May-June 2019 Advisor

CEA RETIRED NEWS -

MAY–JUNE 2019 13

RETIRED TEACHERS A PRESENCE AT THE STATE CAPITOL Educating legislators about teacher pensions, healthcare, and more

In an overwhelming turnout for Retired Teachers Lobby Day, hundreds of former Connecticut educators gathered at the Legislative Office Building to meet with their elected officials about issues critical to public education and the teaching profession. Among the biggest of these were funding teacher pensions and avoiding a proposed cost shift. “We asked legislators to avoid any shift of the state’s responsibility to fund teacher pensions onto cities and towns,” said CEA-Retired member and legislative co-chair Karen O’Connell—a move she cautioned would have impacted education budgets, and in turn, students and teachers. O’Connell and legislative co-chair Myles Cohen said that Retired Teachers Lobby Day—a joint effort of CEA-Retired, the Association of Retired Teachers of Connecticut (ARTC), and AFT Connecticut— brings longtime educators and legislators face to face to discuss issues ranging from adequate funding of teachers’ retirement and healthcare benefits to the resources necessary to support public education. “Nationally,” Cohen explained, “teacher pensions have been under attack. There is a concerted effort to privatize teacher pensions, reduce benefits, and remove states’ requirements to meet their funding obligations. There are those who ask, ‘Why should you have a pension when I do not have a pension?’ Often people don’t realize that teachers don’t receive Social Security benefits.” Elections and activism took center stage at the CEA-Retired Spring Meeting at the Aqua Turf Club in Southington, where members voted for leaders to represent them and learned more about federal and state policy issues facing educators. CEA-Retired Vice President Bill Murray was elected president, succeeding Gloria Brown, who was unable to run again due to term limits. Brown was voted in as CEA- Retired vice president. Karen DiMenna will serve as secretary for another three years, and Mary-Beth Lang was elected treasurer. Brown, who received a standing ovation for her years of service, thanked members for giving her the opportunity to be their president. “I want you to know how much it has meant to me to be your president these last six years. It has been an honor and a joy. I’m grateful every day that we have a CEA-Retired organization that allows us to continue to be advocates after we retire.” Retirees also recognized Ina Smernoff for her six years as CEA- Retired treasurer. “You’ve elected an experienced team,” said Murray, who begins his term as president July 15. “As president, the first thing I’d like to

Murray met with Senator Julie Kushner, who serves on the Appropriations Committee and who took notes on his concerns about the teacher pension and the state income tax exclusion for retired teachers. Legislators listen CEA-Retired President Gloria Brown was one of five teachers who met with State Representative Rob Sampson for a discussion that lasted more than 30 minutes. Sampson, who has voted for and against various CEA priorities and received a 51 on the CEA Report Card, told the retired teachers he supports their issues. Representative Jane Garibay also made time to sit down with several retired teachers from her district. “I think it’s so important to hear from these experienced educators,” Garibay said. “They are here not only to protect their own interests but to speak out for current and future generations of teachers. I remember the days when, in Windsor, it took seven referendums to pass a budget. I became politically active then, because public education is what makes our country so great.” Garibay met with Windsor retired teacher Lisa Bress and Bloomfield retired teachers Patricia Pope, Dorothy Johnson, Barbara Roohr- Karas, and Rita Holby. Wearing a “Keep the Promise” baseball cap, Roohr-Karas said she wanted to ensure that the state honors its obligation to fund teachers’ retirement and health insurance. “This is all I have,” said Holby.

Members of the CEA-Retired Legislative Advisory Council prepare to meet with their elected officials at Retired Teachers Lobby Day.

“Teachers have been paying their fair share into the retirement system for years, and it’s time for the state to step up,” O’Connell added. “We needed to make sure our pensions were fully funded.” Communication is key Aside from protecting teachers’ pensions and healthcare, retired teacher Phyllis Winkler said what brought her to the capital city was the fact that “it’s so important to remember what our colleagues are doing in the classroom and the impact that legislation has on active teachers and on their students, as well as on retired teachers. If we don’t communicate with our legislators, then they will listen to other interests that are not necessarily aligned with public education.” see is continued increases in membership. I’m asking everyone to help recruit more members.” CEA President Jeff Leake told retired members that CEA is concentrating on the continuum of membership, which starts with aspiring educators, continues through educators’ years as active teachers in the classroom, and extends to membership in CEA- Retired. “We’re focusing on the importance of continuous involvement in the union,” Leake said, “and I look forward to working together with CEA-Retired members in the years ahead.” Continued advocacy CEA- Retired activism has included involvement in the political arena, and many members helped elect pro- education candidates last fall. Murray noted, “We won 11 out of 13 targeted seats in the state legislature, and a big part of that was due to the activism of retired members. We’re moving in the right direction—let’s continue to get more people involved.” Bob Brown, who serves on the CEA-Retired Legislative Commission and chairs CEA’s Political Action Committee, echoed the importance of members staying in touch with their legislators. He

Winkler’s husband, Rep. Michael Winkler, was one of the legislators who met with retired teachers. He represents the town of Vernon and who received an honor roll designation on CEA’s first-ever legislator report card, in 2018, for advocating on behalf of public school teachers and students. CEA-Retired Vice President Bill Murray said the value of turning out in force on Retired Teachers Lobby Day as well as making contact with legislators throughout the year is that, “When you talk to legislators, they get to know your issues. Don’t assume the average legislator understands how the teacher retirement system works. Many don’t. Making that face- to-face contact gets your concerns across.” noted the high turnout at Retired Teachers Lobby Day (see story, above) and urged members to keep the dialogue with lawmakers going. NEA lobbyist Dr. Sylvia Johnson discussed national issues of interest to educators and shared that NEA’s legislative priorities include education funding, immigration, the Equality Act, and the Higher Education Act. Retired members also heard from Helen Sullivan, who took over as the

CEA-Retired Members Elect New Leaders, Commit to Continued Activism

administrator of the Connecticut Teachers’ Retirement Board (TRB) a year ago. The TRB posts information and events to its Facebook page and has added a health insurance section to its website, at ct.gov/trb . “It’s very important that we keep everyone informed about what’s taking place at the TRB, and we appreciate your feedback,” Sullivan said. CEA-Retired members will hold their fall meeting September 23.

CEA-Retired members elected Mary-Beth Lang as treasurer, Bill Murray as president, Gloria Brown as vice president, and Karen DiMenna as secretary.