Retirees

Read about why Kathy Schmidt and other “Founding Mothers and Brothers” of Oregon healthcare unionism are supporting the current strike by 4,000 OFNHP-represented registered nurses, laboratory professionals and professional employees who work at Kaiser Permanente facilities in Oregon and Southwest Washington — part of a 62,000-strong strike by Kaiser health professionals stretching from Hawaii to the East Coast.

On her very first day of student teaching at Linden Avenue Middle School in Red Hook, N.Y., Martha Strever pushed, pulled and pounded on the school’s door, which was locked. No one came. Where was everybody? It was, after all, the first day of school.

On Aug. 14, Social Security will mark its 90th anniversary—but instead of celebrating, labor leaders and activists say the program faces the gravest threats in its history. Speaking during a virtual town hall on Aug. 7, AFT President Randi Weingarten warned that the Trump administration is pursuing policies aimed at dismantling Social Security.

Lawmakers, union leaders, retirees and activists gathered outside the U.S. Capitol on Monday to oppose President Donald Trump’s controversial nominee, billionaire Frank Bisignano, for commissioner of the Social Security Administration. The protest came ahead of a Senate vote on the nomination, which critics say could pose a serious threat to the future of the Social Security program.

After a decades-long nursing career, including 19 years as a beloved school nurse, Donna Rehm was shocked to learn her Social Security benefits would be cut in half due to the Windfall Elimination Provision/Government Pension Offset.

On Saturday, April 5, hundreds of thousands of people flooded the streets in more than 1,300 “Hands Off!” peaceful protests in cities across all 50 states.

In January 2025, history was made: the long-dreaded Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) — two laws that unfairly cut Social Security benefits for public employees — were finally eliminated.

President Trump’s push toward mass deportation is bad enough as policy—but for many in our community, it is more than just heated rhetoric and obscure rulemaking. It is terrifying.

On Dec. 11, a determined group of retirees, activists, labor leaders and elected officials gathered near the Capitol in Washington, D.C., on a rainy, blustery day to demand justice.

Elaine Jones dedicated her life to education and activism, leaving a lasting impact both in her career and in retirement.

We know these are trying times. We also know that there will be a psychological impact on many retirees as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Feeling anxious in response to a threat is a normal human reaction, but sustained high anxiety can undermine a constructive response to any crisis. Here are some guidelines that can help you and your family deal with COVID-19 anxiety.