At AFT-sponsored interviews with presidential candidates in Washington, D.C., in early June, the Retired Teachers Chapter’s Nina Tribble spoke for all retirees when she asked Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders a pointed two-part question on Social Security.

She was among a group of rank-and-file members from across the country invited by AFT President Randi Weingarten to represent educators and nurses in the union’s face-to-face interviews with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley and Sanders. All of the Republican candidates were invited to participate but not one responded.

Tribble asked the senator: “Are you in favor of eliminating the arbitrary wage cap for FICA taxes, set at $118,500 in 2015, that benefits the wealthiest 6 percent so that we ALL contribute to Social Security at the same rate on our earnings? Will you be willing to lower the eligibility age and increase the cost-of-living adjustment that would make Social Security more viable for everyone?”

She described his answer to both parts of her question as positive and thorough.

Tribble, who has an extensive resume and several awards for her RTC political activities and has traveled across the country for the UFT fighting to protect workers’ rights, made it clear the questions members asked during the three separately conducted interviews were not scripted, nor were members given a choice of which candidate they would be questioning. The question about Social Security was one of three questions that she was asked to submit. The AFT chose the Social Security question and assigned her to Sanders.

The candidates were also asked about strengthening collective bargaining, student debt, costs of higher education, testing, teacher evaluations and affordable health care.

“The fact that rank-and-file educators, SRPs and nurses were able to participate in the process from the beginning was a phenomenal experience. The process involved for endorsing and then electing any official should start at the bottom and have input from everyone,” Tribble said. “I am thrilled to know that our Democratic presidential candidates started interviewing with our labor union first.”

The AFT is putting together a blog on the interviews that will be on its website.

In a follow-up, the AFT asked Tribble: “Why is it important for AFT members to be involved in the election and political process?”

Her reply should give all of us something to think about.

“Legislatively is the only way to change anything,” she explained. “If you want change, create it, do something about it. Complaining will not solve the situation.”

So let’s hold that thought over the summer and come back ready to be creative and active in September. There will be lots for us to do.

For now, have a healthy, happy and restful summer.