Retiree leaders talk politics

AFT president Sandra Feldman told an overflow crowd at the recent AFT Retirement Committee leadership conference that the coming election is "one of the most important we have ever faced."

For the past six years, she said, President Clinton has stopped a great deal of damaging legislation coming from the conservative leaders of Congress.

"We cannot lose the presidency," she said. "We want a society where children get nourished, where the elderly have dignity, where the ill get taken care of."

U.S. Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) told the retirees, "There is no group in America whose energy and faith and devotion lights more sparks or raises higher the torch of freedom than teachers." He asked them to "teach America about its future" during the election campaign.

The room was packed because conference organizers had expected only 50 to 75 retiree leaders to attend. More than 160 came, reflecting the growing activity of retiree chapters. In addition to discussing the year 2000 political campaigns, conferees focused on the nuts and bolts of building chapters.

American Federation of Teachers, AFL•CIO - 555 New Jersey Avenue, NW - Washington, DC 20001