Page 4 - Retiree News Spring 2018

CSEA retirees in Florida stand strong
CSEA retiree retiree members in in Florida recently met to hear updates on on our union and issues facing retirees That includes the U S S S Supreme Court case Janus v AFSCME Council 31 which could jeopardize retirement security if enough of our working brothers and and sisters stop paying dues Our union works to to protect our our pensions and and and health care If we we we lose power and and resources we we we may not be able to to safeguard you you against attacks to to your retirement security Retirees who collect pensions through the New York State Retirement System generate nearly $12 billion in in in in economic activity including thousands of our members who bring secure pensions and and and strong
health benefits to the the Sunshine State and and many other places after retirement “Just like everywhere retirees play an an important role in Florida’s economy ” CSEA President Danny Donohue said “Under right-to-
work anti-union groups are trying to take our retirement security away from us and all you have worked for could be gone in in in an an an instant ” While New Yorkers are grappling with the unfamiliarity of right-to-work Florida Florida retirees and working people in in in Florida Florida have been facing such laws for years While many public-sector workers in Florida are are unionized the unions’ power and resources are are often limited Florida State East Retiree Local member David Harrison who had served as as the the SUNY Albany Local president before retiring saw the the chilling effects of of right-to-work in in in his new community “In New York we have have plenty of of resources resources but the the unions here didn’t have have many resources resources [to help the the workers] ” he he he he he said “Many (working) people in in Florida have have two or or or or three jobs that
are all all part time and don’t have have have benefits When people have have tried to to organize (generally with private-sector employers) they were fired ” While right-to-work makes our job more challenging we we can still succeed if we we stand together Bill Sauer president Florida Alliance of of Retired Americans said that
that
because of of that
that
state’s right-to-work laws having a a a a a a a a a a a a a good political plan is essential for working people and retirees who regularly lobby elected officials “We’ve been able to not only survive but grow ” he he he he he said “We “We keep the the the the pressure on on on the the the the politicians We We try to educate them them If they don’t eventually support us we help them them [leave elective office] ” Donohue urged members to to stand together against anti-union groups “This attack attack is is an an an attack attack on on labor and they are trying to put us us us out of business ” he he said “Nobody gives us us us anything you’re not willing to to fight for Get involved in in in in in our our union Make sure you you and your opinions are heard Together we can make a a a a a difference ” Florida State Retirees North Local members Patricia Brennan and Georgina Chouinard play labor/member benefits bingo CSEA President Danny Donohue discusses challenges facing our union Florida State Retirees North Local member Garnet McKenzie who is is retired from the New York State Insurance Fund discusses her concerns with Metropolitan Region President and former co-worker Lester Crockett Florida State Retirees North Local 952 1st Vice President Joan Reinhardt urges members to get involved Florida Local Barbara member 4
CSEA RETIREE NEWS
“I have a a a a a a a wonderful life and beautiful retirement because of my union People in New York don’t realize how lucky they are to have a a a a a a union union I was employed by a a a a a a non-union state college [after
retirement in in in Florida] and I was forced to br”
work work [The working conditions] were brutal — Joanne DeFeo West Florida Retirees Local member (retired from Nassau Community College)
ing my own water to Florida Recording Leebass