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Public
Employee Press Conference
highlights retirees political clout Hundreds of activists showed up for the fifth
annual educational conference of the DC 37 Retirees Association.
The April
12 event was a call to arms for the unions veteran activists to work to
reverse eight years of conservative policies that have battered all but the rich.
The
conference, whose theme was Leading the Way in the Fight for All Retirees,
featured progressive politicians and experts who informed the audience about national,
state and local political issues.
With the November election approaching,
the conference was a wonderful opportunity to bring our members up-to-date on
the crucial issues facing us, Retirees Association President Stuart Leibowitz
said.
DC 37 officials provided information about union benefits at the
conference, which was coordinated by Retirees Executive Vice President Audrey
E. Iszard.
Keynote speaker Ed Ott, the executive director of the New York
City CentralLabor Council, praised retirees for their tireless political activism.
He noted that political action doesnt stop at the ballot box. After the
fall election, unionists should hold politicians feet to the fire and make
sure they act upon the commitments they made as candidates, he said.
Steven
Regenstreif, director of the retirees program at the American Federation of State,
County and Municipal Employees, DC 37s national union, noted that retirees
are playing a key role in promoting AFSCMEs political agenda, which includes
protecting hard-won benefits like Social Security and Medicare.
Bill Arnone,
of Ernst & Youngs Employee Financial Services, described reports of
the impeding death of Social Security as highly exaggerated. He noted that the
programs administrative costs are very low and that raising the cap on contributions
or modestly increasing the payroll tax could easily address its projected shortfall.
U.S.
Congress member Anthony Weiner pointed out that the Republican Partyopposed Social
Security when it was created during the New Deal more than 70 years ago.
They
have never supported this program, he said. So when they talk about
fixing Social Security, they mean something else.
Other speakers
included state Sen. Diane Savino, City Council members Joseph P. Addabbo Jr.,
Vincent Gentile, Eric Gioia and John C. Liu, AFSCME Legislative Director Chuck
Loveless, DC 37 Pension Committee Chair James Tucciarelli and leaders of a number
of DC 37 locals.
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