News

Wisconsin Coalition of Annuitants Annual Meeting Report

By Jill Hynum

The Wisconsin Coalition of Annuitants (WCOA) held its 24^th Annual Conference on May 18. The WCOA consists of statewide and regional organizations representing retirees in the Wisconsin Retirement System, and may include active as well as retired participants in the system. The Coalition is committed to achieve the most effective and efficient operation of the Wisconsin Retirement System, free from political interference with policy and investment decisions.

Update on WRS

Matt Stohr, Administrator of the Division of Retirement Services at the Department of Employee Trust Funds, gave us an update on the WRS. His presentation should be available soon on either the ETF or WCOA website. Some statistics:

To Read report, click here

Milwaukee Public Schools takeover plan weakens WRS

A Wisconsin Coalition for Retirement Security Report

MILWAUKEE, WI - Referencing annual reports by the Wisconsin Department of Employee Trust funds, as well as a study of the Wisconsin Retirement System ordered by Governor Walker in 2011, the Wisconsin Coalition for Retirement Security warns that the proposal to privatize Milwaukee Public Schools - currently under consideration by the Legislature's Joint Finance Committee - will have serious repercussions for state retirees and taxpayers.

Read the rest of the article here.

Secure Retirement for All

A POWRS Report

The situation is stark. Woefully few Americans have properly saved for retirement! Even those with access to 401 (k)'s have not saved enough. WI is not immune to these national trends.A shocking 22% of all seniors above age 65 depend upon Social Security for 90% or more of their income (AARP)

Rallies to Oppose Right to Work (for Less)

MADISON

WHAT: Rally to Oppose Right to Work
WHEN: 12:00 p.m. Tuesday February 24 and 12:00 p.m. Wednesday February 25
WHERE: State Street Side of the Capitol

Also at 9AM on February 24:
The Senate Committee on Labor and Government Reform will be holding a hearing Tuesday, February 24. Please join us at 9:00 a.m. to testify in opposition of Right to Work.

The above rallies are sponsored by WI AFL-CIO. More information can be found HERE.

MILWAUKEE

Rally to Stop “Right to Work” in Wisconsin
5:00pm Monday Feb 23rd
Zeidler Union Square
4th and Michigan, Milwaukee, WI

This Milwaukee rally is sponsored by:
Defeat RTW in WI, AFSCME District Council 48, Occupy Milwaukee, Voces de la Frontera, Youth Empowered in the Struggle, Progressive Students of Milwaukee, Wisconsin Bail Out The People Movement

See more details at this facebook event.

Wisconsin Alliance for Retired Americans Biennial Convention

Mark your calendars for Monday, March 2^nd, 2015 . The Wisconsin Alliance for Retired Americans 6^th biennial convention will be held at the Concourse Hotel and Conference Center, 1 West Dayton Street in downtown Madison. The Convention begins at 8:00 a.m. with a continental breakfast and will adjourn at 3:00 p.m.

Guest speakers include Dean Baker, Center for Economic and Policy Research; Ruth Conniff, Progressive Magazine; John Nichols, Nation Magazine and Madison Capital Times; Rich Fiesta, Alliance for Retired Americans; In addition, United States Senator Tammy Baldwin has been invited to speak.

The registration fee is $50.00 and covers continental breakfast, lunch and parking at the Concourse Hotel.

More Details.

"Right to Work" (for Less) Group Formed

December 3, 2014 -- "Koch-tied Group Pushes New Union Busting Bill in Wisconsin" (from PRWatch.org)

Read the article.

Former AFT-W President Bob Beglinger Wins Award

On October 13, Bob Beglinger received recognition for his activism on behalf of Wisconsin seniors. He received the award from the Wisconsin Alliance for Retired Americans (WiARA) during their 19th annual Senior Power Luncheon. Congratulations Bob!

At the same luncheon, Leon Burzynski recieved the organization's first Lifetime Achievement Award for his dedication and commitment working on behalf of retirees and all older Americans.

Call for Retiree Delegates

2014 AFT-WI Convention

Radisson Hotel & Conference Center, Green Bay

November 13-15, 2014

If you are interested in becoming one of the five retiree delegates or an alternate to the AFT-W Convention being held on November 13- 15 contact Kathy Kreul by email at kreul@aft-wisconsin.org or call the office at 608-662-1444, extension 226, by September 15, 2014.

Please specify if you wish to be a delegate or an alternate. If we receive more than the available slots and an election is necessary, ballots will be mailed to the retiree membership. If you are one of the elected delegates or alternates

The Department of Justice (DOJ) will be conducting FREE seminars about the Wisconsin Open Meetings Law and Wisconsin Public Records Law. DOJ FREE seminars about the Wisconsin Open Meetings Law and Wisconsin Public Records Law. Department of Justice experts will explain key principles and discuss recent updates. The in-person seminars are October 17 and 27; the webinars are on November 6. See the brochure for more details.

Wisconsin Alliance for Retired Americans

The Wisconsin Alliance for Retired Americans (WIARA) will be holding a series of Town Hall Meetings around the state. The topic will be "Protecting and Strengthening Retirement for All". Meetings are scheduled for Appleton, Sheboygan, Manitowoc, Platteville, Richland Center, Kaukauna, Neenah, Mineral Point, Reedsburg and Sturgeon Bay.

To see the schedule with locations, click here.