There is now a new page available: November, 2016.
Last addition: Nov. 30
About
This website is maintained by and for the approximately 1000 members of AFSCME Retirees, Council 31, Subchapter 161, based in the northern suburbs of Chicago. Diane Stokes is President of the Subchapter. This site is maintained by the Communications Committee, John Metz, Chairman. Email communications may be addressed to: afscmeretirees161@gmail.com. Phone messages may be left at our voicemail number: (224) 366-7339.
(Revision version 0320)
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Useful Links for AFSCME Retirees
- AFSCME home page Updated regularly, much useful information
- AFSCME Works AFSCME WORKS is the official publication of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.
- Alliance for Retired Americans See weekly “Friday Alerts”, more
- Fred Klonsky's blog Daily posts from a retired public school teacher who is just looking at the data.
- Glen Brown Defending public pensions against fools, rogues, and oppressors since 2011.
- Illinois AFL-CIO
- Jane Addams Senior Caucus Jane Addams Senior Caucus is a multiracial, grassroots organization led by concerned seniors in the Chicago area.
- Jane Addams Senior Caucus: Caucus Connection Bi-Weekly Online Update from Jane Addams Senior Caucus
afscmeretirees161.com (version 0320) 
Hello everyone in UNION Sub-Local 161,.
At our Nov. 16th meeting I suggested a new strategy to protect our pensions & healthcare insurance.
Previously, with the best of intentions, our strategy has been a mile wide & 1/2 inch deep. We have been responding to initiatives by others & not initiating ourselves. We have been viewed by local political leaders & AFSCME upper management as grunt labor for the projects they decide to pursue. Examples include Jan Schakowski’s minions coming by to recruit us to work in her campaign & AFSCME leadership telling us who the union supports without any local polling of our opinions. e.g.Squigely Quigley. Count up our “friendly” local political leaders who regularly vote to cut our pensions & benefits. Our efforts to get rid of Rep Duncan need to be replicated close to home to replace at least one local Rep. or Senator with someone we trust.
Our local union people resources are limited and must be used wisely, nearest to us.
We need a single focus to all our efforts.
We need to find a local candidate who is pro-union & strongly committed to us before the campaigns begin.
Our focused efforts within one (1) local campaign reinforce our strength & unite all our issues.
I suggest local 161 authorizes a CAMPAIGN & CANDIDATE VETTING COMMITTEE to begin the process of finding a particular candidate & one local political office where & with whom we can best use our power to protect our pensions & healthcare insurance.
Dave Rolston
Member, Sub-Local 161
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