The CWA Retired Members’ Council is a serious organization that focuses the accumlated skills of CWA veterans on the critical issues facing retirees. It has the expertise to help insure that retirees have input into key retiree matters as they are shaped by former employers and public policy dedision-makers. The RMC works to safeguard and enhance your retirement years in many ways.

• By monitoring company/agency pension policies
• By tracking national and state legislation affecting retirees.
• By presenting retiree concerns to Bargaining Councils in their negotiations.
• By keeping you in the loop through informative emails, the newsletter, Journeys, and the bi-monthly Retirees Matter column in the CWA News.

Structure

The council is made up of Local retiree chapters as well as district-wide chapters for retired members whose Local does not yet have a chapter. Each year in conjunction with the CWA Convention, the Council holds an Annual Membership Meeting where delegates from the chapters gather to discuss retiree concerns. The Council’s Executive Board is comprised of a president and vice president from each of the Union’s eight regional districts and a merger-partner sector president and vice president. Each of the nine District/Sector presidents is a delegate to the CWA Convention, representing retiree interests with a voice and vote.

Membership

Anyone who retired as a member in good standing from CWA or its merger-partners is eligible for membership in any RMC chapter. Currently, there is no retiree chapter in our local, we are looking for interest to begin one. As an RMC member, you may participate in the CWA Union Privilege Programs which includes a no annual fee credit card, and discounted fees for legal assistance, low cost mail order prescription plan, travel service,and supplemental term life insurance. Go to www.unionprivilege.org for more information.

Political Action Network

To paraphrase the distinguished Congresswoman Barbara Jordan, “The stakes are far too high for government and bargaining to be a spectator sport.” That is why the Political Action Network was created. Retirees need to be involved in political action and contract mobilization to be sure our issues are heard. Action Network members work along side active members in such things as phone-banking, letter writing, demonstrations and doing whatever it takes to negotiate good contracts, elect good candidates, and enact good public policy.

Phyllis Dionne, a retired member and current Secretary of Local 7810 in Olympia is a member of the Retiree Health Care Committee organized and supported by District 7. She helps to deal with issues related to Retiree Health care and can be a resource for our retired members. Should you wish contact information please inquire through the local.

CWA Local 7804 is looking for a show of interest to start an RMC, or Retired Members Council chapter of our own.

Shortly after this newsletter is published, a private mailing will go out from me. This mailing will be directed to retirees whose names are currently in the database kept in our office. This data base is not complete, as some of these records were lost approximately 7 years ago. We currently have a database of approximately 120 retirees. If you do not receive this mailing please contact the local to update your mailing address/e-mail address. We would also ask for people to indicate there commitment if interested in heading up this council. CWA Local 7804 can be reached @ 253-572-7804 or e-mail cwalocal@msn.com.

Thank you and I look forward to hearing from you and your interests.

Randy Grams, President.