Information for Retired Members
Contact for Retirees: Lydia Canion, SEIU Staff, at (408) 678-3354 or
lydia.canion@seiu521.org
We have retiree chapters in the following counties:
- Fresno
- Kern
- Santa Clara
- Santa Cruz
First-year Activities: Retiree and Pension Issues
1. Retiree Committees
-Supported and developed existing retiree chapters into one Local 521 network of retiree groups.
-Organized and mobilized retirees for numerous political, legislative, and capital stewardship campaigns.
-Conducted targeted membership drives in Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, and Fresno.
-Won retiree endorsements on two capital stewardship measures.
-Educated retirees about Local and International campaigns.
-Establishing process with CalPERS to communicate with all Local 521 PERS retirees.
-Established automatic dues deduction for PERS retirees for the first time.
-Re-establish trust that the union cares about retirees, by assigning a Union support Staff person.
2. Bargaining and Membership Support
-Produced workshops on Social Security for retiree and members.
-Conducted analysis of San Mateo, Fresno, and Kern County pension plans.
-White paper on defined benefit versus defined contribution plan.
-Conducted pre-retirement CalPERS training for Morgan Hill Unified School District employees.
-Lobbied Kern County Board of Supervisors during contract negotiations.
-Conducted retirement benefit presentations for the City of San Mateo members.
-Supported worksite organizers and members on numerous retirement-related issues and questions.
-Conducted research on various questions about retirement benefits.
Capital Stewardship Program First-Year Highlights
1. Capital Stewardship/Pension Oversight
-Educated and integrated retirees and Local into International Capital Stewardship Program.
-Began building relationships with other major retiree groups in the state and organized support for Local 521/International campaigns.
-Coordinated and produced a '37 Act County Trustee Orientation in Fresno on April 29, 2008.
-Participated in 4 '37 Act County Pension Fund trustee campaigns, Bakersfield, Fresno, San Mateo and Stanislaus.
-Helped develop and contribute to a coalition around '37 Act County Pension Board issues, statewide.
-Lobbied CalPERS on pension investment decisions.
-Lobbied CalPERS in support of SEIU organizing campaigns.
-Lead the second largest SEIU "Global Day Of Justice" action.
-Mobilized members participation in an action at a KKR meeting site in San Diego, Spring 2008.
For more information and for help, please contact:
Lydia Canion, SEIU Staff, at (408) 678-3354 or
lydia.canion@seiu521.org