1199 retirees have long played a vital role in the Union’s collective bargaining, organizing and political campaigns.

As such, the Retirees Division is the fastest-growing division of the Union, with well over 100,000 members and counting. There are 10 chapters in New York – in all five boroughs of New York City, as well as Long Island, the Hudson Valley and another 11 chapters in Florida. There are chapters in Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as Maryland, Delaware, Ohio, Texas, Tennessee, New Jersey, Virginia, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, South Carolina, Oregon, California, Nevada, Washington (state), Hawaii, Alabama and Georgia.

During the recent retiree Listening Tour, retired members expressed eagerness to meet regularly with Union leadership to make sure they are kept up-to-date with the 1199’s priorities and can provide their veteran insight and perspective.

On April 6, President Armstrong attended the Retiree Executive Committee Meeting at Union headquarters in New York City along with Dell Smitherman, the New York State Political and Campaigns Director, to do just that.

President Armstrong said,
“We don’t just plant our feet on the ground and keep going. We are continuing in the footsteps of those who went before.

“How many organizations keep retirees involved and allow their voices to continue to be heard? The Union appreciates that people who spent many years at 1199 institutions are still willing to give time [and money] to on-going campaigns.”

Howard Hall, who retired from his job as an 1199 Supervisor in Material Management at Beth Israel Medical Center in lower Manhattan said,
“I have been an active member for 52 years.” He was working at the hospital for 38 years and stayed engaged during the decades since he's retired.

Hall, who now chairs the Bronx chapter of the Retirees Division, was one of 30,000 workers to take part in a citywide strike at the major New York City hospitals—including Beth Israel—in 1976.

“We are the ones who built this Union. We need to continue to show up and show the younger Delegates how it is done. Staying at home isn’t going to change anything.”

Eustene-Hazel Corbin, who is the co-chair of the Brooklyn chapter, agrees. She worked as an 1199 Nurse Assistant at the Mary Immaculate Hospital in Queens until she retired in 2004.

“There is no other union that keeps retirees involved like 1199. We always give our best support even though we are not working in the institutions anymore. We can still play an important role,” she said. Many of the most active retirees were Delegates in the shops and have a great deal of hard-won wisdom to pass on to the next generation.

“As retirees, we should not be on the back burner. We helped build the foundation of our Union. Also, we have more time,” added Corbin. There are negotiations planned as the League of Voluntary Hospitals and Homes contract expires on September 30.

“Current members can only join informational pickets during their break times. Retirees can attend at any time,” said Corbin.

The country is facing a critical moment with the current federal administration cutting billions of dollars out of healthcare funding to pay for tax breaks for billionaires. It’s important that younger members learn to think long term and less about the money today. Corbin worked hard for the retiree benefits she lives on now and is prepared to do her part to defend them.