IAMAW Retiree Celebrates 100 Glorious Years!

Mary Ramos, a 51-year-member of the IAMAW and active member of the Local Lodge 1584 Retiree's Club, celebrated her 100th birthday on November 15, 2011. On November 1st the Retiree's Club held a luncheon in her honor. Retiree's Club President Daniel Borrero presented her with a gift from the Club of a hundred dollar bill in honor of her 100th birthday.

In Memoriam - Lee Hunsaker

Sadly, Lee Hunsaker passed away Friday, November 11th. Lee served our union as the Business Representative for Santiam District Lodge No. 163 with locals in Cottage Grove, Eugene, Corvallis and Salem for many years. After District 163 was merged with District Lodge No. 24, he continued as a Business Representative with that organization until his retirement in 1980. Prior to becoming a Business Representative he held several offices in Paradise Lodge No. 1311 in Eugene. He also held delegate positions to the Lane County Labor Council, the Linn-Benton-Lincoln Labor Council, the Oregon Machinists Council, and the Oregon AFL-CIO during his career. Lee began his career as an apprentice saw-maker at Spear & Jackson, Inc., a shop in Eugene that made circular saws and band saws for mills. After serving in the military during World War II, he returned to Spear & Jackson to complete his apprenticeship and worked as a journeyman saw-maker until he was elected to the Business Representative position.

West Coast Retirees on the Move!

Retirees on the west coast have been very active attending rallies in San Diego and Los Angeles, celebrating the 76th birthday of Social Security, the 46th anniversary of Medicare and encouraging Senator Dianne Feinstein to get on board protecting these vital programs.  Additionally, retiree meetings were held in Long Beach and at the California Alliance for Retired Americans.  Over 150 retirees participated in the various events. General Vice President Gary Allen and Retirees Department Director Charlie Micallef attended several events along with retired Aerospace Coordinator Frank Santos and current Grand Lodge Representative Claudio Figueroa.  Also active in the rallies were Wayne Ihrig, President of the William L. Curtis Retirees Club, and Retiree Joe Reilly.  For pictures, click the read more button below . . .

Scrap the Cap

The Washington State Chapter and the Puget Sound Chapter of the Alliance for Retired Americans are members of a coalition called Social Security Washington which has co produced a video www.justscrapthecap.com calling on the "Super Committee" of Congress to "scrap the cap" on earnings subject to Social Security withholding.  This video features retired Machinist, Ron McGaha, as the lead actor (rapper) and is funny as well as carrying an important message.

Medicare Guide

Medicare is the United States health insurance program for people age 65 or older. Certain people younger than age 65 can qualify for Medicare, including those who have disabilities, permanent kidney failure or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s disease). The program covers approximately 80% of the costs, but it does not cover all medical expenses or the cost of most long-term care.

Use this step by step GUIDE written by Double Health USA to unravel the mysteries regarding Medicare.

Alliance for Retired Americans

Legislative Conference

From September 6-9, 2011, the Alliance for Retired Americans celebrated its Tenth Anniversary and held a Legislative Conference in Washington, DC.  At the conference, threats to Social Security and Medicare were analyzed and ways to protect these essential programs were examined.  Workshops and training sessions on activism were given.  Participants heard from many speakers including labor and community leaders, members of Congress and policy experts.  To see videos and read articles from the conference, click here.

Super Committee

The new Congressional Super Committee is in the midst of deliberations that could affect the future of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid for decades.  The next two months are critical for the programs we most care about.  Time is short. The Super Committee must present recommendations by November 23 and Congress must vote on them by December 23.  For more information and strategies on how your voice can be heard regarding this important subject, click on the read more link below then on the Super Committee icon for a printable PDF toolkit.

Local Lodge History Project

Semi-annually members from various lodges, including retirees, gather at the William W. Winpisinger Center in Southern Maryland for the Local Lodge History Project.  The class teaches members how to uncover and tell the history of their local lodges and covers such topics as how to organize a history project, how to do an oral interview and how to manage and preserve local lodge records.  Preserving local lodge records comprises of collecting oral histories, developing websites and donating historical local lodge materials to the Southern Labor Archives at Georgia State University, the official repository of the IAM.  For pictures from the June 2011 class, click the read more button . . .

Ready or Not: Retirement Planning Guide

Whether you are 40, 50 or 60 plus, READY OR NOT is an excellent introduction to the issues of retirement. Click on the read more button or the red icon below . . .

Retirees Department - Want More Information?

Have you ever wondered what IAMAW Retirees' do?  Would you like more information to share with your retired IAMAW Brothers and Sisters?  If so, for a printable brochure, click on the read more button below . . .

IAMAW Atomic Lodge 480 Retirees Jumpstarting Their Club!

IAMAW Atomic Lodge 480 had their first Local Lodge Retiree’s Club meeting since the 1980s on September 20, 2011. They had 52 retirees in attendance.

Traci Drummond, Archivist at the Southern Labor Archives, was the guest speaker and gave an excellent presentation on preserving labor history. The lodge donated their records to the Archives at Georgia State University the same day.

After the formal meeting pizza and refreshments were served. The retirees enjoyed the meeting and fraternal fellowship and want to continue with the meetings.

