Page 2 - Retiree News Fall 2020

CSEA President Mary E. Sullivan:
We must fight for our values
Sisters and Brothers:
As we
approach
Election
Day, we
certainly face
difficult times,
but we also face
some important choices.
This pandemic has hurt us in many ways. We’ve lost friends, loved ones and fellow union members. We have been forced to stay cooped up and away from those we care about to protect our safety. We have lost massive revenues throughout our states and municipalities, and the
very real promise of layoffs and drastic public service cuts are being threatened due to our economic crisis.
But that’s just the tip of
the iceberg. We are currently facing a threat to our retirement security that should have all retirees concerned. We have
a President who has said he wants to completely eliminate the federal payroll tax, which is what funds the Social Security system so many depend on for our retirement security, now and in the future.
I will be blunt. Our current administration has failed our country, and we must fight for what we value and believe. Instead of admitting how severe the coronavirus was, our President chose to hide that news to avoid panic. Now, more than 200,000 people have died, many of whose deaths were preventable. Given the choice to provide relief aid to our state governments, localities and school districts, and to protect public services from being gutted, the current President instead gave bailouts to his corporate CEO buddies. That’s
why we’re facing layoffs right now. Our current President has also taken a hard anti-union stance against our freedom to organize and collectively bargain, trying to put more money in the pockets of his Wall Street friends.
We cannot afford another four years of this president. That’s why CSEA is proud to endorse Joe Biden for President, who has always been a friend to Labor, and has strong support from most unions. Joe wants to build us up, not tear us down. And I am excited to see Kamala Harris as his choice of running mate.
I strongly believe a woman of color in this important position will help make positive strides forward for our country. CSEA
is not telling you who to vote for with our endorsement, but we are strongly expressing our opinion that Joe will be the president who fights for working women and men and works to strengthen labor unions.
Meanwhile, we continue to struggle with our efforts to get out the vote during a pandemic. If you live in New York, new options for voting have been put in place to allow early voting and other opportunities to vote without waiting in line. If you live in other states, many others are offering new methods to vote that will be safe, secure and allow your vote to be counted. No matter how you vote, I
hope you make a plan to get
out and vote. It’s how we make our voices heard in our great country.
In solidarity,
Mary E. Sullivan, President
Retiree Executive Committee Chair Millie Lucas:
WIe have a responsibility to vote
n this country, sisters are seeing these cuts. The we have the election’s outcome will decide the opportunity to level of federal support for many
elect our leaders
on all levels of
government. For
those of us who
had worked for
public employers,
we also had the unique chance to elect our bosses.
We may be retired, but we still have a huge responsibility to vote.
Put bluntly, this is the most important election of our lives. Working people and retirees are now at a true crossroads about not only what our futures look like, but what our children and grandchildren’s futures will be.
The outcome of the Presidential election will literally determine whether Social Security will be strengthened and preserved for future generations. We have earned these benefits through our years of work. Even with our pensions, most retirees can’t sustain themselves without their Social Security benefits.
Also on the line in this election is affordable health care, including the future of the Affordable Care Act.
Nationally, the major party candidates have very different approaches to addressing the pandemic, which has devastated state and local economies across the country. New York state and local governments desperately needed unrestricted federal
aid to prevent cuts to essential services. Many of our brothers and
of the public programs that we not only rely upon every day, but are provided by CSEA members.
After careful consideration
and polling of members, CSEA has endorsed Joe Biden in the Presidential election. We have also endorsed candidates in Congressional, state and local races. Our union’s endorsement isn’t based on political party or intended to tell you how to vote, but rather, it’s a recommendation based on the candidates’ records on labor and support for working people and retirees.
We recognize that not all
CSEA members agree with our endorsements and that you may support another candidate based on one or more issues that matter to you. The most important thing to CSEA is that you vote.
This year, you will have the choice to vote by absentee ballot for any reason, including concern over COVID-19. You also have the option to early vote in person, or vote in person on Election Day, November 3.
No matter which option you choose, we must use our voices to safeguard our retirement security and that of future retirees. I wish you a safe and happy fall and holiday season.
In solidarity,
Millie
CSEA is mourning the loss of Herkenham
SEA is mourning the loss of former Capital District
Retirees Local 999 activist Marianne Herkenham, 88, who passed away on October 4.
Herkenham worked for the City of Troy as a civil service
office assistant, retiring in 1994. While she was employed,
she was active with CSEA and served in numerous
leadership roles, including as Rensselaer County Local
President and CSEA’s Board of Directors. After retiring, she
continued her CSEA activism with Capital District Retirees
Local 999, serving as a delegate and local secretary. She is
survived by two children, nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
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CSEA RETIREE NEWS