Current and Retired Public-Ed Employees - Time for Some Homework - Assignment #2

 

WHAT CAN YOU DO ABOUT IT?

            In Lesson 1, it was all about knowing the acronyms, an all-too-familiar requirement for public-ed employees. It seems like every new program—local, state, or federal—has an acronym. It’s kind of like living in a bowl of alphabet soup throughout your years in public ed.

            Now everyone should know the words that create the acronyms COLA and TRS and what they both mean to current and retired public-ed employees.  If not, be sure to return to Lesson 1 for re-teach.

            If you are a current public-ed employee, you may be wondering why YOU should be joining retired public-ed employees in our advocacy at the state and federal level. That’s an easy answer—because we’re fighting for YOUR future, too!  Whether you are a new public-ed employee or one nearing retirement, what happens today can make a big difference in what YOUR retirement looks like.

            If you are a retired public-ed employee, I shouldn’t have to tell you why YOU should be involved. Isn’t it crazy that, according to the TRS website, “We are the largest public retirement system in Texas, serving more than 1.6 million people.” Can you just imagine for a moment what would happen in Austin and in D.C. if anywhere close to 1.6 MILLION TRS members got involved at the state level, fighting for a COLA and health care at least equal to what our state legislators get when they retire, and at the federal level, fighting for Social Security Fairness?  Talk about a squeaky wheel!

Let’s start with current public-ed employees. 

·        Learn along with us so you can teach your coworkers. 

·         Join in when we have CALLS TO ACTION, contacting legislators at the state and federal level about specific topics that directly affect public-ed employees and retirees.

·         Follow this blog and my Facebook page and make sure you belong to an employee association or union that keeps you informed and encourages you to get involved.

·         Don’t sit back and wait for others to do it. Be part of the advocacy process!

 If you are a public-ed retiree, we desperately need you to get involved, too!

·             If you’re not already, become a member of TRTA, the Texas Retired Teachers Association, and look into joining a local chapter. Annual state dues are just $35, the same amount they were when I joined in 2014. Executive Director Tim Lee has been fighting for public-ed retirees (and all of you currently working who will retire one day) for years at both the state and federal level. As a member of TRTA, you also have access to special group rates for dental and vision insurance, among other benefits.

·             I also belong to Texas AFT Retiree Plus, which was established a few years ago to get public-ed retirees more involved in advocacy for better benefits and to have promises made to us--throughout our careers--fulfilled. This membership is $2 per month. You can include extra each month (I give $5 a month.) so those extra dollars go toward political advocacy. Like most professional organizations, they offer benefits, too.

·             You may want to look at other public-ed retiree organizations. Check them out and see which ones allow you to GET INVOLVED!  The louder we get, the better our chances of being heard and of affecting true change.

             This week, I finally cut the (cable) cord. Although an ATT customer for over 30 years, month after month, I saw my bills rise. DIRECTV had gotten prohibitive, especially when combined with the rising cost of gas and groceries. 

Remember, in the eight years I have been retired, I have NEVER received a COLA from the Texas Legislature. Those who retired long before me haven’t, either, so I can only imagine how much they struggle. I always think about my retired public-ed colleagues who earned significantly less than I did, wondering how they can possibly make ends meet at times like these.

I called and canceled my DIRECTV and went to a streaming service that is far less expensive but that still allows me to enjoy my must-have channels. THIS is just one more reason why our advocacy is so critical and why WE NEED YOU—NOW!

 

NEXT LESSON: What are WEP and GPO, and what will it take to get both repealed?

Chris Ardis retired in May of 2013 following a 29-year teaching career. She now works as a freelance writer and editor and is committed to education, educators, and students. Chris can be reached at cardis1022@aol.com. (Photo by Linda Blackwell, McAllen.)