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Alliance for Retired Americans Friday Alert 4-25-14

Headlines:
Another Survey Suggests U.S. Middle Class is Falling Behind
California City Tries to Skip Legally Required Pension System Payments
Social Security to Bring Back Paper Benefits Statements
America’s Fastest-Growing Retirement Places
Fiesta Addresses Connecticut Alliance
Ryan Budget or another Topic on Your Mind? Write a Letter to the Editor, Win a Pen!
Only Three More Days until the National Membership Convention in Las Vegas

Another Survey Suggests U.S. Middle Class is Falling Behind
While income gains for the richest Americans are outpacing their global peers, The New York Times reports that lower- and middle- income tiers in other advanced nations have made greater gains over the last three decades. “The new data about the middle class underscores the growing importance of expanding Social Security,” said Richard Fiesta, Executive Director for the Alliance. “Many seniors are just barely able to remain above the poverty line.” Read more about shifting incomes in the U.S. at http://nyti.ms/1k7bhrS.

Earlier this week, the American Federation of Teachers hosted a discussion with former Rolling Stone political reporter Matt Taibbi in Washington. The discussion drew attention to the struggles of the middle class as Wall Street continues to make gains. Taibbi has written extensively on the role of Wall Street firms in recent financial crises and has examined Wall Street’s attempts to loot millions from public pension funds across the country. “Essentially it is a wealth transfer from teachers, cops, and firemen to billionaire hedge funders,” says Taibbi. “Pension funds are one of the last great, unguarded piles of money in this country and there are going to be all sort of operators that are trying to get their hands on that money.”

California City Tries to Skip Legally Required Pension System Payments
In an effort to cut expenditures during bankruptcy negotiations, the city of San Bernardino, California is asking to pay only a fraction of $17 million in back payments and penalties it failed to make to Calpers, the agency that administers the California state pension system. If successful, the move could have ripple effects across the country, as cash strapped cities use bankruptcy proceedings to delay or withhold required pension fund payments. State law in California mandates that cities contribute full payments to the pension system on time and that workers’ benefits cannot be reduced. The city is claiming, however, that federal bankruptcy law trumps state law and allows the city to treat payments to Calpers as they would obligations to other creditors. If mediation between the city and Calpers is unsuccessful, the issue may ultimately be decided in court. “San Bernardino is trying to set a dangerous precedent,” said Ruben Burks, Secretary-Treasurer for the Alliance. “Allowing cities to skip legally mandated pension payments undermines the hard-earned retirement security of workers across the country.” Read more at http://nyti.ms/1hd8uNV.

Social Security to Bring Back Paper Benefits Statements
The Social Security Administration has announced that it will partially resume mailings of Social Security benefits statements. The agency had previously switched to an online system and ended most benefit statement mailings in 2011, in response to budget constraints.  Under the new rules, workers who have not signed up to receive online statements will begin receiving mailed statements every five years. It is argued that paper statements are helpful for letting workers know how benefits are calculated and how much they can expect in future payments. Since low-income and immigrant workers are less likely to have internet access than the general population, it has been argued that the switch to digital statements has left a disproportionate number of those most reliant on Social Security with little information about the program.

“This is an important change that will let more people track what they have paid into the program and understand the benefits they have earned,” said Barbara J. Easterling, President of the Alliance. More about the change here: http://reut.rs/1kXJBqH.

America’s Fastest-Growing Retirement Places
A survey of recent census data shows that Phoenix, Arizona and Portland, Oregon have the fastest growing retirement age populations of any major metropolitan areas in the country, with many other warm metro areas, such as Las Vegas, Nevada; Raleigh, North Carolina; and Jacksonville, Florida also in the top 10. The website www.Nerdwallet.com analyzed the data. While in the past seniors have tended to move to smaller cities and rural areas with a lower cost of living, it appears that metropolitan areas with relatively warm winters are becoming a more attractive option. For more detailed results, go to http://tinyurl.com/mdt65rs.

“It looks like seniors are headed to cities where they don’t have to shovel their driveways every morning in the winter,” said Ms. Easterling.

Fiesta Addresses Connecticut Alliance
Mr. Fiesta was in Southington, Connecticut on Monday to speak at the Connecticut Alliance Annual Fundraiser Luncheon. One hundred and forty people attended the event, marking the tremendous growth of the organization. On Wednesday, the group held its senior day at the state capitol.

