Activist Retirees Lobby, Demonstrate in D.C.
The Alliance for Retired Americans, formerly the National Council of Senior Citizens, held its first national conference Sept. 3-5 in Washington, D.C. The group’s 2.5 million membership of mostly retired union workers advocates for key retiree and social issues.
UAW President Ron Gettelfinger, who serves on the ARA’s board, addressed the nearly 1,000 ARA activists who attended the conference, saying, “The essence of our democracy is about making sure that our government listens to the concerns of the American people. But it’s our job to make sure that our elected representatives do more than just listen. They should be representing our interests.”
Conference attendees lobbied members of Congress and capped the event with a march through downtown Washington to the headquarters of Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, the industry’s lobbying group, to protest high prescription drug prices.
Former UAW Secretary-Treasurer Ruben Burks now holds that same position with the ARA. Another retired UAW member, Tony Fransetta, president of the Florida ARA, says the ARA’s goals include “prescription drug coverage under Medicare, protecting and enhancing Social Security, improving Medicare and a patient’s Bill of Rights.” The group is also interested in “education and things that affect children and other social issues.”
He says the alliance intends “to go beyond union members and bring in community-based members so the messages that we all have in common can be furthered.”
Fransetta worked for 34 years at Ford’s Cleveland Engine and Foundry Plant (Local 1250). He retired in 1990.
For more information on the ARA, check out its Web site, retiredamericans.org.
