WHEREAS:
The AFSCME International and affiliated councils and locals have been committed to organizing public sector retirees since 1980, when a constitutional amendment created the AFSCME Retirees program; and

WHEREAS:
Councils and locals have a unique understanding of the needs of their retired members and of the pensions and benefits they depend on; and

WHEREAS:
When they were working, retired members helped establish and build their councils and locals and they can use that experience now to make new contributions to the union by assisting in organizing and political campaigns and by helping to preserve the future retirement benefits of working members; and

WHEREAS:
Councils and locals can help retiree chapters organize by maintaining accurate records of the working members who have retired; and

WHEREAS:
Building strong, stable retiree chapters and subchapters requires specific organizing tools, such as automatic dues deduction from pension checks and the official lists of pensioners’ names and addresses; and

WHEREAS:
These tools can be difficult to obtain from retirement systems--often requiring legislative action or an affirmative vote by pension fund boards of trustees; and

WHEREAS:
Council and local union leaders often have relationships with retirement systems and elected officials that can be helpful in obtaining these important organizing tools; and

WHEREAS:
Councils and locals can help recruit retirees for AFSCME chapters and subchapters by developing a culture of lifelong membership among the working members that includes: publishing articles on the retiree chapter in the affiliate publication and on the website; arranging for a retiree chapter information table at local meetings and council conventions; offering member benefits that continue into retirement; and creating opportunities for working and retiree members to join forces on a regular basis.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:
That AFSCME urge councils and locals to help their retirees organize and build retiree chapters and subchapters by helping them obtain basic organizing tools, such as dues checkoff and access to pension lists; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That AFSCME encourage councils and locals to contribute to retiree chapter growth by keeping accurate records of member retirements and developing a culture of lifelong membership in the union; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED:
That AFSCME urge councils and locals to agree to pay the first year’s dues in the retiree chapter for retiring working members as a gesture of appreciation for their long time support of the union.
 
 
SUBMITTED BY:  INTERNATIONAL EXECUTIVE BOARD