Ryan Budget or another Topic on Your Mind? Write a Letter to the Editor, Win a Pen!
If you want others to know about the Ryan budget, pensions, or another topic, take a moment and start writing. If your submission is published, the Alliance will send you a free, union-made “Retirees with the Write Stuff” pen. Most recently, Barry Andrews, Wayne Burton, Frank Copple, Bob Dougherty, Mike Doyle, Raymond Ensher, Merry Foxworth, Morris Fried, Jim Hagerty, Win Heimer, Jenny Kenny, Jeanne Larson, Elayne Lastofka, Bette Marafino, Dave Meinell, Al Mumm, Mike Pyne, Robert Reinhold, Suzanne Reinhold, Martin Walsh, Norm Wernet, and Rufus Wesley contributed to the national dialogue. Please e-mail aracommunications@retiredamericans.org if you have had a letter published. “Letters to the editor are a fantastic way to get our message out,” said Mr. Burks.

Only Three More Days until the National Membership Convention in Las Vegas
Walk-ins are welcome at the Alliance for Retired Americans 2014 National Membership Convention at Bally’s Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, April 28 through May 1. Workshops are slated to include Building Coalitions; Voter Rights and Voter Protection; The Trans Pacific Partnership Exposed, and more! For more information - including airport shuttle deals for those attending and a list of union cabs in Las Vegas, go to http://bit.ly/1hYpj0g.

For a printable version of this document, go to http://bit.ly/1ntKGcb.

For the Alliance's Spanish language page, which includes last week's Friday Alert in Spanish, go to www.alianzadejubilados.org

Rock-Tenn negotiations

Alliance for Retired Americans Friday Alert 4-18-14

Headlines:
On Tax Day, Alliance Calls for End to Corporate Tax Loopholes
Social Security to Stop Collecting Relatives’ Old Debts by Intercepting Tax Refunds
City of Detroit Reaches Preliminary Bankruptcy Deal Involving Pensions
Corporate-Backed Debt Reduction Group Facing Money Troubles
Commemorations Mark Centennial of Ludlow Massacre
Fiesta Addresses Machinists
Just Over a Week until Start of National Membership Conference in Las Vegas

On Tax Day, Alliance Calls for End to Corporate Tax Loopholes
In honor of this week’s Tax Day, the Alliance asks members to contact Congress and demand the end of two huge tax loopholes that benefit giant corporations. Congress is expected to return from its break and take up a bill that would renew $80 billion in tax breaks for corporations that move profits and jobs offshore. If you have not already done so, please sign the petition to Congress here: http://bit.ly/1gyoMgp. While corporations were dodging taxes, their CEO’s were taking in outrageous salaries. Find out how much CEO’s are making compared to workers at the AFL-CIO’s Executive Paywatch site: http://bit.ly/1jL2ZG7.

“If we can get Congress to end these loopholes, we'll be taking a tremendous step, and showing elected officials that we're watching to see if they're supporting the biggest corporations – or the people they represent,” said Richard Fiesta, Executive Director of the Alliance.

Social Security to Stop Collecting Relatives’ Old Debts by Intercepting Tax Refunds
In the wake of revelations about its efforts to collect on old debts, Acting Social Security Administration Commissioner Carolyn Colvin announced that the agency will stop attempts to collect taxpayer debts dating back more than 10 years. The Washington Post revealed that thousands of taxpayers expecting refund checks had received letters informing them that the Treasury Department had intercepted their refunds in order to cover debts that many of them never knew existed. The debts, often incurred by parents, were the result of Social Security benefit over-payments, sometimes dating back decades.  This debt collection effort was the result of a provision placed into the farm bill three years ago.

The decision to suspend collection came after hundreds of taxpayers, whose refund checks had been intercepted, contacted members of Congress complaining that they been given no notification of the debt and no explanation as to why they were responsible for the debts of their deceased parents. For more details on the announcement go here: http://wapo.st/1mdGYk6.

“It doesn’t make sense for the Social Security Administration to confiscate taxpayers’ refunds to cover old debts created by their relatives,” said Barbara J. Easterling, President of the Alliance. 

