A real "generation gap" has developed, between our nation's "younger retirees" (generally 50s-60s), and older retirees.  Younger retirees have generally become politically angry, cynical, confused and have tended to be much less involved in union and other retiree organizations and movements.

Background

Coming out of the New Deal period of the 1930's, with passage of Social Security and a wide package of progressive reforms, retirees emerged as a solid progressive political sector of the populace that had to be taken into consideration by politicians and parties in anything they did.  Social Security was considered the 'political third rail,' that politicians messed with only at their peril.  This base was strengthened as unionized workers began to win real, defined benefit, pensions during and after WW II, and further developed when Medicare was won in the 1960's.  A decade later, ERISA (Employee Retirement Security Act of '74) was passed, in response to Studebaker workers losing their pensions due to corporate bankruptcy.  That act set up structure for the federal government to take over defined benefit pension plans when corporate bankruptcy occurred and to pay recipients pensions they were due.

Taken together retired Americans had, in less than a half century, won an entire new government structure that paid a basic monetary support for almost all retirees and health care for seniors. Public workers had widely won bargaining rights and pensions; unionized workers had generally won real pensions, and the federal government put in place real protections for those pensions.  With these, retired Americans had gone from being generally condemned to poverty in their senior years, and a burden on their families and communities, to a generation that could realistically look toward retirement as a time of economic and medical security and as productive members of society.

"Older retirees" participated in winning these reforms and were the first to enjoy their benefits.  For very good reasons, this has been a strong, solid base supporting the structures of retiree security.  These retirees were very likely to look favorably on unions and union retiree groups (where they existed), as well as senior groups in general.  They became commonly known as the strongest, most politically active generation, the most likely of any to participate in elections and vote.

How they did it and its consequences

For our nation's younger retirees things couldn't have been more different!  The first generation after the depression and WW II, they were to be the ones to enjoy a secure retirement with their pensions protected by the government and their health care paid for. They believed they wouldn't have to struggle to gain a measure of respect, dignity and economic security, but the promise was not fulfilled. Instead of the good life of economic security, health care and dignity they'd been promised, they slammed full speed into the corporate-funded right wing conservative Revolution.  Discredited extreme right wing, pro-corporate, ideas and forces were reinvigorated and given a full media make-over by Reagan's conservative counter-revolution in the 1980's.  Redressing the old arguments as "new" and "innovative," these corporate reactionaries were marketed as "creative and courageous reformers," the only ones willing to deal with our nation's growing problem of "entitlements and deficits."  With powerful allies in the corporate media, the right was provided with the needed cover to go after Social Security, Medicare and the entire structure of retirement security.  The full arsenal of divisive, backward politics, especially racism and the pitting of young vs. seniors, was employed to split retirees from historic allies, leaving them isolated and vulnerable to this attack.

This was an all-out corporate offensive, run mainly, but not exclusively, out of the Republican National Committee and the National Chamber of Commerce.  It also provided the ideological cover for the creation of the Democratic Leadership Council (DLC), the pro-corporate (and anti-worker, anti-retiree) section of the Democratic Party.  The ascendancy of this wing of the Democrats to dominance in that party during the '90's isolated and put retirees, especially those 'younger retirees' getting ready to retire, on the defensive.  This was a crucial turning point for these soon-to-be retirees.  The attack on them was now "bipartisan!"  They were now, from their point of view, alone with few allies standing up for them!

This well-funded media campaign undermined political support for pensions, overall retirement security, long before they were able to actually be successful in attacking them legislatively, especially undermining support among young people.  Today it is common to hear young people state that "Social Security won't be there when I need it," even though the facts are that this program is solvent, with no changes at all, for the next 30 years.  It also confused even those receiving those benefits, making the organization of a strong fight to support retiree security even more difficult.  This was combined with a massive ideological campaign to privatize all government programs, claiming that anything public was "corrupt and inefficient."

This created a political climate that allowed corporations, in 1999, to win over the ERISA Advisory Board to the argument that worker's pension funds were "unproductive" and would be far better served if companies could begin to withdraw, invest the funds, and use them for their own purposes.eist" (2011, Penguin Press)  It was here, hidden from public view, that the corporate theft of our nation's hard-won pensions was sanctioned by our national government. 

Elements of the same argument have been at the core of the attack on public worker pensions, Social Security and all facets of retirement security.  The national Simpson-Bowles Commission created a bipartisan basis for a ("sensible, tough but reasonable") attack on retirement security.  Right wing pro-corporate front groups like the Tea Party, Liberty Initiative & National Taxpayer's Union gave political cover to attacks on retiree security.  Before being  defeated by Cincinnati voters in last fall's election, voters in five other cities had voted to approve initiatives that effectively wiped out public worker's pensions.  At the national level, Republicans have championed cuts in retiree benefits, but even Democratic administrations have floated "bipartisan" attacks like cutting Social Security's CPI ('cost of living' formula).

