Dec 7, 2006 11:58 AM
I always look forward to the Retired Teachers Chapter’s annual New Retiree Luncheon. It gives me a chance to meet so many of you and it gives all of us at the UFT a chance to thank you personally for your years of service to the children of our city.
Our luncheon at the Hilton in Manhattan last month, with orchids for the ladies and boutonnieres for the gents, celebrated and honored that contribution.
It’s a remarkable contrast to the Department of Education’s response to your retirement. Like you, when I retired in 2002, all I got from the DOE was a letter informing me about procedures for per diem work. That’s a pretty sad commentary on how they value the profound impact you have had on the lives of the more than a million children in our public schools.
The important thing for new retirees to realize is that the UFT’s contribution to your professional life — improved working conditions, salary increases and health benefits — continues through your retirement. Our RTC luncheons — new retirees in the fall and all retirees in the spring — are a symbol of the union’s ongoing strong and active relationship with its retirees, as well as with in-service members.
We remain part of that union so we’re not hanging out there by ourselves. Even some teacher unions simply offer a goodbye to retirees and leave them to bargain separately to maintain their benefits.
We’re unique. It was written into the UFT constitution when we were formed that everyone will have the right to elect officers in this union. We help influence union policies in many ways.
Just recently our unanimously approved RTC resolution on Medicare Part D calling for closing the onerous donut hole and allowing negotiated drug prices, was bumped up to the UFT Executive Board and the Delegate Assembly where it was passed overwhelmingly so that it is now union policy.
At the luncheon — a function she never misses — UFT President Randi Weingarten made a “sacrosanct promise from my heart and soul” to protect retiree health benefits and pensions. But she told us she needed our help.
We’ve always answered that call. I make the distinction between what some refer to as active or in-service members and retirees. Our retirees are the active members and I know that from the turnout we get when we ask for your help. You helped us protect Social Security from the president’s attempts to privatize it and you helped us elect Democratic majorities to both houses of Congress.
Unfortunately, the election results have not registered with President Bush. He has declared his intentions to try again to privatize Social Security and has just appointed Andrew Biggs, a zealous advocate of privatization, to a six-year term as the next deputy commissioner of Social Security.
Add to that The New York Times’ report that this administration would strongly oppose any legislation allowing the government to secure cheaper drug prices through negotiating with drug companies. On the other hand, the new Democratic Congress is expected to tackle prescription drug costs within the first 100 hours of the new session. But don’t forget, the president still has two years of veto power.
So we have another two years to remain vigilant and to continue the struggle for a fair and equitable social contract for all Americans. As President Weingarten said, “The way we do this is through politics.”
That’s why we need the skills and voices of our new retirees added to the chorus of retirees who have been so actively involved in keeping the conservatives from eroding our benefits completely. Stay tuned in for news of how you — the active members — can help.
I would also like all retirees to send e-mail addresses to the retiree chapter at www.uft.org so we can keep in touch more efficiently.