City of Detroit Reaches Preliminary Bankruptcy Deal Involving Pensions
On Tuesday, Detroit’s emergency manager Kevyn Orr announced that deals had been reached on pension cuts for 23,000 workers and retirees. The city of Detroit is currently attempting to emerge from the largest municipal bankruptcy in the nation’s history, and pension cuts have been proposed as a step towards addressing the city’s $10 billion in unfunded liabilities. The first agreement, with the Retired Detroit Police and Fire Fighters Association, would avoid cuts to current pension benefits altogether but involve a nearly 50% reduction in cost of living increases. The other agreement, with the General Retirement System, would involve a 4.5% reduction in benefits and the complete loss of cost-of-living adjustments. Though painful, the cuts are significantly less severe than Mr. Orr’s original plan, which would have seen cuts of up to 34% for most retirees and 14% for police and fire workers. The pension deals are in part the result of $816 million in funding provided by the state, private foundations, and the transfer of city-owned artwork to the Detroit Institute of Arts. Workers and retirees affected by the agreements will still have to approve the measures before they go into effect.

Corporate-Backed Debt Reduction Group Facing Money Troubles
Politico reports that The Fix the Debt Coalition, a group calling for debt reduction through cuts to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, is itself exhibiting signs of increasing financial strain. The organization recently terminated a year long, $200,000 relationship with Mehlman Vogel and Castagnetti, a DC lobbying firm. This is the second firm the Fix the Debt Coalition has dropped in the last month and comes on the heels of revelations of financial trouble at the organization earlier this year.

“Clearly, people value their Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid benefits enormously,” said Ruben Burks, Secretary-Treasurer of the Alliance. “I believe the leaders of ‘Fix the Debt’ under-estimated the importance of those programs to millions of seniors when they set out to cut them.”

Commemorations Mark Centennial of Ludlow Massacre
Sunday will mark the 100th anniversary of the Ludlow Massacre, the most violent incident of the southern Colorado Coal Strike and an event seen as a turning point in the American labor movement. The Massacre occurred after striking miners organized by the United Mine Workers of America were evicted from company-owned housing and took up residence in tents just outside of Ludlow, Colorado. On April 20th, 1914, Colorado militiamen, company guards, and hired strike breakers began firing on the camp and setting the striking miners’ tents on fire. During the Massacre, at least 20 people were killed, including a group of women and children who suffocated when the tent in which they had taken shelter went up in flames. The horror is widely seen as bringing increased national attention to labor issues, including working conditions, safety, and worker representation. In commemoration of the Massacre’s centennial, events are being held throughout Colorado. To get involved, you can find a complete listing of these events at http://bit.ly/1r2q6gx. You can connect to the Ludlow Centennial Commemoration on Facebook and learn more about the fallen miners and their families at https://www.facebook.com/Ludlow100. Alliance member Dennis Creese recently covered the issue on KGNU at http://bit.ly/RsMF3K.

Fiesta Addresses Machinists
Mr. Fiesta was in Placid Harbor, Maryland on Wednesday to speak at the Machinists Union Political Training and Education Seminar.

Just Over a Week until Start of National Membership Conference in Las Vegas
It is not too late to register for the Alliance for Retired Americans 2014 National Membership Convention at Bally’s Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, April 28 through May 1. Workshops are slated to include State Battles: Fighting Back Against ALEC (the American Legislative Exchange Council); Seniors/Retirees Re-entering the Workforce; Messaging for the 2014 Midterm Elections and Beyond; and several others! More info is at http://bit.ly/1hYpj0g.

For a printable version of this document, go to http://tinyurl.com/pysgs9n .

For the Alliance's Spanish language page, which includes last week's Friday Alert in Spanish, go to www.alianzadejubilados.org

Alliance for Retired Americans Friday Alert 4-11-14

Headlines:
U.S. House Approves Ryan Budget that Slashes Medicare
Sebelius Steps Down as Secretary of Health and Human Services
GOP Pursuing New Voter Restrictions in Swing States
Ohio Alliance Holds its Convention
Fiesta Travels to Mass. and Michigan to Discuss a New Chapter, Attend Convention
Alliance’s National Convention is April 28 – May 1, 2014 at Bally's Hotel Las Vegas

U.S. House Approves Ryan Budget that Slashes Medicare
In a nearly party-line vote, the Republican-led House of Representatives voted 219-205 on Thursday to approve a 2015 budget plan unveiled last week by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI), Chairman of the House Budget Committee. Ryan’s plan would make sharp cuts to Medicare, as well as other domestic programs such as Medicaid and food stamps, while lowering taxes for corporations and high income individuals. It would also repeal the Affordable Care Act. All of the House Democrats and twelve Republicans voted against the plan. It offers a vision of Republican budget priorities heading into this year’s mid-term elections. For a tally of the vote, go to http://tinyurl.com/krjj3em.

