Page 2 - Retiree News Summer 2017

Message from Retiree Executive Committee Chair Charlotte Adkins
TSake action to protect our pensions and benefits
ummer is We can change our state
finally here! constitution through legislative Enjoying bills — we have done so about 200
summer with our loved ones is important to many of us.
When we
were working, as
CSEA members,
we could take vacation time to spend with our families. Vacation time was part of our negotiated contracts. Also negotiated into our contracts were sick time, health care and prescription costs, hourly pay rates or salaries. Our pensions were also part of our negotiated agreements with our employers.
We had these rights, benefits and protections, and continue to enjoy many of them, because of our union. Through our union dues, CSEA provided the services that secured these contracts, even in our retirement. Our union has an in-house Legal Department that is available to represent us, free of charge to us, to ensure our former employers don’t cut our retirement benefits that were promised to us. We worked for these benefits, and they are a right.
If voters approve a constitutional convention in November’s
general election, all of the
rights and benefits mentioned above may become history. The state constitution protects our pensions, our right to organize and collectively bargain and numerous other rights and protections. A constitutional convention opens
all aspects of the constitution to potential change, which means
that many of the rights that are so important to CSEA retirees (and working members) are jeopardized.
It is so important to vote
“no” to the convention, which would cost New Yorkers more than $300 million. We can use this money toward improving
our infrastructure or numerous programs and services.
A convention is also unnecessary.
times.
So, how can we help stop a
constitutional convention? First, get to the polls and vote ‘no.’ Educate your family, friends and neighbors on this issue and urge them to also vote ‘no.’
As this edition went to press, the U.S. Senate was considering
a health care bill to replace the Affordable Care Act. The new legislation places Medicaid on
the chopping block; more than 20 million Americans would receive reduced health care under this bill. Medicaid affects many retirees, including those who reside in nursing homes. The program
also supplements Medicare for seniors whose income is below
the poverty level. This legislation would cost New York state and
its local governments billions of dollars annually and would lead to reductions in available services.
Luckily, we have a great resource to have our voices heard on every level of government. CSEA and AFSCME’s political action program, Public Employees Organized to Promote Legislative Equality (PEOPLE), protects and improves our jobs, benefits and pensions in Washington, Albany and in your community.
By joining PEOPLE, you can
help us protect your pensions, rights and benefits, including key programs such as Medicare and Medicaid. Joining PEOPLE has never been more important, and
we need all of our members to
stay strong as we face numerous challenges. If you haven’t
yet joined, either call CSEA Headquarters at (800) 342-4146, ext. 1404 or your CSEA region office.
Enjoy your summer and welcome back, President Donohue!
In Solidarity,
Charlotte
CSEA President Danny Donohue:
Protect our future by voting ‘no’ on convention
After a long and
(thankfully)
restful
absence spent
recovering
from a medical
procedure, I
am returning to
CSEA with renewed energy and focus for the challenges ahead.
While I was at home enjoying the time with my family, I was reminded of the true mission of our union: protecting workers
and giving them the foundation they need to succeed in their careers, support their families, and hopefully, retire in a position where they can focus their time and energy on enjoying what’s most important to them. Our union isn’t about politics (even if the politics play an important role in what we do) — our union is about people.
We need to remember that as we lead our union forward. Ahead in the distance, we see the vote for the Constitutional Convention looming. It may feel far away
now as we’re focused on summer activities such as barbecues, gardening, traveling or enjoying extra time with grandkids while they are out of school.
But we all know how fast time flies, and soon the vote will be upon us. What we fundamentally stand for is at risk. Pensions, bargaining rights, environmental and social protections could all be “fair game” for special interest groups and politicians.
Many of you spent your lives serving as activists for this union, and you wouldn’t still be with
us in your retirement unless you understood all that is at stake, for our generation and those that follow.
Please vote NO, and tell
others to vote NO, too, when the constitutional convention is on the ballot this fall. We worked
too hard for the protections we have to watch them be taken away from us in some closed-door meeting in Albany.
On a lighter note, I just wanted to thank everyone who sent well wishes while I was in recovery, as well as thank those who have welcomed me back. I am thankful for our CSEA family.
In solidarity,
Have suggestions to improve the Retiree News?
Email csearetiree@cseainc.org or call 800-342-4146, ext. 1266.
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