Union retirees and other seniors plan to show up in force at an Aug. 29 meeting of the Democratic National Committee in Minneapolis and demand that party leaders do more to address older adults’ concerns.
The Minnesota State Retiree Council, AFL-CIO, is urging seniors from across the region to attend the DNC Seniors Coordinating Council meeting and share their concerns about the need to strengthen Social Security, improve Medicare and assure a dignified retirement for all, including coming generations.
“Let’s show up Aug. 29 and make our voices heard,” Retiree Council President Bill Moore said. “This isn’t just a union thing. Ten thousand Baby Boomers a day are reaching age 65! Strengthening Social Security and Medicare is important to us all, and to our kids who’ll be helping us as we age and who themselves will grow old some day.”
The meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m. to noon at the Hilton Hotel, 1001 Marquette Ave. S., Minneapolis. Reduced rate parking will be available for seniors participating in the event, and car-pooling is encouraged.
“Politicians know that older adults vote, and they tend to take our support for granted. They need to understand that our issues matter,” Minnesota AFL-CIO President Shar Knutson said.
UPDATE 08/28 – The seniors are bringing along Franklin Delano Roosevelt … or at least an actor who will portray the president who signed Social Security into law 80 years ago. From a Minnesota AFL-CIO press release issued today:
An actor portraying former President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, will join union retirees and other seniors at a National Democratic Party meeting Saturday morning meeting in Minneapolis to urge party leaders to act on older adults’ concerns, especially strengthening Social Security and improving Medicare to assure a dignified retirement for all, including coming generations
FDR’s avatar will celebrate the Social Security Act, passed eighty years ago, as the most important social legislation in our country’s history and urge Democratic politicians to improve and safeguard it along with other benefit programs that help citizens, young and old, deal with the challenges of old age, disability and ill health…
Union Advocate 