Ryan’s plan would give seniors a coupon to pay for Medicare, cutting benefits and shifting costs to retirees. A voucher would give seniors a fixed amount to purchase a plan, forcing them to cover the difference between the amount of the voucher and the actual cost of the plan. According to the Congressional Budget Office, premiums for traditional Medicare under Ryan’s proposal would be 50% higher than current projections by 2020. Yearly increases in voucher amounts are also not expected to keep pace with growth in health care costs, forcing seniors to cover an increasing proportion of health costs over time. Alliance members had sent more than 10,500 letters to their U.S. Representatives just this week urging them not to support Ryan’s budget. If you did not yet send a letter and still want to contact Congress, go to http://tinyurl.com/nkys839.

“Seniors hope that Thursday’s vote shows the public what would happen if the Ryan budget were to be passed by the U.S. Senate: they would pay dearly,” said Richard Fiesta, Executive Director of the Alliance.

“Ryan’s dangerous budget proposal would end the Medicare guarantee and cause seniors’ out of pocket health expenses to skyrocket,” added Ruben Burks, Secretary-Treasurer of the Alliance.

To see the Alliance press release about the House action, go to http://tinyurl.com/ls9x27p. For a breakdown of what the Ryan budget would mean for each state, go to http://tinyurl.com/m93ttam.

Sebelius Steps Down as Secretary of Health and Human Services
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius is resigning. President Obama will nominate OMB Director Sylvia Mathews Burwell to follow her. “We are grateful to Secretary Sebelius for overseeing HHS during such a challenging time for our nation’s health care policy, and for all the Alliance events she attended,” said Mr. Fiesta.

GOP Pursuing New Voter Restrictions in Swing States
Republican-controlled governments in swing states like Ohio, North Carolina, and Wisconsin are pursuing a variety of new, restrictive voting rules that go even further than recently enacted voter identification laws, according to The New York Times. The new rules would limit early voting days, place limits on weekend voting, and make it more difficult to register, vote absentee, or use provisional ballots. In total, nine states have passed measures making it more difficult to vote since the start of 2013. The new restrictions come in the wake of a 2013 Supreme Court decision which struck down central provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The decision allowed a number of mostly Southern states to modify election laws without receiving prior approval from the Justice Department. Read more about the new limits in the Times here: http://tinyurl.com/n4a9572.

Democrats and opponents of the measures say that the changes are designed to give the GOP an electoral advantage. The groups most affected by the changes are expected to be minorities and low-income urban voters, core Democratic constituencies. Democrats have responded by filing lawsuits in states like North Carolina and Texas in an effort to keep the new rules from taking effect.

“These new restrictions threaten the fundamental right of Americans to make their voices heard at the ballot box,” said Barbara J. Easterling, President of the Alliance. “They certainly place additional burdens on seniors.”

Ohio Alliance Holds its Convention
The Ohio Alliance for Retired American Educational Fund convention took place on Tuesday. A state chapter-record 175 active, engaged retirees were in attendance.  They heard a rousing call to action from Ohio AFL-CIO President Tim Burga, followed by a release of the first-ever Ohio General Assembly Voting. The convention also addressed Governor John Kasich’s (R) tax shift and the recent round of voter suppression bills. As the day concluded, there was a brief presentation by Wynne Antonio, Retiree Council Coordinator at the North Shore AFL-CIO, about how to set up a speakers bureau.

Fiesta Travels to Mass. and Michigan to Discuss a New Chapter, Attend Convention
Mr. Fiesta traveled to Massachusetts on Monday for discussions about building a future Massachusetts Alliance for Retired Americans chapter.

Fiesta was in Warren, Michigan on Wednesday for the Michigan Alliance’s biannual convention.  150 people attended, marking the tremendous growth of the organization.  Re-elected to the Michigan Alliance Executive Board were: Dick Long, President; Henry Lykes, Executive Vice President; Judy Foster, 1st Vice President; Charlie Robinson, Treasurer; and Richard McInerney, Secretary.

