Retiree Chapters—Doing a Good Job

AFT retirees have turned their faces to the future, not the past. The challenge for AFT retiree chapters is to build an organization that meets these needs. According to the AFT national poll: "Unlike the retirement organizations that cater more to members who are nostalgic about their working days and enjoy convening with ‘the old gang,’ these AFT retiree chapters are faced with the challenge of building a structure for members and prospective members who are much more focused on the present and future than on the past."

AFT retirees value their retiree chapters: 69% of them feel it is worthwhile to be a member. To quote the AFT poll, "Members are very satisfied with their retiree chapter, mainly because their expectations are being met when it comes to the two things they seek most: political advocacy and assistance with benefits."

Retiree chapters have done a solid job of keeping members abreast of important issues. Nine in 10 members are satisfied with their chapters’ communication of state and local education issues; three in four are satisfied with lobbying on issues important to retirees, such as pensions and health benefits.

There is no dramatic difference in member satisfaction between New York members and those from other states. Three in four New York members say that being part of a retiree chapter is very or fairly worthwhile. Slightly more than three in five members in other states share that sentiment. Both groups cite support for the union’s lobbying efforts on important retirement issues and getting helpful advice on pensions and health benefits as their most important reasons for joining a retiree chapter.