N&V May/June:News&Views 5/30/13 11:46 AM Page 1
RETIREE nA PUBLICeATION OFw LOCAL 237 RsETIREE DIV&ISION VOL. 19, NO. 3, MAY/JUNE 2013 A Toast to Women’s Hvisitoery w& Hesalth o mark Women’s History Month in March, the Retiree Division hosted a Tcelebration focusing on healthy lifestyles. Representatives from the New York City Parks Department, the Library and Poi - son Control Hotline were on hand to provide information about their programs. The Amer - ican Diabetes Association presented diet and nutrition advice as well as a low-calorie cook - ing demonstration. Nancy B. True, director of the Retiree Di - vision, highlighted the importance of women to Teamsters Local 237, which has grown over the years with an increasing number of women in its ranks and in leadership roles. Recently, the union held several press conferences calling for the city to settle an From left, Susan Milisits, assistant director, and Luz Carty retiree assistance counselor, join equal pay lawsuit it filed on behalf of school presenters from the American Diabetes Association at the table. safety agents, 70 percent of whom are female, negotiating committee members and activists by cutting down on fat and sugar, and adding who earn $7,000 a year less than other peace in solidarity. more fruit, salads and vegetables. officers who do similar work in male-domi - Dr. Delcia Granville, of the Food and Chef Stephanie Slater prepared and nated titles. Drug Administration, spoke about diabetes, shared with guests a tasty and nutritious low- Luz Carty, retiree assistance counselor, emphasizing that it is a “serious epidemic” calorie salad of cabbage, carrots and cilantro, presented a slide show on the role of women striking one in every six persons. Granville adding a dash of lime, salt and pepper, fol - in Local 237, where they contribute as shop shared diabetes-prevention techniques, in - lowed by a papaya shake with Splenda sugar, stewards, liaisons, grievance representatives, cluding how to be more active and eat better low-fat milk and a splash of vanilla.
We Welcome New Retirees ntering a new phase of life, in this case retirement, has its own set of chal - Elenges. That’s why the Retiree Division hosted a seminar in April, introducing new retirees to the Division’s wide range of serv - ices and pro - grams designed to support and enhance retire - ment. Retiree Cejester Walker, chairman of the Bronx retiree group, addresses the audience as The seminar, Luz Carty, retiree assistance coordinator, looks on. organized by Luz Carty, retiree assistance for 33 years. Winston George, deputy director, Susan Milisits, as - counselor, covered topics from dental, vi - sistant director, and Sara Wagner, Legal Services Division, were also sion, and prescription-drug benefits to on hand to address the audience and answer questions. Medicare, legal services, and classes in Led by Carty, new retirees introduced themselves as the audi - photography, painting, politics and more. ence gave each one a round of loud hoorays. Retiree Cejester “We are essentially business agents Walker, chairman of the Bronx Retiree Committee and member of Hung Chen, a retired as - for retirees,” said Nancy B. True, direc - the Latino Committee, encouraged the newly minted retirees to sistant manager for tor of the Retiree Division, adding that take advantage of Retiree Division programs, reminding them they NYCHA, holds up her the division has been serving retirees are “retired from work, but not from the union.” “Hooray” sign. N&V May/June:News&Views 5/30/13 11:46 AM Page 2
& 2 RETIREE news views May/June 2013
A Message From the President Gregory Floyd Pay Equity is Every Worker’s Right nions fight for better pay, wages and pen - and we’ve conducted three press conferences to air this issue in the sions that guarantee workers dignity in re - past three months calling for a settlement with the city. Utirement. We do this because the Labor While our members deserve to be fully compensated, they have Movement, at its heart, is about fairness. That’s been seeking justice for years and should not have to wait several more why we are fighting so hard for our school safety while the suit works its way through the courts. A settlement is in the agents to be paid the same wage as other certified peace officers who city’s interest as well, since it would pay out millions less than it would do similar work. More than 5,000 current and former school safety pay if it loses the case in court — which it likely will. agents — 70 percent of whom are women — have joined the gender- While the city resists spending money from a tight budget, we based, class-action, wage-discrimination suit led by Teamsters Local are not merely asking for a raise. It’s about correcting an injustice. 