Spring 2009

Message from the Chair

Tom Pappas, RTC Chapter Leader

Let us all take a collective deep breath or relief and thank the electorate (you!) for giving us an administration and a Congress that we hope will protect Medicare and Social Security in the foreseeable future. I also want to add my thanks to the many, many retired UFT members who, together with their in-service sisters and brothers, staffed the phone banks, knocked on the doors and handed out the leaflets that helped get Barack Obama elected.

However, our struggle is not over. Indeed, it’s really just begun! There were so many ways that the Bush administration hurt working Americans, retirees and seniors (and others); from labor policy to health care, there’s a lot of work to do. The current economic crisis also demands our immediate, concerted response, both locally and nationally – read “Three steps to address the economic crisis” to find out what you can do.

Among the most important battles ahead is the continuing fight against coalitions formed to destroy the “entitlements,” Medicare and Social Security. We need the Obama administration and Congress to resist calls for large cuts to these programs in the federal budget, and to correct the abuses of the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003. Please read and sign the online petition to the new president and Congressional leaders.

Thank you.