Page 5 - Retiree News Spring 2017

What is is Wisconsin’s Act 10?
In early 2011 Wisconsin Wisconsin Gov Scott Walker proposed legislation to address that state’s $3 6 billion budget deficit Also dubbed as the the “Wisconsin Budget
Repair Bill ” the the legislation actually devastated public employees’ collective bargaining rights wages health care pensions and more Walker had run for for governor in 2010 on on an an anti-worker platform Once a a a a a a strong union state Act 10 gutted the workers’ collective bargaining rights on on on nearly everything but wages Family child care care workers home health care care employees and and University of Wisconsin academic and and health care facility staff were no longer
allowed to to collectively bargain Additionally public sector unions
must win certification from a a a a a a majority of employees employees in in in in the bargaining unit every year Public employees employees were no no longer
required to pay union dues dues nor could the the employer collect dues dues on on on behalf of the union Despite numerous protests at at the state capitol in in Madison by Wisconsin public employees and supporters from across the the country Walker signed the bill into law later that year Act 10 also paved the way for right-to- work legislation to to be enacted in in in Wisconsin in 2014 but also workers’ rights rights to collectively bargain bargain — putting our own bargaining rights rights at at great risk We strongly urge you you to to vote ‘no’ to to holding a a a a a a convention and and encourage your families friends and and co-workers to do the the same Wacker imparted a a a a a a a a a a a a final plea for the the camera “If you’re a a a a a a a a a a a a a public employee and and you you you you care care about about your co-workers and and you you you you you you care care about about the community which you you you you you you live in in you you you you you you will will become involved and and you you you you you will will will will educate yourself and and you you you you will will will fight fight like like hell hell You will will will fight fight like like hell hell to prevent this from happening in in your own community ” — Emily Cote
can other rights opposed to a a a constitutional convention One of the the biggest reasons we oppose oppose a a a a a constitutional convention is the the pension protections that are are in our constitution constitution There are are are many people who mistakenly believe that our pensions are are excessive or or a a a a a a a a a gift Many of these same people also support a a a a a a constitutional convention “This isn’t a a a a a political issue this is is is is is a a a a a matter of right vs wrong ” CSEA Acting President Mary E E Sullivan said “We have have earned our pensions and have have the right to a a a a a a a a secure dignified retirement It’s extremely important to to to remember to to to vote NO on November 7 and and ask your family friends and and neighbors to to to do the same The fate of our our pensions depends on it ” For instance in in Rhode Island there are no state state constitutional pension protections When that state state faced financial difficulties they balanced their their budget off the the the the backs of of public retirees and their their pensions Pensions are also becoming a a a a a thing of the the past among non-unionized workers The key to a a a a a strong strong pension and dignified secure retirement is a a a strong strong union Help us strengthen our union pensions and health benefits are too generous CSEA has successfully fought back changes to retiree benefits in in several school districts and and we are facing similar fights with the state through an an an ongoing class action lawsuit lawsuit and and we recently filed a a a a a a a a a a a a lawsuit lawsuit against New York State Thruway Authority on behalf of retirees who now find themselves paying for health care that they were promised to to have covered As we we we continue
to to to face challenges and and and attacks we we need all all of you to to to stand up and and and work alongside us to to keep our union strong Florida State East Local 951 member Lola Reed pledges to Never Quit her union O on ur ur union is facing many challenges and we need your help to meet them head
SPRING 2016
5 As CSEA retiree members you you are a a a a a a a vital part of our union and you you can play a a a a a a a a key role in in in in strengthening it We are continuing to to reach out to to every member member through work site meetings and visits to our members’ homes Some of you have even played a a a a a a a a a vital role in in helping CSEA activists and and staff drop off literature make telephone calls and and and visit our members face- to-face to to hear their concerns and and make a a a a a a a a stronger connection During these meeting we have also carried CSEA Retiree membership applications to to to present to to to any member member who notes that he he or she is planning to to to to retire We have also urged our our members to to to sign cards pledging to to to to never quit our our union and now we are reaching out to to to you to to to also sign these cards You may be retired but our work work is far from over We are not only working to keep in in in in in place vital things such as collective bargaining rights we are are also working to protect our pensions and health care While New York state state continues to have one of the most stable best funded state state pension funds in in the the the country there are many misguided political and corporate leaders who believe that your