237 against the City of New York. The foundation for this case was set by great women’s advocates SSAs protect students and staff at New York City public schools, like Susan B. Anthony, Gloria Steinem, and many others who fought much like special officers at Health and Hospitals Corporation do at for equal treatment. The Labor Movement was vital to the Civil public hospitals, and other peace officers do at homeless shelters and Rights and the Feminist Movements. As a society, our jobs are a at city colleges. But right now, SSAs are paid 20 percent less than other large part of who we are. We can measure our values on how we peace officers — $7,000 a year less. They are not being treated equally, treat people at work. These are not just labor values; these are and that’s not fair. American values. Discrimination is not acceptable at any job, but this is not just any It’s encouraging that these values are once again in the forefront job. It’s a difficult and important one. Our children can’t learn if they of public discussion. A growing chorus of voices is calling for an in - don’t feel safe in school. It’s a sad truth that many school administra - crease to the minimum wage. Recently, a city law was passed man - tors spend more time responding to illegal behavior than fostering ac - dating paid sick days. We look forward to more victories for all ademic achievement. Our SSAs try to change that. They confiscate workers — union and non-union — which serve to strengthen the guns, break up fights, and endure assaults. They deserve to be treated Labor Movement. fairly, not as second-class citizens. I pledge to keep fighting for our SSAs as long as it takes. A vic - We want to resolve this issue, but the city is refusing. We’ve tory in this class-action suit would set another cornerstone in the foun - reached out to the Office of Labor Relations, but they won’t talk to us, dation for equal rights.
Making the Right Moves By Nancy B. True, Director, Retiree Division
pring is here and I’m inspired to take longer that’s not enough. Granville said we must change from our increas - walks, eat lighter meals, and make time to ingly sedentary lifestyles to a more active one. Senjoy nature. Coincidentally, these healthy Close to 80 percent of Americans don’t meet exercise guidelines impulses are known to add years to our lifespan. set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That includes Activity and proper diet can help protect me! The guidelines call for at least two and a half hours of moderate against age-related diseases, such as dementia, muscle and bone loss, aerobic exercise each week. The Retiree Division’s two-hour T’ai Chi heart disease and type-2 diabetes. Staying active, socially engaged, and class, for example, handily meets the CDC’s requirements, when you mentally agile adds to the quality of our lives and allows us to remain include the commuting effort and some light weight lifting (perhaps independent longer. while watching TV). Local 237’s Retiree Division offers programs and services de - Keeping our brains active is equally important. Activities that in - signed to encourage healthy lifestyles. Recently, at our Women’s His - volve learning new things, such as a second language or a musical in - tory Month event, Dr. Delcia Granville discussed ways to prevent strument, help to build up a reserve of brain cells and connections weight gain and diabetes by eating more fruits and vegetables and which improve memory, problem-solving and language skills. Brain practicing portion control. She also urged us to cut back on sugar. Still exercises also help protect against Alzheimer’s disease. The Retiree Di - vision’s classes and special events not only boost brain power they are & entertaining and a great way to socialize. Marching in union parades RETIREE news views and protest rallies stimulates both the body and the mind. Attending Published bi-monthly by the Retiree Division of Local 237, International Brotherhood our various heritage celebrations adds culture and camaraderie to the of Teamsters (USPS 013028). Periodicals postage paid at New York, NY. Postmaster: Send address changes to: RETIREE News & Views, 216 West 14 Street, healthy mix. New York, NY 10011 212-807-0555, [email protected], www.local237.org Stretch your brain power at home by staying abreast of social and political issues, volunteering for a cause, or mentoring a student. Play - GREGORY FLOYD PATRICIA STRYKER ing cards and board games are good brain exercises, and so is surfing President Recording Secretary the internet. Sign onto Local 237’s website at www.local237.org RICHARD HENDERSHOT NANCY B. TRUE