Alliance’s National Convention is April 28 – May 1, 2014 at Bally's Hotel Las Vegas
It is not too late to register for the Alliance for Retired Americans 2014 National Membership Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada, April 28 through May 1. Speakers include Linda Chavez-Thompson, former Executive Vice-President of the AFL-CIO; Carolyn W. Colvin, Acting Commissioner of Social Security; J. David Cox, President of the American Federation of Government Employees; Lee Saunders, President of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME); Liz Shuler, Alliance Executive Vice President and Secretary-Treasurer of the AFL-CIO; and many others. Workshops are slated to include Building Coalitions; Voter Rights and Voter Protection; The Trans Pacific Partnership Exposed; and more! Additional info is at http://bit.ly/1hYpj0g.

For a printable version of this document, go to http://bit.ly/1esnvMP.

For the Alliance's Spanish language page, which includes last week's Friday Alert in Spanish, go to www.alianzadejubilados.org

NIPSCO Tired Of Good Public Relations?

The following comes from the USW Local 12775 web site:

"2014 Negotiations Update # 11, April 10.

Our members will want to be aware that company chief negotiator, Chris Smith, insulted our president to the rest of our main negotiating team. This, after waiting for him to leave the room: a gutless attempt to divide the committee. He was reacting to our president vigorously defending the pension and benefits of our union. Mr. Smith's comments were completely uncalled for. The committee let him know, with no uncertainty, that if our president's passion bothered him, "he ain't seen nothing yet", and that we are "100% behind him."

 That said, the main committee met this morning and into the evening today. The union made another counter proposal related to bidding rights and job families. The union is committed to giving as much opportunity as possible in their careers at Nipsco, while recognizing the legitimate business needs of the company, and the desire of our members to advance their careers.

 The union also presented all of the details of proposals to improve the benefits including vacation, sick leave, healthcare, and pension (including retirees). The company will evaluate and respond tomorrow (hopefully).

 The union generation committee countered a company proposal today regarding overtime schedules for outage work. They meet tomorrow as well.

 The field operations committees met and had productive discussions on overtime response, and job duties. All committees meet again tomorrow.

 Let's get as many "likes" and "shares" as we can. The company views our updates as well. Let's show them we are unified!"
This last sentence refers to the United Steelworkers Local 12775 Facebook page. If you have a Facebook account, please go their page and "like" it and share their posts.
Thanks.
 

Alliance for Retired Americans Friday Alert 4-4-14

Headlines:
Paul Ryan’s April Fools’ Day Budget Would Cut Medicare Dramatically;
Alliance co-hosts Conference Call, Members Rally to Increase the Minimum Wage;Affordable Senior Health Insurance to Supplement Medicare - Annual Open Enrollment Period Extended Until April 30, 2014!;
Florida Alliance Members Meet to Address the State’s Severe Economic Problems;
Fiesta Speaks to Teachers in New York;
Alliance’s National Convention is April 28 – May 1, 2014 at Bally's Hotel Las Vegas





Paul Ryan’s April Fools’ Day Budget Would Cut Medicare Dramatically
On Tuesday, House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI) released another Republican budget proposal - this one for the 2015 fiscal year - that would slash programs that benefit seniors in order to cut taxes for corporations and high income earners. Aiming to eliminate the federal deficit within the next 10 years, Ryan’s proposal would again end the Medicare guarantee by privatizing Medicare and replacing it with a voucher system. Since vouchers would likely not pay for the full cost of coverage, millions of seniors would be forced to pay more out of pocket. In addition, Rep. Ryan’s budget would repeal the Affordable Care Act, forcing seniors to pay more for preventive health services and prescription drugs.  Ryan’s budget also slashes critical parts of the federal safety net important to working families and includes cuts to Medicaid and food stamps.

Richard Fiesta, Executive Director for the Alliance pointed out, “This year, Chairman Ryan did add something new, but it is erroneous. He is saying that the Social Security Trust Fund is not a real savings account – questioning the value of U.S. bonds. In 1936, Alf Landon made the same charge when he was the presidential nominee, and the sentiment is as wrong now as it was then.”

While Ryan’s proposal calls for painful cuts to domestic programs, it includes tax cuts for corporations and high income earners. The Ryan budget would reduce the top individual and corporate tax rates to 25%. Ryan’s budget is expected to be met with intense opposition from Democratic lawmakers opposed to the changes and from hardline Republicans looking to make even deeper cuts. Although it is unclear whether Ryan’s proposal will ever come to a vote, it is widely seen as a statement of principles emphasizing Republican budget priorities heading into the upcoming election season. See the Alliance’s reaction to the proposal at http://tinyurl.com/khutm24.

