The CFT has established the Retiree Organizing Committee to help local unions take advantage of the experience, skills and commitment of retired union members.

The goal of this new standing committee is to organize AFT retiree chapters around the state so that retirees may continue to contribute to their unions — and have opportunities to connect with former colleagues.

One of the first steps is to keep retired members on the local union membership roster. “Most of our members do not know that AFT offers lifetime membership to retired union members,” said Laura Rico, committee co-chair and retired president of the ABC Federation of Teachers. “It doesn’t cost the local or the retiree anything, and it helps keep retirees ‘in the loop’ on important issues.”

Joining Rico as co-chair is veteran organizer Margaret Shelleda, retired CFT Executive Director. The committee met in January to develop the first elements of an organizing plan and is sponsoring a workshop at the CFT Convention about AFT and CFT resources available for organizing retiree chapters.

> To get help organizing a retiree chapter or to expand outreach to retired members, write to the committee co-chairs by emailing Laura Rico and Margaret Shelleda.