Retiree Program
Next Retiree Caucus:
Monday, November 28th
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
UFCW 21 Office - 5030 1st Ave S, Seattle, Joe Crump Hall
There will be a potluck, bring a dish for yourself and four others, spouses, partners and friends may attend. Guest speaker to be announced.
We will also have a holiday turkey raffle and 3-$25 gift certificates to raffle off as well.
RSVP to Rick Erickson at 1-800-732-1188 ext. 6598
Click here to read the Fall-Winter edition of our newsletter, Retirement Matters.
Being able to retire with some secure income is part of a long-term promise to union members in most of our contracts. Members who have already retired have learned from experience over their years in the union that getting informed, getting organized, and getting active are the best possible tools to defend our rights, secure our livelihoods, and protect what we've won for future generations.
UFCW 21 has developed a retiree program specifically designed to keep retirees involved in the union. The program is still new, but we expect that our retiree program will take on issues like:
- Fighting for retirement security for workers, our children, and all Americans. We need to ensure that Social Security and pension benefits are protected and improved - not destroyed.
- Making sure elected officials stand up for us on issues like Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and prescription drug coverage.
- Holding the line on health care costs, and fighting to secure quality affordable health care for all Washington families.
- Getting involved in politics to support the candidates who support our goals - and then holding them accountable to fulfill their promises once they get elected.
Below are some organizations the UFCW 21 retiree program recommends and partners with to create a better retirement life:
- The Alliance for Retired Americans (http://www.retiredamericans.org/) is a national organization fighting for social and economic justice from the perspective of union retirees.
- The Washington State Alliance for Retired Americans (http://www.wasara.org/) and the Puget Sound Alliance (http://psara.org/) are local affiliates of the national group. We intend to work closely with these organizations to develop our political agenda and build a powerful voice for union retirees.
- The Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA) (http://www.insurance.wa.gov/shiba/index.shtml) HelpLine offers free health insurance education, assistance, and advocacy to Washington residents.
- The Healthy Washington Coalition (http://www.healthywacoalition.org/) is a broad coalition of unions (co-chaired in 2010 by UFCW 21), community organizations, and forward-thinking businesses and health care providers dedicated to achieve secure, quality, affordable health care for all Washingtonians.
- The Puget Sound Labor Agency (http://pslaonline.org/) provides assistance to union members and others in need.
- The League of Women Voters - Seattle (http://seattlelwv.org/) offers a host of invaluable information for informed voters.
- The Sound Retirement Trust (http://www.soundretirementrust.com/index.php) provide retirement benefits for retired union members in grocery, retail, and other industries.
- UFCW 21 is part of the UFCW International Union, which unites with several other unions in the Change to Win labor federation. The AFL-CIO is the other large national labor group.
- Senior Lobby was formed in 1977 as a volunteer non-profit organization for seniors and senior issues.
Contact:
Rick Erickson, Retiree Coordinator
206-436-6598, or 1-800-732-1188, ext. 6598
rerickson@ufcw21.org
