and vote.

Retiree leaders attending the Annual Meeting shared information on chapter activities and approved the report of the Retirees’ 21st Century Committee (see page 2).

They also heard AFSCME elected leaders and staff discuss issues of current concern to retirees and working families. Presentations focused on the November elections, AFSCME’s role in protecting Social Security from privatization, the campaign to fix Medicare Part D, and new accounting standards that threaten public retiree health care coverage.

International Pres. Gerald W. McEntee welcomed the retirees to Chicago and told them the Bush administration still wants to privatize Social Security. “We thought we had them beaten in 2005,” he said, “with all the work we did in our Americans United coalition, but now Bush says he won’t give up on privatization as long as he’s in office.”

In addition to talk of November, the Retiree Council held elections of its own. All three chair officers were re-elected: Chairman, Jerry LaPoint (president of Wisconsin Chapter 7); Vice-chair, Elizabeth Flanagan (president of Philadelphia Chapter 47); and Secretary, Loneste Blackwell (president of Ohio Chapter 1184).

Buffalo Chapter 35

AFSCME recently chartered the union’s 38th retiree chapter: Buffalo Chapter 35. Over 50 Buffalo, New York, city retirees attended the chapter’s founding convention in June. Frank Boncore, chair of the organizing committee, was elected President. The retirees heard addresses from Bill Travis, President of Council 35 and Local 264; George Arthur, former President, Buffalo City Council; and Tracey Healy Barker, Director of Benefits and Compensation for the City of Buffalo.

Retiree Chapters 199 C & J

Over 500 members attended the joint conference of Philadelphia Retiree Chapter 1199C and New Jersey Retiree Chapter 1199J in October in Atlantic City. The highlight of the event was an appearance by U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ), who was in a tight race to keep his seat. Menendez, here greeting retiree members, went on to win on November 7. Others addressing the crowd included Henry Nicholas, International vice president and president of the National Union of Hospital and Health Care Employees (NUHHCE), and Susan Cleary, president of District 1199J, NUHHCE.

Pennsylvania Chapter 13

In September, Retiree Chapter 13 held its annual convention in Grantville. Nearly 250 delegates attended. The event featured workshops on retirement issues and a variety of speakers, including Lt. Gov. Catherine Baker Knoll — a dues-paying member of Chapter 13; former U.S. Rep. Bob Borski (D-PA), who spoke on behalf of U.S. Senate candidate Bob Casey Jr. (D); and AFSCME Council 13 Exec. Dir. (and IVP) David Fillman. Fillman is shown here, with the officers of Chapter 13: (l to r) Pres. Daniel Mazus; Sec. Carolyn Mazus; Fillman; Vice Pres. Robert Dougherty and Treas. Nevin Miller.

New York City Chapter 37

Chapter 37 recently held its third Annual Education Conference at DC 37 headquarters in New York City. Over 400 retiree activists turned out to hear discussions on Social Security, prescription drug coverage, and a variety of other national, state and local issues. The keynote speaker was Lee Saunders, executive assistant to International Pres. Gerald W. McEntee, who talked about current threats to public pensions and health care benefits. Other speakers included U.S. Reps. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) and Gregory Meeks (D-NY); City Council Civil Service Chair Joseph Addabbo Jr., and several state legislators. In introducing the event, Chapter 37 Pres. Stuart Leibowitz said the organization’s main goal is “to protect our benefits and ensure that they’ll be there for active workers when they retire.” That job can’t be done effectively without an educated membership, he told the crowd.

New York/CSEA Chapter 1000

In August, CSEA Chapter 1000 held its 22nd Annual Retiree Delegates Meeting in Syracuse, New York. Delegates from retiree locals throughout New York and Florida heard updates on employer-sponsored health benefits Social Security privatization and Medicare Part D. Also, the New York State Police gave a presentation on Identity Theft and Scams Against the Elderly. This year’s Donald Webster Mission Achievement Award went to Harold Price, a longtime New York City activist and member of Retiree Local 910 (pictured here, third from left, along with, l to r, Retiree Local 910 Pres. Barbara Rustin, CSEA Pres. Danny Donohue, and Charles Peritore — Chair of the CSEA Retiree Executive Committee.

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