Yonkers retirees are ‘Union for Life’

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In-service and retiree members from the Yonkers Federation of Teachers meet with Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins.

nion for Life is more than just a catchy phrase for the Yonkers Federation of Teachers; it’s a matter of fact. YFT members — both in-service and retired — serve side by side on union committees and the union’s exec board and work together to help mentor new teachers.

“We value our retirees as much as we value our in-service members. Whatever needs or issues that the union has, we look at our membership as a whole and fill in with the people best suited for what the need is,” said Yonkers FT President Samantha Rosado-Ciriello. A daytime rally? Retirees can step in. Contract fight? ”We call upon our in-service and retirees equally,” she said.

Yonkers retiree Florence McCue, who serves as the at-large retiree representative to the YFT executive board, agreed. “We work shoulder to shoulder with our in-service colleagues,” she said, noting that retirees also pay local dues.

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YFT members come together to raise funds for breast cancer research.

The close working relationship is a benefit to retirees and their working colleagues.

“The local has availablity of volunteers, historical knowledge and continuity,” McCue said. “Retirees have been through years of fighting to maintain a strong union and a good union contract. The union benefits with people who are battle tested.”

Rosado-Ciriello said those battle-tested members have a lot to offer; but, just as important, they are also open to learning from their younger colleagues.

Those differing perspectives often emerge during contract talks. “These are rights that our retired folks fought for and they can provide a lens that our newer folks don’t have. That voice is necessary,” Rosado-Ciriello said.

On the flip side, newer members can articulate that maybe circumstances were different at the time a particular contract provision was implemented, but times have changed. “We can all learn from each other.”