Organizing AFSCME Retirees

1. Organizing AFSCME Retirees Steve Regenstreif, Director, AFSCME Retirees John Bonnage, Coordinator, AFSCME Retirees www.afscme.org

2. History/Philosophy of the AFSCME Retirees • Started in 1980 • Established by an Amendment to the AFSCME Constitution creating a separate structure for retiree membership in the union • Appreciation for what retirees did for the union when they were working – they built the union • Vehicle for retired leaders and activists www.afscme.org

3. Retirees are a Political Force • Constant political threat to retiree benefits (Social Security, Medicare, pensions, employer-sponsored health care) • One third of U.S. voters are over 55 • 90 percent are registered to vote • 75-80 percent vote www.afscme.org

4. Where We Are Today • Almost 240,000 dues-paying retiree members nationwide • We add approximately 10,000 new members each year • This is in addition to AFSCME’s 1.4 million working members. • 40 Retiree Chapters nationwide • We are in more than half of the states • More than 250 state and local groups www.afscme.org

5. Retiree Issues – Local • Protect and improve pension benefits • Ad hoc pension increases and COLAs • Retiree health insurance and Rx coverage • Improve death benefits • Monitoring pension investments • Representation on Pension Boards www.afscme.org

6. Retiree Issues – National • Worked to achieve new national Health Care Reform Law • Social Security • Medicare • GPO/WEP • Long Term Care • Older Americans Act www.afscme.org

7. Structure of the AFSCME Retirees • Chapters and sub-chapters • Similar to Councils and Locals • Chartered by the International Union • Autonomous – elect their own officers, set their own dues, adopt their own constitutions, set policies, adopt budget • Retiree Council • Presidents of All Chapters • Large groups have additional representation • Annual Meeting • Retiree representation on AFSCME International Executive Board • IEB Retiree Committee – considers changes proposed by Retiree Council • International Convention Delegates www.afscme.org

8. Support from International Union • Retiree Department • Services Retiree Chapters and retiree members directly • Runs major retiree organizing projects • Member of the Leadership Council of Aging Organizations • Sponsoring union of Alliance for Retired Americans • Legislation • Research • Political Action • Public Affairs • Education • Membership www.afscme.org

9. Retiree Dues Structure • Minimum Dues are $15 per year or $1.25 per month • Per capita tax - $3.60 to International Union, $11.40 stays with the chapters. • If chapters have sub-chapters then they distribute a portion of the dues to the sub-chapter • Chapters can raise dues – All dues above the $15 minimum are retained by the Chapter • Some working member locals pay the first year’s dues for their retiring members as a token of their appreciation www.afscme.org

10. Membership Eligibility • Anyone receiving a public-sector pension • Not necessarily members of union when working • Spouses and surviving spouses can also be members www.afscme.org

11. Member Benefits • PrimeTIME • AFSCME WORKS • AFSCME Advantage benefits • Low interest Mastercard • Discount legal services • Travel discounts • Alliance for Retired Americans www.afscme.org

12. How we organize… • Organizing Committee • Pension Lists • Dues Checkoff • Recruitment Mailing • Develop chapter structure/organize sub-chapters (if applicable) • Write Chapter Constitution • Founding Convention www.afscme.org

13. Organizing Committee • Sometimes self-selected • Recommendations from Council and Local leaders • Retired Officers, stewards, staff, activists • 3-10 leaders • Meet regularly to begin putting together structure/constitution and help with organizing www.afscme.org

14. Pension Lists • Lists of names and addresses of pensioners from HR/Payroll Depts or public-sector retirement systems • Help from Councils and Locals usually a necessity • Administratively, legislation, contract language, Executive Order or through pension board action depending on the state/local government situation www.afscme.org

15. Pension Lists Cont. • Confidentiality/ non-disclosure agreements • Access to lists vs. blind mailings • Ads in retirement system newsletters or on websites – Don’t Work… • Continue to get lists of new retirees www.afscme.org

16. Dues Checkoff • Chapter dues deducted directly from the retiree’s pension check (monthly) • Hand collection leads to membership drop off – at best only 60-70 percent renew • Relieves administrative expenses • Secured through the retirement system, contract language, executive order, legislative action • PEOPLE deductions www.afscme.org

17. Recruitment Mailings • Retirees read their mail • International Retiree Dept. Program drafts mailings and pays for printing, postage and mailhouse costs • Work with retirement system on blind mailings – AFSCME bears all the costs • Returns are processed by the organizing committee with the help of Retiree Dept. and Council • Keep working the list • Follow-up – Welcome letter/Activist Form www.afscme.org

18. Organizing Sub-chapters • When chapters are organized statewide, need local groups so members can meet • Based geographically by concentration of members and reasonable travel time to meetings. • Members from the area are invited to a meeting • Mini-organizing committee is formed • Usually someone from the area is on the statewide organizing committee www.afscme.org

19. Founding Convention • Constitution adopted • First officers elected • Plans made for future organizing • Political and legislative agendas set • Political Speakers/Council and Local Leader • The Retiree Dept./International pays expenses during the organizing phase www.afscme.org

20. Hints for Organizing Retirees • Don’t underestimate a retiree’s energy • Retirees like to meet during the week, during daylight hours • One of the best times to recruit a new retiree leader is right after they retire • The best resource you have is retired union activists • Retirees like to be with their spouses • Social gatherings are important www.afscme.org