5. EXPAND RETIREE ORGANIZING AND GOVERNANCE STRUCTURES

In abolishing national per capita payments for retirees, the AFT's goal was to encourage the formation and strengthening of retiree chapters at the local level. Since 1990, the union has added 21 new chapters, and membership in chartered chapters, built on a base of stepped-up organizing in New York and other states, has increased substantially.

Over the same period, the AFT national retiree committee has grown in size and stature. In 1990, it consisted solely of representatives of retired K-12 teachers and higher education faculty, whose westernmost affiliate was the United Teachers of New Orleans. Today, it includes representatives of retiree chapters in all constituencies and jurisdictions spanning the continent. Yet the group still meets only twice annually.

Today, states administer most pension plans and some health plans. Since most AFT locals are too small to sustain a retiree chapter, the national union should consider encouraging some form of state or regional retiree structure.

Needs specific to retired members make it desirable to provide special vehicles to deal with these needs. Although not allocated division status in the AFT Futures process, expanded retiree numbers and the group's potential to further overall union goals make greater recognition of and input from retired members much more significant.

The Task Force recommends exploring ways to encourage stepped-up retiree organizing, particularly at the state and local level, and broader representation and a broader role for AFT retirees at all levels of the union.

Activities supporting this expanded role could include:

• More active support for retiree organizations and organizing retirees by AFT leaders at all levels, especially at national and state conventions

• Including as members of the AFT retirement committee selected presidents of state federations and locals

• Incorporating retiree representatives in AFT Program and Policy Councils

• Creating an executive committee of the national retirement committee that would meet quarterly and more actively shape AFT policy on retirement between conventions

• Including creation of retiree structures and avenues of support for retiree chapters as part of the charge of the state federation task force

• Encouraging state federations and locals to include representatives of chartered retiree chapters as part of their executive boards

• Promoting periodic state federation conferences on retirement issues

• Shifting the national union's emphasis from organizing new retiree chapters to strengthening existing chapters and encouraging and supporting state federation and large local organizing of such chapters

• Providing improved staffing for the retirement program.

6. CREATE NEW STRUCTURES FOR LOBBYING AND POLITICAL ACTION

AFT convention resolutions call on affiliates to encourage retiree participation in these important areas of advocacy. AFT retirees have been a substantial lobbying force both for the AFT and within the National Council of Senior Citizens, the only seniors organization endorsed by the AFL-CIO. The AFT poll reports that 46% of all retiree chapter members have lobbied on issues when asked by their union. Another 9% of those not asked said they would volunteer if asked to do so.

Retirees also are a key component in locals and state federations with political action programs. The AFT poll indicates that 18% of all retiree chapter members have worked in political campaigns. Another 14% said that they would participate if asked. Better than one in three chapter members say that, as retirees, they have contributed to COPE. Unfortunately, many AFT locals lack a political action operation, and, in other cases, only call on retirees to distribute campaign literature or staff phone banks.

Both the AFL-CIO and the Democratic National Committee are currently seeking union members and seniors, respectively, to run for office, manage or staff campaigns and take a more active role in politics.

(To see graph Volunteer Pool Among Members, click here.)

The Task Force recommends that the national union expand its grassroots lobbying and political action operations and include, as a matter of fundamental policy and routine procedure, a significant role for AFT retirees.

Activities supporting stepped-up lobbying and political action could include:

• Developing a comprehensive, grassroots lobbying network, based on Congressional Districts, where activists would regularly visit their Senators and Representatives, disseminate information and coordinate lobbying efforts on AFT issues. Actively recruit retirees as CD coordinators

• Including AFT retirees in union political polling and political action leadership training programs

• Developing model programs, under either an AFT or AFL-CIO umbrella, based on the best existing programs in state federations, locals and among unions

• Instituting a national direct-mail campaign soliciting COPE contributions from AFT retirees in jurisdictions not currently doing so

• Emphasizing the role of retirees in political action in AFT political department training programs, creating a retiree COPE brochure and regularly including retirees in department publications

• Generating, in cooperation with the AFL-CIO and National Council of Senior Citizens, a national AFT legislative agenda on retirement issues

• Creating and disseminating an AFT-produced voting record of congressional votes on retirement issues based on this agenda.

