by Kathleen Donahue

If the end of this school year spells retirement for you, then welcome to the ranks of AFT retirees. Your membership in the AFT while you were working has secured you a lifelong retiree membership in the national union. (Just make certain that your local union updates your status from “working” to “retired, active” in its membership report to the AFT.)

While there are definite benefits to being a lifelong national AFT member, you can get even more out of your membership by becoming involved in your local, regional or state chapter’s retiree activities. First, find out if your local already has a retiree chapter or a specific retirement program—there are more than 100 chartered AFT retiree chapters. If not, why not start a retiree chapter?

The national AFT office can help, and will provide you with a booklet entitled “Building To Last: A Practical Guide To Forming and Strengthening Retiree Chapters.” If you’re interested in starting a retiree chapter, ask your local or state federation president to contact the AFT retirement program for more information. Once you’re a part of a retiree chapter, you’ll find you’re in good company with more than 200,000 AFT retirees nationwide.

There’s much all of us can do as retirees. Our issues are critical: We must guarantee that retirees can get a real Medicare prescription drug benefit, not the confusing and costly labyrinth the Bush administration has foisted off on seniors. We also must continue to protect Social Security against privatization, which, in spite of its overwhelming rejection by the American people last year, remains a high priority for the White House and its allies in Congress. We must resist growing efforts to undermine traditional pensions and work to strengthen public education and preserve it from the threat of vouchers, tuition tax credits and other forms of privatization. AFT retirees will be front and center in our union’s involvement in both national and state legislative efforts to secure long, healthy and productive retirements.

The AFL-CIO’s Alliance for Retired Americans also offers retiree membership opportunities. All AFT retirees are automatically members of the national alliance and are not required to pay dues. The alliance already has chartered state affiliates in 23 states and plans to have more chartered by the end of the calendar year. The group has been in the forefront of the battle for an affordable and comprehensive Medicare prescription drug law that truly protects retirees and controls costs. The preeminent grassroots organization for older Americans, the alliance has been a leader in the recent Medicare and Social Security battles and will play a key role in the fall elections. The adage that there’s strength in numbers still applies as you make the transition to a more comfortable, but no less active, time in your life.

For more information, e-mail the AFT retirement program at retirees@aft.org or call AFT retirement program director Frank Stella at 202/879-4526. The program also produces an electronic newsletter, AFT Retiree e-News, which provides up-to-date information 20 times a year on retirement issues. To subscribe, visit www.aft.org/retire
ment and simply complete the short profile.