Final Thoughts

With the institutions where members work under increasing attack, it is important that every member have the opportunity to support the union. Maintaining strong ties to their union is a principal reason AFT retiree chapter members cite for continuing active membership. Unions today are under siege, even as the AFL-CIO attempts to reestablish a leading role in the nation’s working life.

Unity with the National Education Association would offer the opportunity to mobilize the more than 1.4 million current members of both organizations scheduled to retire between now and 2010. A stronger program on retirement would be a powerful vehicle to expand outreach to a highly politically active population both inside and outside AFT and NEA. A stronger national retiree program represents a wise investment.

The AFT Convention created the first national retiree task force in 1977; a second convened in 1989. We hope that the work of this third Retiree Task Force will further the mission of our predecessors: strengthening the natural bonds between all active AFT members, whether working or retired.

Creating a successful national retirement program should also involve examining the retiree programs of other large unions and continuous reexamination of AFT’s activities. We urge the national union to periodically and systematically review its programs on retirement and for retirees.

The Retiree Task Force has presented an ambitious agenda that would require a substantial commitment of resources to a constituency that pays no national per capita. But, based on the unique contributions and proven loyalty of AFT retirees, we reaffirm our support for continuing this policy. Thirty-seven percent of members in chapters have held union office. Retired members contributed to the union when they were working. They can continue to contribute in their retirement.

The challenge the AFT faces is to create local, state and national programs that will help working members prepare for retirement and retired members continue to make a strong contribution to the union. Polling data indicates that the AFT’s greatest difficulties lie not in representing retirees but in our communications about it. The AFT has accomplished much for retirees, but many of them, and, more significantly, many working members nearing retirement, simply do not know enough about AFT efforts.

An improved retirement program will require a greater commitment of limited AFT resources. But the ambitious blueprint created here will become reality tomorrow only if we begin to implement it today. The legacy AFT retirees have entrusted to today’s working members — and tomorrow’s retirees — merits no less.