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Retirees Set for Political Mobilization
New officers and alternates have joined the executive board of CWA’s Retired Members’ Council, a nationwide group that takes political action to help working families and seniors.
“You assume office at a crucial time for the future of our country,” CWA President Morton Bahr told the council’s 15 members at a swearing-in ceremony Feb. 4. “We don’t need a crystal ball to predict what the next Congress would do if the conservative right remains in control and takes the White House.”
Bahr and CWA Secretary-Treasurer Barbara Easterling urged members to mobilize the 115 affiliated retiree clubs to elect Al Gore president and to work for candidates who will further the interests of working families.
“Every person you can activate, to bring into labor’s program, is crucial,” Bahr said, noting that “exit polls show where 24 percent of those voting come from union families, we win.”
RMC Chairman D.E. Kines said CWA retirees are already getting involved in his state. “We’re setting up our movement in Alabama with both the county AFL-CIO and the state federation. We’ll be phone banking and working on mailings.”
The Retired Members’ Council, established by the CWA convention in 1988, held its first meeting in St. Louis, Mo. The board currently meets twice a year.
Helen Gibson, special programs administrator in Easterling’s office, said the council works to protect Social Security, Medicare and retirement benefits, in addition to other political action.
“Thanks in part to the tireless efforts of CWA retirees led by RMC District 1 Board Member Ed Creegan, Bell Atlantic retirees will get a lump sum pension increase,” she said. “The payment will range from $2,500 to $20,000 based on length of retirement and amount of current pension.”
“You assume office at a crucial time for the future of our country,” CWA President Morton Bahr told the council’s 15 members at a swearing-in ceremony Feb. 4. “We don’t need a crystal ball to predict what the next Congress would do if the conservative right remains in control and takes the White House.”
Bahr and CWA Secretary-Treasurer Barbara Easterling urged members to mobilize the 115 affiliated retiree clubs to elect Al Gore president and to work for candidates who will further the interests of working families.
“Every person you can activate, to bring into labor’s program, is crucial,” Bahr said, noting that “exit polls show where 24 percent of those voting come from union families, we win.”
RMC Chairman D.E. Kines said CWA retirees are already getting involved in his state. “We’re setting up our movement in Alabama with both the county AFL-CIO and the state federation. We’ll be phone banking and working on mailings.”
The Retired Members’ Council, established by the CWA convention in 1988, held its first meeting in St. Louis, Mo. The board currently meets twice a year.
Helen Gibson, special programs administrator in Easterling’s office, said the council works to protect Social Security, Medicare and retirement benefits, in addition to other political action.
“Thanks in part to the tireless efforts of CWA retirees led by RMC District 1 Board Member Ed Creegan, Bell Atlantic retirees will get a lump sum pension increase,” she said. “The payment will range from $2,500 to $20,000 based on length of retirement and amount of current pension.”