The West Bay Retirees chapter meets monthly, usually on the 3rd Monday of the month from noon until about 1:30pm.  (Meetings are usually moved to the following Monday if the 3rd Monday falls on a holiday.)  Since the COVID pandemic, we have been meeting by Zoom.  We have continued to meet by Zoom because that seems to work better for most of us.   For the past few years, we have enjoyed a live holiday lunch gathering in December. 

Our meetings include: 

• reports about changes, and sometimes changes being considered, re our pension system (SFERS) and retiree healthcare (HSS), and how to fight to protect them; 
• issues and campaigns impacting active employees that we may want to get involved in;    
• updates re the SF Committee on Political Education – we have 3 elected delegates to the San Francisco COPE committee (SF COPE);  
• updates from the Union’s Medicare for All Committee (Single Payer);
• as well as reports from SF Retiree organizations that include members of other unions.   

Sometimes we recommend that Local 1021, or SF COPE, take up campaigns that benefit our communities.    And many retirees throughout the Local participate in the political work of the union, as we work to elect candidates who will support  union values and the working class.   

We also support a number of important community organizations such as Laborfest, SF Senior and Disability Action, the Living Wage Coalition. and Jobs with Justice by going to their events when we can, and asking SEIU 1021 to support them with membership donations and participation from members still in the ranks of the working. 

SEIU 1021 is an affiliate of the California Alliance for Retired Americans (CARA), a statewide nonprofit that unites retired workers and community groups to win social and economic justice, full civil rights, and a better, more secure future for ourselves, our families, and future generations.  CARA is the body of the Alliance for Retired Americans, the AFL-CIO’s official retiree organization founded in 2003. 

Since our Local, SEIU 1021, pays to be an affiliate of CARA, all retirees can be members of CARA without paying an additional membership fee.   

CARA organizes regional Action Teams to plan rallies, meet with local legislative staffers, and organize campaigns. Their Senior Vote program is perhaps the most effective get-out-the-vote program in the state.  Check out their website for more information: CARA – California Alliance for Retired Americans 

Participation in our chapter is a great way for retirees to stay connected to others in the Union, without having the often negative requirement of working for a boss or supervisor.    

Membership dues for retirees are reduced to $3/month or $36/year.  During Union elections, we have the right to vote for a Retiree Council Chair who represents us on the Local 1021 Executive Board and convenes regular Local-wide retiree meetings with delegates from retiree chapters from many regions of the Local.  Our current Retiree Council Chair is Greg Marro. 

For those who choose to continue as SEIU members, there are membership benefits such as insurance, credit cards,  and discounts on travel and everyday items— at no cost or obligation — just for being an SEIU member!  Go to https://www.seiumb.com/  for details.  

We hope you will join us at the West Bay Retirees.  If you have questions, please contact Chapter President Ed Kinchley at edkinchley@comcast.net.