Message from Retiree Executive Committee Chair Judy Richards CSEA President Danny Donohue: Never Quit shows the heart of unionism Election Day is around the corner and there have been all kinds of promises made to the American people. We need to seriously consider the candidates’ platforms and remember who is there for our best interests as retirees and working people. Remember the importance of expanding and protecting Social Security, defending health care for seniors and lowering prescription drug costs. Ask yourself which candidates support these issues before you cast your vote on November 8! Your vote counts and your future depends on it! After years of impressive cross-sector campaigning, the Trans- Pacific Partnership (TPP) is being assailed from all sides and we’re close to stopping it. Unfortunately, the TPP is not dead yet. It’s critical that each one of us urges our members of Congress to oppose this corporate power grab. CSEA, AFSCME and the New York State Alliance of Retired Americans (as CSEA Retirees, we are all alliance members) are especially concerned about this “trade deal” and its impact on drug prices. Everything from the length of time it takes to get generic drugs to market to a dispute process that allows corporations to sue countries if their profit margins are not high enough is a bad deal for seniors on fixed incomes. Twenty of the 27 members of New York’s congressional delegation have formally expressed their opposition to the TPP: U.S. Reps. Louise Slaughter, Chris Gibson, Dan Donovan Jr., Jerrod Nadler, Grace Meng, Nita Lowey, Yvette Clarke, José Serrano, John Katko, Thomas Reed II, Brian Higgins, Eliot Engel, Chris Collins, Lee Zeldin, Sean Patrick Maloney, Carolyn Maloney, Paul Tonko, Hakeem Jeffries and Elise Stefanik. Please call them and thank them for their opposition. Please call representatives on Long Island — Steve Israel, Peter King, and Kathleen Rice; representatives in New York City — Greg Meeks, Nydia Valezquez, and Charlie Rangel and Richard Hanna upstate and urge them to oppose TPP! Earlier this fall on Capitol Hill, the Strengthening Social Security Act of 2016 was introduced and discussed. This bill would give the average beneficiary an additional $800 per year to help pay their living expenses. This legislation would change the way that cost-of-living increases are calculated to more accurately reflect the living expenses of Social Security beneficiaries. In addition, it strengthens the Social Security system and extends the solvency of the Social Security Trust Fund into 2048 by gradually eliminating the payroll tax cap, so that millionaires and billionaires contribute their fair share. The Strengthening Social Security Act would increase earned Social Security benefits across the board for retirees, for those with disabilities and for survivors of deceased workers. In closing, you can see that we are still fighting the fight on issues that have not yet been resolved. We need to keep the forces strong and we need you to be part of those forces. Happy holidays to all of you and your families. In Solidarity, Judy During the past year, many of our leaders, activists and staff have been deeply involved in efforts to build and strengthen our union. We have spent countless hours reaching out to our CSEA brothers and sisters across the state, including knocking on doors, making telephone calls and meeting them at their work sites. Some of you have personally participated in these membership blitzes. During the blitzes, we learned a few things: that our members welcome one-on-one conversations about their concerns, that they strongly care about their union and that communication is one of the most crucial pieces of unionism. Even as we must adapt and change to face challenges, we are determined to Never Quit on our union or each other. During your active careers, many of you have stood strong with your union through some of our toughest times. After your retirement, you have shown that you are still dedicated to the fight for fairness, whether it’s about your pensions, Social Security and health care, or it’s about ensuring that future retirees are able to have solid retirement security. You have stood strong with your brothers and sisters — working and retired — whenever politicians or corporate leaders have tried to undermine and everything we have earned. You have helped us use our voices — and our votes — to elect people who make working and retired middle-class people a priority. In short, you have never backed down from a challenge, and you have Never Quit our union. We need all of you to help us meet these challenges. Speak with each other; speak with your neighbors and communities. Communication is really the first step in making our union stronger. For 106 years, we have fought hard for fairness not only for ourselves, but for our communities and future generations. That’s the heart of CSEA. That’s the heart of our drive to Never Quit. CSEA mourns loss of retiree activist Cosentino OGDENSBURG — CSEA is mourning the loss of longtime Central Region activist and St. Lawrence County Retirees Local president Joe Cosentino, 89, who passed away on Aug. 10. A World War II Navy veteran, he was very active in veterans affairs and was recently installed in the New York State Senate Veterans Hall of Fame. Before his retirement in 1983, Cosentino was a CSEA activist while employed at St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center, including serving as local president. Our thoughts are with his loved ones. — Mark M. Kotzin Consentino 2 CSEA RETIREE NEWS
retiree_news_no_4_2016
To see the actual publication please follow the link above