7. HELP LEADERS BE MORE EFFECTIVE

Thirty-seven percent of all retiree chapter members have held union office. Most chapter leaders tend to have been executive board members or building representatives rather than local union presidents or other officers. Yet, outside NYSUT, there is no leadership training for retiree leaders.

The Task Force recommends creating and implementing a leadership training program for retiree leaders.

Activities supporting such a program could include:

• Cooperating with ULI in creating programs to train retiree leaders

• Establishing a shared-cost scholarship program in cooperation with AFT affiliates.

• Encouraging and supporting states in providing similar training for local retiree chapter leaders.

8. REEVALUATE THE APPROACH TO MEMBER BENEFITS

One of the principal goals of the AFT retiree program reform of 1990 was creating a wider market for the union's member benefits. Although data on retiree participation in the union's programs is sketchy, it does show several promising signs. Among them, retirees constitute approximately 20% of all AFT cardholders in the Union Privilege MasterCard program, some 20,000 cardholders. Participation in other member benefits programs is low, although often not out of line with that of working members. Balkanization of programs among various states also limits the potential market for national union programs.

Members look to union retiree programs at the state, local and national levels for information and advocacy, especially in navigating the pension system and health insurance coverage. According to AFT polling data, there is substantial interest in a low-cost Medigap program (40% of chapter members and 51% of non-members view it as a valuable benefit) and in prescription drug discounts (34% and 48%, respectively, value it). The AFT poll indicates that retirees outside chapters find AFT benefits more attractive than chapter members. More intensive marketing could be very useful in persuading them to join their retiree chapter.

The market, however, may be limited by competition from the American Association of Retired Persons, a 33-million member organization which counts 76% of AFT retirees as members. Members generally report satisfaction with AARP discounts and member benefits.

The Task Force recommends a stepped-up effort to gather additional data on retiree participation in existing AFT member benefit programs and continued systematic exploration of new benefits. We strongly support the AFT's expanded marketing of union benefit programs.

Activities supporting this recommendation could include:

• Involving retirees in the marketing efforts of AFT member benefit representatives in the states

• Stepping up data gathering on retiree participation in existing benefit programs and enhanced marketing of benefits where appropriate

• Systematically exploring new benefits of interest to older members such as discount point-of-purchase programs for prescription drugs and long term care insurance

• Encouraging affiliates to extend AFT accidental death and dismemberment coverage to members of AFT-chartered retiree chapters.

9. EXTEND AFT'S OUTREACH TO THE COMMUNITY

One of the common clichés about older Americans is that they have a surplus of free time. For the most active retirees, often the union's chapter leaders and activists, the reverse is often the case. At the same time, the need to reach out to the larger community on issues, such as the value of public education, public services and quality health care, is greater than ever.

AFT retirees may be a largely untapped talent pool. According to the AFT poll, more than three in five retiree chapter members say that support for the union was an important reason they joined. Polling data also indicates that more than a third of retirees, particularly women under 65, are interested in volunteering in mentoring programs for students or struggling teachers. Three in 10 chapter members want to learn more about health care issues, attend meetings or lobby public officials. One in six say they would help in organizing campaigns. A substantial number of AFT retirees participated in the AFL-CIO's Senior Summer project in 1997.

In addition to these activities, retiree leaders could be valuable spokespersons on core AFT issues in their places of worship, community and seniors groups. The relatively low support among seniors for school levies, public bond issues and other forms of public spending important to AFT members offers both a challenge and opportunity for AFT retirees.

The Task Force recommends a broad-based appeal to retired members to support traditional AFT union activities as well as policies and programs aimed at improving the institutions where members work.

(To see graphic Perceived Value of Selected AFT Benefits, click here.)

Activities supporting this recommendation could include:

• Involving retirees in training programs aimed at building coalitions with community groups

• Systematically encouraging retirees to participate in AFL-CIO activities for seniors to shore up support for AFT issues among members of other AFL-CIO affiliates.

• Creating a pilot program to train retirees as ambassadors to other senior and community groups to support union programs such as Lessons for Life.