Page 2 - Retiree News Spring 2023

BCSEA President Mary E. Sullivan: Grow our union, grow our power
ecause and working members on a regular earned. Membership is also open to
your basis. You know why it’s important Our union’s power comes from spouses and domestic partners retirement to have strength in numbers. You members. To keep our retirement of current CSEA Retiree members,
includes a
guaranteed
pension, health
care and other
benefits, you
have the ability
to spend time
with loved ones and pursue your personal interests.
One of the major reasons we have these strong pensions and retirement benefits is because of our union.
As working members, you led CSEA through some of our union’s most significant fights. Many of you continue to advocate for retiree
HRetiree Executive Committee Chair Bernie Giambra: Join us!
share with newer members your knowledge and experience to help them become more educated and even, in some cases, our great leaders. You also know that when we stand together and use our collective voices, there is nothing we can’t accomplish.
We now need to take some of this same energy that you have lent to earlier fights to help us build this power and grow our Retiree Division. You can help get the word out that we have a strong retiree union that not only provides great benefits, but will actively fight
to protect everything you have
security strong, we must connect with our union members who plan to retire soon, as well as with those who have retired but are not in our Retiree Division, though they are eligible. In many cases, members who didn’t initially join our retiree union said they weren’t asked to join. It’s simple: let’s ask them!
Membership in our union’s Retiree Division is open to any former member of CSEA who is now retired, or who receives a pension from either the New York State and Local Retirement System or the New York State Policemen’s and Firemen’s Retirement System.
even if they were never members of CSEA themselves and don’t receive a public retirement pension.
To help retiring working members transition to our union’s Retiree Division, some CSEA locals and units will also pay first-year Retiree membership dues. Public- sector retirees can pay their
dues directly through pension deduction.
In solidarity,
Mary E. Sullivan, President
ello! Hello! speak with union officers and learn questions, save some money and on an issue, CSEA members are Happy how you can get more involved in reunite with your former very fortunate to have a terrific Spring to our union. co-workers and CSEA members? resource in our union’s Member
you all! In this
time of warmer
weather, many
of our CSEA
Retiree Locals
are planning
meetings and
events and we are hoping to see you!
At these local meetings, you will get to hear about the latest union news that is important to you. There are a lot of important issues facing retirees and working members.
At these meetings, you can get updates on important CSEA issues,
You will also get a chance to hear the latest information on the wonderful benefits and resources that our union has to offer.
CSEA staff and representatives from many of our union vendors are also on hand to answer
your questions and address any concerns you may have, whether you have a question on your health insurance, your pension or a member-only benefit.
Even better, you will get a chance to reconnect with each other. Who wouldn’t want the opportunity to hear the latest news, get answers to your
Like those late-night infomercials may say, and that’s not all!
We would like you to also tell eligible family members, former co-workers and even friends who may get a New York State and Local Retirement System pension that we would love them to join, too! That way, they too can have access to all of the latest information, money- saving benefits and union events.
There’s also another important reason we want to see more retirees join our union. To protect our pensions and benefits, and safeguard them for future retirees, we need to keep our union strong.
CSEA retiree members are active in our union and in our community. When we want to take action on an issue, we write letters, send emails, make phone calls and speak with one another. We don’t give up and we strongly support one another. We also educate one another on issues facing retirees and working people.
When we have questions or need help getting the answers
Solutions Center. This center is designed to help you get answers to all the questions you may have about your retirement and retiree members. Whether you have a question about your insurance, pension benefits or any union issue, the center can help.
Many CSEA Retiree Local officers and activists have been working hard to grow our union, including by attending union meetings
and events to meet with working members who plan to retire soon and ask them to join our retiree union.
A small group of union members standing together can make
an impact, but a large group of members using our collective voices can make real change. We want you to be part of that change!
In solidarity,
Bernie
Bernie Giambra, Retiree Executive Committee Chair
Helpful phone numbers:
Member Solutions Center:
1-800-342-4146
Employee Benefit Fund (Dental & Vision): 1-800-323-2732
Health Benefits Department:
1-800-286-5242
Pearl Insurance: 518-640-8234
New York State and Local Retirement System: 1-866-805-0990
AFSCME: 202-429-1000
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CSEA RETIREE NEWS