The city has announced that the health plan open enrollment period for retirees will be the month of November 2014, with an effective date of Jan. 1, 2015.

The prevailing political winds that are blowing full blast as we approach the November elections appear to be blowing against progressive, labor-supported candidates and issues. But there are some cross currents that work in our favor.

The last doom-and-gloom column outlined the impending bloodbath many pundits see coming in the November 2014 midterm elections, just five months from now. This column is devoted to possibilities and glimmers of hope.

Retirees packed UFT headquarters on June 13 for the chapter’s annual Day at the University.

Political pundits are using these terms to predict the defeat of progressive forces in the November congressional elections in which the entire House of Representatives and one-third of the Senate are being contested.

Donesa Jackson, our section coordinator in Orlando, Fla., hosted the first Orlando Labor Seminar, a call to action that rallied more than 100 union leaders, community organizations, clergy, retiree groups and educators to strengthen and affirm their commitment to support progressive solutions to the problems that face the country. 


RTC members in Puerto Rico came out in force for their Annual Breakfast on March 20 at the Condado Plaza Hilton Hotel in San Juan. Members were updated on pensions, retiree programs and services.

There have been some changes made in hospital procedures that I thought all RTC members should know about. Sasha Greene, the RTC director of retiree social services, explains those changes and how they will affect you.