Retirees Gear Up for Employee Free Choice, Health Care Campaigns

Eager to go to bat for their union and working families everywhere, CWA retirees have committed to do whatever's needed to help pass the Employee Free Choice Act and health care reform.

Last week, versions of the two campaigns designed specifically for retirees were rolled out at the CWA Retired Members' Council District 1 Leadership Conference. The chapter leaders in attendance were the first of the union's rapidly growing RMC to get the official presentation, though many retirees across the country are already lending a hand.

District 1 Vice President Chris Shelton and Communications & Technologies Vice President Ralph Maly explained CWA's game plan for passing the Employee Free Choice Act in early 2009 – soon after a new Congress is sworn in – and passing affordable, universal health care by 2010.

"There is no question in my mind that retirees play a critical role in getting the Employee Free Choice Act and a national health care policy passed in Congress," Maly said. "Retirees make things happen and their continued support is a must for the survival of the labor movement."

The retiree leaders came from chapters in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Led by District 1 RMC President Audrey Buchanan-Swan and Vice President Adele Rogers, they pledged to present the campaigns to their membership.

Buchanan-Swan, of Local 1365 in Massachusetts, said participants were enthusiastic about what they heard. "It was very well received," she said. "Our retirees are ready to embrace these campaigns and get to work."

Toward that end, they pledged to get at least 10 percent of their members to sign postcards and get their pictures taken as part of the labor movement's Million Member Mobilization to pass Employee Free Choice. The RMC has about 24,000 members in its 169 chapters.