Retirees are PEOPLE, Too

Lots of AFSCME retirees aren't relaxing at home enjoying life as pensioners — though no one would blame them if they did. They enter retirement with a strong belief that their participation in political action is as important today as it was when they were gainfully employed. Quips Audrey Egerton: "I'm working harder now than when I was a regular member!"

Egerton, president of Subchapter 83 (Illinois Retiree Chapter 31), is like thousands of other retirees across the country: When the call goes out seeking activist involvement in the union's grassroots mobilization efforts, they take up positions on the front lines. Their actions go a long way in assisting the political objectives of the Public Employees Organized to Promote Legislative Equality (PEOPLE) program, AFSCME's political and legislative arm.

We face a critical Presidential election in November and Egerton is preparing eagerly for a Get Out the Vote campaign around her state.

"I know I want a change very badly in the White House," she declares. "There's so much going on out there, and it's so hard for the people to know what to believe."

Democrat John F. Kerry is her choice for President: "He's more straight-forward," Egerton says. "George Bush hides behind things. I listened to his recent press conference, and he didn't give one straight answer."

Barbara Rustin wants a change in the Bush administration because she's concerned about the rising costs of prescription drugs. Asks Rustin, secretary of Local 910 of the Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA)/ AFSCME Retiree Chapter 1000: "What gives Bush or some congressman the right to say that seniors can't go to Canada to get cheaper medications? They shouldn't be able to stop people from getting on a bus to go get what they need for their health!"

ABLE BODIES. In addition to such activities as sending letters, postcards and e-mails to lawmakers, phone banking or producing mass mailings, retirees often come up with innovative ways to support PEOPLE. For example, members of Washington state Chapter 10 annually create arts and crafts items and raffle them, giving all of the proceeds to PEOPLE. In California, retirees from Chapter 36 publish a newsletter that contains a section for announcements — and encourages readers who place them to contribute to PEOPLE. Members from Connecticut Chapter 4 and Illinois Chapter 31 have agreed to PEOPLE check-off, authorizing their respective retirement systems to deduct a specific amount as a voluntary contribution.

Age seems to be no impediment to retiree involvement. In Binghamton, N.Y., 91-year-old Anne Maywalt still sets up a table when her local meets and hands out literature about PEOPLE.

Says Maywalt, second vice president of Local 902 of the CSEA retiree chapter: "You have to belong and be active in the union, because if you aren't, you don't get anywhere." Ira Halpern, a member of Retiree Chapter 37 in New York City, believes that participation in PEOPLE programs is vital to keeping AFSCME a "powerful" union. "I'm contributing to see that things get better for the members and myself, and that substantial improvements are made. I'm a union person all the way through."

— Jimmie Turner