Embracing New Technologies

(This article appeared in the January/February 2010 issue of The American Postal Worker magazine.)

Judy Beard, Director Retirees Department

PWU Retirees from across the country gathered in Las Vegas in early October for a National Educational Conference, which featured workshops on topics such as “Effective Retiree Chapters,” “Solutions to Elder Care Stress,” “Care Giving” and “Hands-on Computer Training.”

It should not have been a surprise that the computer workshop filled up quickly. After all, we’re living in a time when technology is virtually a necessity.

Among those taking the class was Beverly Shealy, president of the Cleveland Area Local Retirees Chapter. “I plan to use my new skills to retrieve information from the APWU Web site and other sites of interest to me and my retiree chapter. Of course, it will also be such a treat to know how to receive pictures from my children and grandchildren as events occur. Nowthat’s instant gratification.”

Another participant, Wallace Baldwin, president of the Atlanta Area Local Retirees Chapter, said, “I’m quite active in the community and attend educational workshops on a regular basis. However, I’m currently a care giver, and as a result I spend more time at home. With the training I received I’m now able to catch up on community issues via the computer in the evening when things aren’t so busy.”

This year, the Retirees Department acknowledged the work of Al LaBrecque (president of the Flint, MI, Area Local Retirees Chapter) and Byron Denton, a member of the Retirees Department from Sacramento. Each was instrumental in the start-up of the APWU’s national Retirees Department.

Conference participants not only had an opportunity to expand their knowledge, they also learned what retiree chapters are doing to bring members together, whether in educational or social settings. To find out when and where your retiree chapter is meeting, contact your local union. (If you don’t have an APWU chapter in your area, contact the national Retirees Department at 202-842-8584 and we will be happy to help you get one started.)

No COLA This Year

Each January for the last 35 years all Civil Service Retirement System and Federal Employees Retirement System retirees age 62 and older have received a Cost-Of- Living Adjustment (COLA) increase. Not this year, however: There will be no COLA raise in 2010.

Why not? The annual COLA is based on increases in the Consumer Price Index for Workers (CPI-W), and the index showed a drop for the quarter ending September 2009.

Several bills have been introduced on Capitol Hill to try to boost the spending power of those who count on a COLA increase. H.R. 3536, introduced by Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY) would provide retirees with a onetime payment of $150. H.R. 3557, introduced by Rep. Walter Jones (R-NC), would ensure a COLA increase in 2011 by pegging a calculation to the average COLA amount over the past 10 years. And H.R. 3597, introduced by Rep. Pete DeFazio (D-OR) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (IN-VT), would give Social Security recipients an extra one-time payment of $250 in 2010. (Some of these bills exclude CSRS retirees, since they are not eligible for Social Security).

If you are a CSRS retiree who does not get Social Security and therefore you were ineligible for the $250 stimulus payment last year, don’t forget to apply for a refundable tax credit of $250 (which was part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act) when you file your taxes this year.