& May/June 2013 RETIREE news views 3 A Study in Leadership n orientation meeting was held at Pictured here, Local 237 headquarters for retirees from the left, are James Awho have a leadership role in neigh - Henning, chairman, borhood groups and special committees. The Brooklyn group; Ce - meeting, held May 10, focused on leadership jester Walker, chair - skills, including effective ways to build group man, Bronx group; attendance, participation and cohesiveness. Nancy B. True, direc - Organized by Winston George, deputy tor, Retiree Division; director of the Division, the orientation of - Winston A. George, fered newly elected group leaders the oppor - deputy director; Susan Retiree leaders join Retiree Division staff at union headquarters for an tunity to explore ways to conduct successful Milisits, assistant direc - orientation on leadership skills. meetings and generate enthusiasm and moti - tor; Charles W. Thompson, vice-chairman, land group; Barbara Hazelwood, chair - vation among participants. Brooklyn group; Carolyn Whitley, chairwoman, woman, Education Committee; and Helen Neighborhood group meetings are held Activities Committee; and Angel Berenguel, Mashburn, chairwoman, Sunshine Club. The in Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, Staten Is - vice-chairman, Queens group. Staten Island group is currently recruiting land and Long Island. There are three Special Retiree leaders who were unable to at - members and a leader. Group leaders are usu - Committees, including the Sunshine Club, tend included Leroy Nias, vice-chairman, ally elected for a two-year term. the Education Committee and the Activities Bronx group; Wayne Overton, chairman, The informative meeting was followed by Committee. Queens group; Al Lindsay, chairman, Long Is - a delicious luncheon. Let’s Break This ‘CPI’ Chain! ocial Security is under attack, this time by course of retirement. bad ones floated in Washington as a way to the White House. In the interest of reach - The new chained CPI-U would measure build Social Security reserves. But there are Sing a bipartisan agreement on deficit re - the typical purchases made by all urban con - better ways to strengthen Social Security, the duction and the 2014 budget, President Obama sumers, including retirees. The current index, most significant source of income for many re - has proposed using a different Consumer Price the CPI-W, tracks typical purchases made by tired Americans. One sure way is to eliminate Index (CPI) to slow down the rate of the an - a sample of urban workers, not including re - the cap of $113,700, on which earnings are nual Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA). This tirees. The chained CPI-U, takes into account taxed. change would result in reduced purchasing the fact that consumers often substitute Local 237’s Retiree Division, along with power for retirees over time, as prices continue cheaper items for expensive ones when prices many activist groups nationwide, are leading to rise on everything, especially health care. rise. But neither measure accounts for the a massive crusade to contact the White House Starting in 2015, the proposed new higher out-of-pocket health care costs that re - and Congress to say “No” to the Chained CPI measure of inflation, known as the chained tirees face and cannot substitute. plan and to any cuts to Social Security. Call CPI-U, would lower the COLA by about 0.3 The irony of proposing the chained CPI as the White House at 202-456-1414, and call percentage point each year, according to The part of the budget process is that Social Secu - U.S. senators and representatives at 202-224- New York Times. While this cut may seem rity does not contribute to the national debt. It 3121, and say you oppose the chained CPI be - nominal, compounding over time would re - is self-financed by employer and employee cause it cuts the Social Security benefits you sult in a loss of thousands of dollars over the contributions. This proposal is among many worked so hard to earn. Faces of Social Security
committee member, a liaison for supervisor of grounds, and a fellow at Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations. In re - ROBERT CAMACHO tirement, Camacho remains active on his Community Board in Bush - wick, Brooklyn, and as vice-chairman on the board of a day-care center Retired Supervisor of Grounds, in the community. Astoria Houses, Queens Thanks to Social Security and his pension, says Camacho, he has twist of fate took a young man, been able to keep his home and take care of his family. He purchased Robert Camacho, from his position as the home from his late father and lives there with his wife, youngest A supervisor of grounds at Astoria daughter, who graduates from high school in June and his sister, a jun - Houses in Queens, into early retirement on ior at Wheaton College with a full Bill Gates scholarship. His daugh - disability. Camacho hurt his back while push - ter received Social Security benefits until recently when she turned 18. ing salt and sand on the job in 2008 and was reinjured in 2009. Since “Without Social Security we couldn’t survive,” says Camacho, joking, 2010, he has been living on the modest income provided by his pen - “I would be the next one robbing the bank to pay the mortgage, or I sion and Social Security. would have to apply for public housing.” During his 14 years of service with the New York City Housing Recently, Camacho’s home-insurance rate went up. “Everything Authority, Camacho, 52 years old, was an especially active union mem - is going up,” he notes, “but my income went from $65,000 as a full- ber. He served as a shop steward at Brevoort Houses in Brooklyn, a time worker with overtime to only $32,000 in retirement. We need a delegate for Local 237 at two Teamster conventions, a negotiating raise in Social Security, not cuts to COLA.” N&V May/June:News&Views 5/30/13 11:46 AM Page 4
