Retirees Never Quit Retirees Never Quit The history

Retirees Never Quit!

Retirees Never Quit! • • The history of AFSCME Retirees How to organize retirees Tips for how to engage retiree members How you can stay involved after you retire

History/Philosophy of AFSCME Retirees

Who can join AFSCME Retirees?

Who can join AFSCME Retirees? • Anyone who was former member of AFSCME OR receiving a public-sector pension • Not necessarily members of the union when working • Spouses/partners and surviving spouses/partners can also be members

Retirees – A Political Force

Retiree Issues – National • • • Real Retirement Security for All Social Security Medicare Health Care/ Affordable Care Act (ACA) Long Term and Home and Community Based Care Older Americans Act (OAA)

The Retirement Security Crisis • The average working household has virtually no retirement savings • The 401(k) experiment has failed • According to a recent Gallup poll, not having enough for retirement is a major concern for 59% of Americans.

Retirement Security Solutions • Expand Social Security • Protect and expand Medicare • Protect defined-benefit pensions

Standing Up for Social Security and Medicare

Holding Politicians Accountable For Their Plans

Where We Are Today

Membership totals by State 60, 000+ 10, 000 – 20, 000 5, 000 – 10, 000 >500 – 1, 000 – 2, 000 – 5, 000 AK 20, 000 – 30, 000 – 60, 000 VT NH WA M ND MT OR N SD ID I WY NV W I UT CO CA IL M KS AZ NM K HI WV KY R A L CT NJ MA RI DE VA NC G SC TN A MS TX OH IN O O NY M I PA A NE ME A LA FL MD DC PR

Local Structure of the AFSCME Retirees

AFSCME Retiree Chapters and Subchapters Active retiree chapters and/or subchapters Active retiree organizing chapters or special affiliation No active retiree chapters or subchapters N VT H WA ND MT MN OR ID NV WY CO CA IL O KS OK AZ I M NY MI IA NE UT WI SD N WV KY TN AL AR NM PA OH VA NC AK TX CT RI NJ DE MD DC GASC MS HI ME PR LA FL MA

AFSCME Retiree Special Affiliations Organizing Chapters Unaffiliated Subchapters Amalgamated Subchapters N VT WA ND MT MN OR WY UT CA CO AZ MI IA NE NV IL AR KY MS TX HI WV O OK NM AK N PA I OH M KS ME MA NY WI SD ID H NC TN AL VA RI CT NJ DE MD DC SC GA LA FL PR

Relationship with Councils and Locals

AFSCME Retirees’ National Structure

Support from International Union • • Retiree Department Support from the rest of the International Union – – – Federal Government Affairs Political Action & PEOPLE Communications Education Research Conference and Travel Services

Retiree Dues Structure • Again, chapters are independently chartered • Minimum retiree dues are $24 per year • Chapters and subchapters manage their finances themselves

Member Benefits • • • Official membership card Membership in the national Alliance for Retired Americans (ARA) Our retiree newsletter, Prime. Time AFSCME WORKS AFSCME Advantage benefits – – • Low interest Master. Card Discount cell phone service Travel discounts And more! Belong to the largest public employee organization to protect retirement security

Steps for Creating a Retiree Chapter 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Work closely with Retiree Department Create organizing committee Draft chapter constitution Develop dues system Identify source of retiree lists Develop chapter structure/organize subchapters (if applicable) Develop and implement retiree recruitment strategy Founding Convention/Approve Constitution/Elect Officers

Organizing Committee • Sometimes self-selected • Recommendations from council and local leaders • Often retired officers, stewards, staff, activists • 3 -10 leaders • Meet regularly to begin to gather and implement organizing tools and put together structure/constitution • Support from the Retiree Department

How to Organize Retirees • Mail • One-on-one organizing • New technologies – email, online sign -up • Keep working the list • Follow-up – Welcome letter/activist form/PEOPLE to help continue to build your organizing committee and activist base

Organizing Sub-chapters • When chapters are organized statewide, need local groups so members can meet close to where they live • Members from the area are invited to a meeting • Mini-organizing committee is formed • Usually someone from the area is on the statewide organizing committee

Founding Convention

Hints for Organizing Retirees • Don’t underestimate a retiree’s energy or skills • Retirees like to meet during the week, during daylight hours • One of the best times to recruit a new retiree leader is right after they retire • The best resource you have is retired union activists • Retirees like to be with their spouses/partners • Social gatherings are important

We Have Chartered a Retiree Chapter, Now What? • • Retiree chapters meet regularly to keep their members informed about current issues and to keep in touch with old friends Create chapter committees Work closely with councils and locals on state/local legislative and political programs Activate members to call/write their elected leaders on key federal issues

Contact Us! • AFSCME Retiree Department • Ben Hodapp, Retiree Field Manager • Antonio Lewis, Southern Regional Retiree Organizer • Lauren Babb, Western Regional Retirees Organizer • Zac Ogle, Central Regional Retiree Organizer • www. afscme. org/retirees • Like us on Facebook! – – – 202 -429 -1274 202 -429 -1259 bhodapp@afscme. org 404 -587 -5438 anlewis@afscme. org 313 -452 -1107 lbabb@afscme. org 270 -922 -6076 zogle@afscme. org Sign up for our email list! www. facebook. com/afscmeretirees