Retiree Coordinator Bill Cox has been working with retirees Jesse Haney and James Lay coordinating the project for the meeting. Bill and Jesse have done a great job in updating our retiree’s list.

Click on the read more button for a picture of Traci speaking at the meeting . . .

Preserving Labor History

Local Lodge 480 members attended the Local Lodge History class in June 2011 at the WWW Educational Center. The Lodge voted to donate its records to the Georgia State University Southern Labor Archives. They accomplished this with Traci Drummond, Archivist, Southern Labor Archives, securing the records and speaking to the Retiree’s Club on September 20, 2011.

The Local Lodge History class is a must for preserving labor history in our communities and Union.

Click on the read more button below for a picture explaining the event . . .

Trail Blazing on the West Coast

Retirees, Community and Membership Services Department Director Charlie Micallef re-energized retirees beginning in Ohio then traveling to the West Coast:  Las Vegas, Nevada; Oakland, Los Angeles, San Diego and San Bernadino, California; Seattle, Washington and back to the Midwest - - Chicago, Illinois, between May 4-21, 2011.  Several new retiree clubs were initiated.  To see pictures from Charlie's visit, click on the read more link below.

Social Security and Medicare - History and Current Initiatives

Social Security and Medicare are under attack. Click on the read more link below to view the most recent update by the Alliance for Retired Americans (ARA).

Medicare Under Attack…Again

To view the op-ed by retiree, Ron Harrell, click the read more link below.

Generic Drug List

For a list of brand drugs with generic equivalents click on the read more link then the Generic Drug List PDF file . . .

Retirees Participate in April 4 “We Are One” Rallies

IAMAW retirees marched with other labor, civil rights and environmental groups to stand with working people in the tradition of Martin Luther King Jr and countless other activists to support good jobs, a fair economy, workers’ rights, and responsible corporate behavior.

Cheerfully waving their “Proud to be Union” and “Collective Bargaining Works for My Family” signs, the retirees did not let the warm weather or physical maladies keep them from their important mission!

Click on the We Are One Video, or the read more button below to see pictures . . .

We Are One Video

 

April 3-8, 2011 Retirees Education & Strategy Session

During a week-long class, IAMAW retirees gathered at the William W. Winpisinger (W3) Center to rally, strategize, mentor and lobby. 

The session began with an invigorating rally in Washington DC where our seasoned members showed their solidarity with working people all over the world.  To follow were discussions at the W3 center regarding the right way to fix Social Security and Medicare, as well as the importance of our veteran union brothers and sisters in organizing new members. 

The experienced retirees took time out of their busy schedule to mentor Aviation High School students attending a W3 class.  On Wednesday, our valuable retirees went back to Washington DC to lobby their Congressional Representatives on topics important to everyone. 

Recognizing the significance of older populations, Law Professor Alexey Dolzhikov traveled all the way from Siberia to visit the retirees with Rich Fiesta, Director of Government Affairs for the Alliance of Retired Americans.  Alexey is studying retiree influence on America and how to make it a part of Russian democracy. 

After a successful, busy week our helpful retirees returned home to carry out their vital work locally.

For pictures, click on the read more button below . . .

 

IAM Retirees Helping Those Who Are Less Fortunate

US Airways retiree, Tom McCormack, and the IAMAW Potomac Air Lodge Pittsburgh Retirees’ Club help the less fortunate in Panama.  They collect and distribute items that are simply discarded in the United States, but that are desperately needed by the poor in Panama. 

Railroad Retirement VS Social Security

Have you ever wondered how Railroad Retirement benefits compare to Social Security including disability, monthly payments and early retirement?  If so, click the read more button below and the PDF file to obtain more information.

Have Social Security and Medicare Kept the United States Out of a Depression?

Social Security payments are indeed an important part of the country’s economic life, bringing money into large and small businesses in both good times and bad.  Furthermore, Medicare and Social Security help keep recipients above the poverty line, not to mention living longer, healthier, more productive lives. 

IAMAW Retiree Meets the President

IAMAW Retiree and current Pembroke Pines Mayor, Frank Ortis, met President Barack Obama this week at a recent Mayoral Conference in Washington DC where Frank tirelessly advocated on behalf of retirees.

Railroad Retirement Annuity Tips

Are you thinking of applying for a Railroad Retirement Annuity?  If so, click on the read more link below for more information regarding filing an application, required documentation and pay outs, etc . . .

In Memoriam

In honor of our brothers who have passed away, but gave so selflessly for the IAM, Retirees Department and the Labor Movement . . .

IAM Retiree Continuing to Fight the Good Fight

Brother Mike Aupperle still fighting for worker rights . . .

Retirees' Education and Strategy Session

The Retirees, Community and Membership Services Department holds Retiree Education and Strategy Sessions at the William W. Winpisinger Education and Technology Center in Southern Maryland.  The first session ran from February 27 through March 4, 2011.  The second session ran from April 3-8, 2011.  During the class, retiree coordinators assist in preparing an education program.  Additionally, participants plan future agendas for the Retirees' Department, as well as prepare and establish Retiree Assistance Programs. For pictures, see the click more button below . . .