Alliance co-hosts Conference Call, Members Rally to Increase the Minimum Wage
On Wednesday, Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ), co-chair of the House Progressive Caucus, joined the Alliance and Social Security Works for a tele-press conference discussing new research that shows restoring the minimum wage to its 1968 level would enhance Social Security protections for low-income workers and shore up the program’s finances. Midge Slater, Organizer for the Iowa Alliance, joined the call, noting that since Social Security benefits are tied to earnings, women would particularly benefit from an increase in the minimum wage. That is because their lifetime earnings are frequently affected by lower wages and family care time spent out of the work force. You can hear the content of the call on YouTube by going to http://tinyurl.com/jwrm7rm. For a summary of the research, go to http://tinyurl.com/pg9pa25.

“Raising the minimum wage will reduce income inequality and help ensure the stability of the program in the future,” said Barbara J. Easterling, President of the Alliance.

On Thursday, the “Give America a Raise” bus tour rolled into the nation’s capital, drawing attention to the fact that too many American workers struggle to survive on $15,000 a year. Several Alliance members joined Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (NV), House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (CA), U.S. Labor Secretary Thomas Perez, U.S. Sens. Tom Harkin (IA) and Al Franken (MN), U.S. Rep. George Miller (CA), AFSCME President Lee Saunders, Alliance Executive Vice President/AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Liz Shuler, and others in saying that the minimum wage must be raised to $10.10 per hour. Video from the event is at http://tinyurl.com/k2hdwtb.

“The better your working life is, the better your retirement will be,” said Ruben Burks, Secretary-Treasurer of the Alliance.

Affordable Senior Health Insurance to Supplement Medicare - Annual Open Enrollment Period Extended Until April 30, 2014!
Are you a union retiree or spouse?  Did you know you are eligible for affordable supplemental insurance to Medicare exclusively endorsed by the Alliance?  The Union Retiree Health Plan offers several options to fit your budget and is proud to announce the program’s most competitive rates ever!  Due to an overwhelming response, this year’s Open Enrollment Period has been extended until April 30, 2014.  During this period, Medicare-eligible union retirees and spouses are guaranteed acceptance without waiting periods, regardless of preexisting health conditions.  If you are not one of the thousands of your fellow members currently benefiting from the Union Retiree Health Plan, now is the best time to enroll!  Already enrolled?  Tell your friends!  Enrollment is easy.  For more information, please call 1-855-733-0557 today! 

Florida Alliance Members Meet to Address the State’s Severe Economic Problems
The Florida Alliance for Retired Americans held its Legislative Conference and Quarterly Executive Board Meeting on Monday and Tuesday in Tallahassee. Eva Dominguez, Legislative Representative, represented the National Alliance. A press conference inside the state capitol focused on housing and grandparents' rights. Attendees also addressed several other issues over the two days, including many economic factors that severely limit Florida’s desirability for people who are looking to relocate (http://bit.ly/1laM8wT).

Fiesta Speaks to Teachers in New York
Mr. Fiesta is in New York City today to address New York State United Teachers conference. The event is designed to give Local and Retiree Council Presidents the tools they need to strengthen their locals, build solidarity and mobilize for the future.

Alliance’s National Convention is April 28 – May 1, 2014 at Bally's Hotel Las Vegas
It is not too late to register for the Alliance for Retired Americans 2014 National Membership Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada, April 28 through May 1. Workshops are slated to include State Battles: Fighting Back Against ALEC (the American Legislative Exchange Council); Seniors/Retirees Re-entering the Workforce; Messaging for the 2014 Midterm Elections and Beyond; and several others! More info is at http://bit.ly/1hYpj0g. Delegates registered to attend may offer or second a resolution for consideration. It must pertain to a statement of the Alliance’s position or policy on a specific matter and be sent to Resolutions2014@retiredamericans.org. Resolutions and seconds must be received by the Alliance by April 8, 2014.

For a printable version of this document, go to http://tinyurl.com/pqadrsr.

For the Alliance's Spanish language page, which includes last week's Friday Alert in Spanish, go to www.alianzadejubilados.org

Anti-Unionol now available