 Where the fight needs to go

Now, as 'younger retirees' retired, instead of a decent retirement, they saw corporations walking away with their precious retirement income, with some even being awarded "retention bonuses" by bankruptcy courts.  Health care in many cases was wiped out for their families.  Some of the youngest retirees had been convinced to retire early, part of "Early Retirement Agreements" (ERAs) negotiated to "provide relief" to many of these same companies who'd asked for help from unions in downsizing.  These folks now saw the limb they went out on cut off behind them. They were now not only without their pensions and health care, but were also jobless!   Retirees watched as entire communities they'd lived and worked in were destroyed by corporations. 

Our nation's unions and retiree organizations were generally blindsided by the all-out attack on retirement security.  Coming off decades of being able to successfully negotiate with corporations to win wages, health care, benefits and pensions for workers, unions were not organizationally or ideologically prepared to take on this all-out attack.  Unions saw organized plants closed, locals busted and governments supporting the assault.  Leverage that labor had enjoyed in well-organized industries was wiped out.  Trying desperately to protect the membership that was left concessions, two-tier contracts and roll-backs ruled the day.  For a great many of the younger retirees, what they felt was betrayal!

Here is where younger retirees lost the potential ties they could have had to existing retiree organizations.  

This is certainly not to say that some unions didn't try to fight, many did.  Steelworkers, teachers, AFSCME and others launched huge defensive fights, with mixed results.

Unfortunately, for many, especially 'younger retirees,' this was the fault of the unions.  "Unions didn't stand up for us," is heard when talking with many who took the brunt of this corporate assault!  This is a horrible, but successful, misdirection of these hard-working retirees' justified anger--that must be successfully dealt with if we are to win over this important demographic.

It took the organization of the massive power of working people into unions to be able to organize major industries and win retiree security in the first place.  There is absolutely no way that an effective movement to defend and rebuild these benefits, and to win real retiree security for future retirees without, the active participation and the leadership of organized labor.  Only organized labor has the power, the experience and the resources to build this needed movement. Only organized labor can effectively speak to, unite and lead all sections of our people.  All the issues that people are struggling over (health care, women's, LGBT & immigrant's rights, inequality, etc.) are, in one way or another, labor issues. Only organized labor has the ability to build the wide, powerful, alliance that is needed if we are to effectively take on the organized power of big capital. 

While no sector of our people has as yet been able to turn the tide against these massive all-out corporate attacks, only where unions have organized wide coalitions with allies have we seen the attacks defeated temporarily.  These defensive fights do show a way forward and sow the seeds of future successful struggle , but any overall progressive offensive is still in its beginning stage. 

It is a very real problem that many retirees feel ignored or disrespected by labor, or worse, think unions had a hand in the corporate theft of pensions.  Although this perception may be incorrect (and we believe it is incorrect), we cannot move forward successfully unless unions address this problem directly.  Unions have to reconnect with these injured families and show them that they care for them, are on their side and, most importantly, are working to build a movement to win back their stolen benefits and fighting for retiree security for all! 

                                                                                                    Rebuilding a winning retiree movement!

In the first place, we should be optimistic moving forward!  The political ground has begun to shift.  Almost all Americans have been disgusted with the corporate theft of worker's pensions.  How many times have you heard folks, even those holding conservative political views, state that they "don't think they should be able to do that!  It's just not right!" ow many times H People just don't understand how it could take place.  Corporate media has done a tremendous job of covering up corporate fingerprints on these attacks and misdirecting people's justified anger.

But people are looking for a real way out!  The massive gap between the rich and the rest of us is finally being talked about.  The political brand of the corporations and the extreme right has been tarnished.  The building of a real movement for retiree security for all would be welcomed, especially by younger retirees.

Some indications are that doors are opening to the creation of a retiree security movement.  The AFL-CIO has called for opening its doors to allies and the building of a wide labor-led movement.  This is the strong power and infrastructure that is needed if we are to involve younger retirees and fight for real shifts.  AFL-CIO also passed an important resolution calling for a fight for real 'Retiree Security,' not just defending what we'd won in the past.  The corporate offensive has also widened, now also attacking public worker pensions.  Literally everyone has been affected by this assault, has family members, friends and neighbors or knows people that have had pensions or retiree income stolen by corporations and the wealthy.

Senators Sherrod Brown (D-Oh), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass) and Dick Durbin (D-Ill) have sponsored a "Strengthen Social Security Act,' and 'Putting Employees First in Corporate Bankruptcies Act,' as well as putting forward a push for a realistic cost-of-living formula for Social Security.  These can provide a legislative base for a shift toward fighting for real retiree security for all.

