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CWA Steps In To Debate Social Security
As Congress gets ready to debate how to strengthen Social Security, working families and their allies are participating in community summits and home district lobbying sessions across the nation.
Coordinated by AFL-CIO state federations and central labor councils, some 50 community summits are providing an opportunity for members of Congress to listen to workers and their families about Social Security and the damage privatization proposals would do to working men and women. CWA activists are also visiting lawmakers in their home district offices.
The union’s district legislative/political coordinators have begun training several hundred CWA local presidents and local legislative coordinators, who will in turn discuss Social Security issues with their members. L/P coordinators for Districts 1 and 13 and local activists had already visited with members of Congress in Albany and Buffalo, N.Y., Delaware and Pennsylvania when the CWA News went to press.
Community summits have been taking place since late January, with labor leaders presenting the Federation’s views Feb. 16 at a community summit in Miami, where the AFL-CIO Executive Council was meeting.
Union organizers distributed postcards in Miami for 500 members and retirees to send to Congress, urging "Save Social Security," and members who perform physical labor spoke out forcefully against raising the retirement age to 70. Others decried proposals put forward by business interests to privatize Social Security and establish individual investment accounts.
The Federation has applauded President Clinton’s proposal to use 62 percent of the budget surplus ($2.7 trillion) over the next 15 years to strengthen Social Security and his commitment to keep the program "a rock-solid guarantee."
"Help us defend these principles," AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Rich Trumka exhorted the Miami activitists. America needs you and needs Social Security benefits guaranteed for life."
The AFL-CIO has postponed taking a position on partial investment of Social Security in government stocks and bonds or on Universal Savings Accounts that the President would create to supplement Social Security. USA accounts would work much like a 401(k) plan, with the government contributing a base sum for all eligible workers and a partial match for additional contributions workers themselves make to their accounts. Both the government’s initial contribution and matching contributions would be structured to provide the most help to low-wage workers.
Other scheduled community summits include: Harrisburg, Pa. (March 2); Philadelphia, Pa. (March 6); Cincinnati, Ohio (March 13); Hagerstown, Md. (March 20); Louisville, Ky. (March); New Orleans, La. (March); Raleigh, N.C. (April 1); Baltimore, Md. (TBA); New Haven, Conn. (TBA); New York City (TBA); Cedar Rapids, Iowa (TBA); Sioux Falls, S.D. (TBA); Grand Forks, N.D. (TBA); Madison, Wis. (TBA); Wichita, Kans. (TBA); Cleveland and Dayton, Ohio (TBA); Albany, Ga. and Austin, Texas (TBA).
Home district office visits will again pick up when Congress recesses March 29 to April 5. and CLCs, state feds and community allies will intensify mobilization efforts during April, "Save Social Security Month."
CWA activists will make Social Security a priority when they lobby on Capitol Hill April 25-28 in conjunction with the CWA National Legislative/ Political Conference, said CWA Legislative Representative Rosie Torres.
Your local can help by turning out members in support of speakers or giving a presentation of your own at an AFL-CIO community summit or by participating in home district congressional visits. To get involved, call your CWA district office, CLC or state federation of labor.
Coordinated by AFL-CIO state federations and central labor councils, some 50 community summits are providing an opportunity for members of Congress to listen to workers and their families about Social Security and the damage privatization proposals would do to working men and women. CWA activists are also visiting lawmakers in their home district offices.
The union’s district legislative/political coordinators have begun training several hundred CWA local presidents and local legislative coordinators, who will in turn discuss Social Security issues with their members. L/P coordinators for Districts 1 and 13 and local activists had already visited with members of Congress in Albany and Buffalo, N.Y., Delaware and Pennsylvania when the CWA News went to press.
Community summits have been taking place since late January, with labor leaders presenting the Federation’s views Feb. 16 at a community summit in Miami, where the AFL-CIO Executive Council was meeting.
Union organizers distributed postcards in Miami for 500 members and retirees to send to Congress, urging "Save Social Security," and members who perform physical labor spoke out forcefully against raising the retirement age to 70. Others decried proposals put forward by business interests to privatize Social Security and establish individual investment accounts.
The Federation has applauded President Clinton’s proposal to use 62 percent of the budget surplus ($2.7 trillion) over the next 15 years to strengthen Social Security and his commitment to keep the program "a rock-solid guarantee."
"Help us defend these principles," AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Rich Trumka exhorted the Miami activitists. America needs you and needs Social Security benefits guaranteed for life."
The AFL-CIO has postponed taking a position on partial investment of Social Security in government stocks and bonds or on Universal Savings Accounts that the President would create to supplement Social Security. USA accounts would work much like a 401(k) plan, with the government contributing a base sum for all eligible workers and a partial match for additional contributions workers themselves make to their accounts. Both the government’s initial contribution and matching contributions would be structured to provide the most help to low-wage workers.
Other scheduled community summits include: Harrisburg, Pa. (March 2); Philadelphia, Pa. (March 6); Cincinnati, Ohio (March 13); Hagerstown, Md. (March 20); Louisville, Ky. (March); New Orleans, La. (March); Raleigh, N.C. (April 1); Baltimore, Md. (TBA); New Haven, Conn. (TBA); New York City (TBA); Cedar Rapids, Iowa (TBA); Sioux Falls, S.D. (TBA); Grand Forks, N.D. (TBA); Madison, Wis. (TBA); Wichita, Kans. (TBA); Cleveland and Dayton, Ohio (TBA); Albany, Ga. and Austin, Texas (TBA).
Home district office visits will again pick up when Congress recesses March 29 to April 5. and CLCs, state feds and community allies will intensify mobilization efforts during April, "Save Social Security Month."
CWA activists will make Social Security a priority when they lobby on Capitol Hill April 25-28 in conjunction with the CWA National Legislative/ Political Conference, said CWA Legislative Representative Rosie Torres.
Your local can help by turning out members in support of speakers or giving a presentation of your own at an AFL-CIO community summit or by participating in home district congressional visits. To get involved, call your CWA district office, CLC or state federation of labor.