RETIREE NEWS & VIEWS Sign Up for Friday Alerts 216 West 14 Street PERIODICALS New York, NY 10011 POSTAGE The Alliance for Retired PAID AT Americans offers free e- NEW YORK, NY mail updates and Friday Alerts with important news for retirees. To sign up for the e-mail service, go to www.retiredamericans.org and enter your e-mail ad - dress and zip code in the blanks provided, then hit Affiliate of “submit.” Wait a few sec - onds until you see the “sign up successful” notice, and youʼre done! MAY/JUNE 2013 On a personal note... Teamster Tot Happy belated birthday to Ulric E. Plaskett Sr. , who celebrated his 87th birthday on May 4. Sarah Bligh-Cox Plaskett retired from Jacobi Medical Center where he served 23 years as a hospital police officer. “Sarah is our little princess,” say Dennis Best wishes for continued recovery to Dabney Montgomery , former housing assistant and and Margaret Bligh of their granddaughter, who Tuskegee Airman, who is back home with his wife, Amelia, following a hospital stay. will be 7 in August. Grandfather Bligh is a re - tired maintenance worker with 24 years of serv - Congratulations to Olivia Majette , on the achievements of her grandson, Christopher ice at NYCHA. Sarah and her mom, Kristal, live Lynn-Logue, who graduated in May from New York University’s Silver School of Social Work with the Blighs, who also with a master’s degree. In addition, Lynn-Logue received the Excellence in Leadership Award have two teenage grand - for his service as president of the Graduate Student Association. children. One will gradu - ate from high school in Caps off to Joseph Adams, retired school safety agent, who graduated with a Bachelor’s De - June and the other gradu - gree from the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, where he was also accepted into the grad - ated last year. uate program come September. Sarah, who is in first grade, is already We extend our condolences to… quite the athlete. She won a track …the family of Ernest Holley , a retired maintenance worker, who died on March 22. Holley, marathon in kindergarten after running who worked at Drew Hamilton Houses in Manhattan, is survived by his partner, Tanya Estrada, 15 laps, say her proud grandparents. his brother Melvin, and sister Lorraine Gilmore. The funeral service was held in Manhattan. “It’s great to spend quality time with my children.” says Bligh, adding, “It helps …the family of Irene McDowell , a retired New York City Housing Authority employee, who to have my Teamster retirement benefits. died on March 18. McDowell is survived by three sisters, Ruth Reddick, Anna Williams and I hope Sarah is as fortunate.” Lula Powell.
…Lance Zavin , retired NYCHA manager and former chairman of the Bronx/Westchester re - One Proud Mom tirees group, on the death of his mother, Anna Zavin, on April 19 at the age of 99. She received many commendations as a community activist. Oren True Herzenberg, shown with his mother, Nancy B. True, Retiree Division direc - tor, graduated May 23 from City to Audit Data on Medical Dependents Stevens Insti - The Office of Labor Relations (OLR) for the City of New York will conduct a dependency tute of Tech - audit for every city employee and retiree that has medical coverage provided by the city. The city nology in wants to determine that every individual enrolled as a dependent is eligible for coverage. Hoboken, N.J. In the coming weeks, every active and retired city employee will receive a mailing from with a Bache - the OLR requesting verification of information regarding covered dependents. These re - lor of Science quests should not be disregarded. Failure to respond to the city’s request for verification may degree in busi - result in loss of medical coverage for family members, even if they are eligible for coverage. ness and tech - This audit is being conducted by the city and the OLR. Any questions on the audit and nology. He also verification of eligible dependents should be addressed directly to: The Office of Labor Re - began a new lations, 40 Rector Street, New York, NY 10006 . A phone line dedicated to inquiries about job just days after graduating. True, a proud the audit will be provided in the city’s mailing to active and retired employees. The city will mom and union member, says she often re - also provide a website to enable you to respond to the inquiry online. minds her son, “You’re a Teamster baby and you have 9,000 grandparents.”