AFSCME Retirees Stand Strong for Union Rights and Retirement Security

Even after retiring, the dedication of AFSCME members to public service remains unwavering. These nearly 200,000 retirees continue to champion causes with the same vigor they exhibited throughout their careers. They have become pillars in their communities, advocating for the rights of working families and ensuring the promises of union membership are upheld.

The battle for rights and benefits wasn't easily won, and AFSCME retirees understand this more than anyone. They persist in their efforts, making their presence felt from strike lines to legislative halls in Washington, D.C., all in the pursuit of safeguarding union rights and retirement security for future generations.

For years, these retirees have been vigilant in their defense against opponents of union freedoms, including billionaires and lawmakers opposing worker and retiree interests. Their firsthand knowledge of the impact of union membership on workers' lives fuels their ongoing activism.

“My union has been everything to me”

John Tilden, who served as a psychologist for nearly thirty years with the Illinois Department of Human Services and is now part of AFSCME Illinois Retiree Chapter 31, attests to the significance of his union. He reflects on his career treating developmentally disabled patients as rewarding, yet he acknowledges that his union was crucial in ensuring a stable retirement, which he describes as potentially being a “nightmare” without it.

Now retired, Tilden is committed to leveraging his union's strength to advocate for a system where every American can look forward to a secure retirement after years of dedication and hard work.