                                                                                                          Young people: allies of retirees

Today's young folks, future retirees, are the natural allies of those fighting to build a movement for real retiree security.  If corporations and the right have their way, there will be no retiree security at all for today's youth when they near retirement age.  It is today's young people who are the least likely, along with 'younger retirees,' to be ideologically tied to old rules, laws, and believe in the present system.  While young people by nature are the most innovative, looking forward to new changes and most ready to fight for them, today's 'younger retirees' saw all the promises of economic security stolen by wealthy corporations.  It will take a fight for real changes and real retiree security for all to mean something to this generation of retirees.

'Younger retirees: a fighting generation!

As well, the 'Younger Retirees' that we are speaking of, regardless of their present anger and frustration, has been a generation of fighters.  It is the generation that came of age with the emergence of the movements for Civil Rights, Peace, Women's and LGBT rights.  It is the generation that built the nation-wide Rank and File movements that ultimately changed the leadership of the U.S. labor movement in a positive, progressive direction.  Further, this is a group that has less confidence in, and less connection to, the old rules and structures than those that came before.  After working hard and following all the rules, this generation saw wealthy powerful corporations fix the game and steal all they'd been promised was "guaranteed!"  They've seen the law used only for the wealthy and they are ready to fight!  We need to fight for real solutions if we are to reconnect with this important group.  Finally, without developing a fight for goals that present an alternative positive and progressive future, we are forever tied to the political vision of our corporate enemies.

Proposals to go forward!

Putting forward real long-range goals may not immediately impact us legislatively, but, when combined with the ongoing struggles of our wide coalitions around immediate goals, it lays the basis for moving forward toward true future goals.  It actually begins to change the political ground we stand on!

If we expect to connect with younger retirees, we need to arm them with the knowledge of why they are in the situation they are in.  If we expect them to not blame their unions, generic 'government,' Democrats, immigrants, or other false targets, there must be a campaign by labor, retiree groups and progressive allies to explain how billionaire corporations got congress to allow them to take and use worker's pension funds for their own interests.  We need to find simple ways to discuss with working folks and retirees how the closure of plants, movement of jobs and busting unions-and not workers' pensions--created the so-called "debt crisis".  This economic/political crisis was not an "act of God," but a series of purposeful actions by wealthy, powerful corporations/individuals that horribly impacted us and our families.

The following are some suggestions that are based on discussions with activists and retirees on these issues that could help us move forward:

• WORKER'S PENSIONS ARE SACRED----NOBODY CAN TOUCH THEM BUT THEIR RECEPIENTS! Pensions are worker's life lines; anyone trying to steal them should face stiff legal consequences! It would not be difficult to get a bill introduced on this issue. It wouldn't pass right now but it would be a hell of an organizing tool!

• SCRAP THE CAP on Social Security taxes! Fight to have the rich pay their share and make Social Security is solvent forever! Elements of this proposal are within the "Strengthen Social Security Act." This proposal realistically opens up the discussion for expanding Social Security to all Americans, with real living wage pensions for all!

• WORKER'S/RETIREE'S ISSUES (pensions, back wages, health care, etc.) SHOULD COME FIRST, NOT LAST (as it is presently) IN CORPORATE BANKRUPTCIES! Bankruptcy courts should be legally bound to paying their existing debts to workers/retirees before, and not after, setting up repayment plans to pay others. This is the core of the "Putting Employees First in Corporate Bankruptcies Act" first introduced by Senators Sherrod Brown (D-Oh) & Dick Durbin (D-Ill).
• REAL COLA for Social Security recipients, without having to vote for it every time it comes up. Again, elements of this are contained in the previously cited Act.

• HEALTH CARE FOR ALL! Fight to protect the ACA, & continue to push for H/C for all!

• REAL LABOR LAW REFORM! No pensions can be secure when unions continue to be busted and benefits rolled back. Our security and the economic security of all of our communities is strongly connected with the right of workers to organize. When workers can't organize, our entire communities have lower tax bases, less money in circulation and more pressure on public services. That is a wider lesson we need to help organized labor get to the wider public.

• RESTORE STOLEN PENSIONS! While a very difficult issue, retirees do need to hear that someone is fighting for them and their families. Getting a piece of legislation introduced would give the victims of corporate pension theft a chance to put a national voice to this great injustice.

These are not "magic bullets" but very realistic proposals that, if organized around and fought for, can help lay the basis for our labor-led people's movement to again go on the offensive, winning retiree security and much, much more for our people!

 

Photo:   Detroit retirees             AP/Paul Sancya/file