CSEA SEIU Local 2001 Retiree Council 400
The Contents of this document are solely for use by Council 400 members and affiliates. If non-members want this information, please refer them to a member of the Membership Committee or Hollis Block (800-894-9479 or hblock@csea760.com) in order to join.
WHY RETIREES JOIN COUNCIL 400
- To protect our health insurance and other benefits
By actively working to protect our health insurance and cost of living adjustment; protecting pension fund investments; safeguarding Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid: the very foundation of our state retirement health care benefits.
- To protect our middle class and working families
By working to emphasize a VISION for Connecticut’s future, not budget cuts that harm our working, middle class families, older residents and those in need of services
- To be well informed through our monthly CSEA News,
Website and Chapter Meetings
On changes in the health plan; positions of candidates; legislation and issues affecting retirees; political events; information about social events and Chapter meetings
- Inclusion in the decisions made by CSEA
Through our retiree delegates and alternates to the CSEA Executive Board, we have a voice in the decisions and direction of CSEA. The Executive Board is made up of representation from the state, municipalities and private sector active employees and retiree members.
- Accessible to our Members
Convenient 800 number to full time staff assigned to coordinate retiree activities with the Council leadership; Connecticut Chapters meet monthly from September – June (16 local locations); 7 Florida Chapters meet periodically throughout the year, 1 Chapter in South Carolina and 1 on Cape Cod.
- Political action with retirees
With nearly 12,000 members and the affiliation with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), we ensure that our voice will be heard locally, state-wide, and nationally!
- Being on the forefront of Health Care Reform
CSEA and SEIU are at the cutting edge of obtaining quality, accessible, affordable and portable health care for all! And promoting information and education in the prevention, and early intervention of disease.
- Social activities including picnics, parties, luncheons and trips
Being together with our colleagues and friends from state, municipal and public sector services and having fun, getting out of the house, being well informed and staying involved! We have CSEA sponsored trips, picnics, and celebration luncheons during June and December.
Members and affiliates can join ANY chapter regardless of where you worked or where you live! Spouses can join as affiliate members.
- Automatic membership in the Alliance for Retired Americans
- Availability of CSEA’s McCusker Scholarship for our children and grandchildren
Being a Member of the Winning Team! TOGETHER WE ARE STRONG!
Council 400 has union and non-union members from management, municipalities, private sector, legislature, state departments, municipal departments and the public sector!
Spouses are welcome to join as affiliate members.
For more information, call Hollis Block, Council 400 Retiree Coordinator: In CT: (860) 951-6614;
(800) 894-9479; In FL: (800) 437-5630; or through the Internet at: Hblock@csea760.com
CSEA/SEIU LOCAL 2001
760 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, CT 06106
COUNCIL 400 LEADERSHIP 2012 – 2014
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE COUNCIL 400 DELEGATE MEETING IS THE THIRD THURSDAY OF THE MONTH, SEPTEMBER THROUGH JUNE, 10 A.M. AT
CSEA, 760 CAPITOL AVENUE, HARTFORD.
For cancellations, contact your local radio station, CSEA or our website.
COUNCIL 400 OFFICERS
President Edward Daly 860-871-9482
Vice President Thomas Connolly 860-313-0439
Secretary Joan Holley 860-345-8407
Treasurer Clarence Sylvester, Jr. 860-423-2954
Assistant Secretary Karen Pineman 860-354-6727
Assistant Treasurer Ronald Osokow 203-281-3210
Regional Vice Presidents
Region 1: Michael Lucas, Jr. 203-426-4890
Chapters 401, 402, 404, 405, 407, 411, 414, 417
Region 2: Michael O’Brien 860-345-0013
Chapters: 403, 406, 408, 410, 412, 415, 416, 418
CSEA EXECUTIVE COUNCIL DELEGATES AND ALTERNATES
Council 400 Delegates Edward Daly Thomas Corrigan
Thomas Connolly Donald Gladding
Council 400 Alternates Stuart Fishbone Michael O’Brien
McCUSKER SCHOLARSHIP TRUSTEE
Donald Gladding
CSEA COUNCIL 400 CHAPTER PRESIDENTS 2012 – 2014
Connecticut Chapters and Council Delegate Meet Monthly September through June. Programs and changes in location are reported in the CSEA News. Cancellations are reported on local radio stations or by calling Union Headquarters. Chapters also have luncheons December and June.
NOTE: If a member/affiliate moves, he/she should notify this office if he/she chooses to change chapter membership to another chapter and to report changes in address, phone, and/or e-mail address.
CHAPTER AREA PRESIDENT/CONTACT TELEPHONE
DAY AND TIME; LOCATION
CONNECTICUT CHAPTERS
REFRESHMENTS AT MEETINGS
401 Hartford Thomas Corrigan 860-674-8221
First Thursday of Month; Brunch 12:15 PM; Meeting 1 PM
___________CSEA, 760 Capitol Avenue, Hartford
402 Danbury Dawn Gallagher 203-748-2018
Second Wednesday of Month; 10 AM; Social Follows Meeting
___________United Methodist Church, Clapboard Ridge Road, Danbury
403 Norwich Carol Burgess 860-303-7267
Second Tuesday of Month; 1:30 PM Social, Meeting Follows
____________Rose City Senior Center, Norwich
404 Waterbury Ronald Chasse 860-945-0768
Second Tuesday of Month; 10:30 AM, Social, Meeting Follows
___________Harold Leever Cancer Center, 1075 Chase Parkway, Waterbury________
405 New Haven Andrew Gambardella 203-468-7376
Second Wednesday of Month; 1:00 PM, Social, Meeting Follows
___________Smart Living Center, 297 Boston Post Road, Orange
406 Middletown Joseph Formica 860-397-4532
Second Tuesday of Month; Social 1 PM, Meeting at 1:30 PM
___________American Legion Post #75, 58 Bernie O’Rourke Drive, Middletown
407 Bridgeport Carol Donofrio 203-888-2920
Third Wednesday of the Month, Social 12:00 PM, Meeting 12:30 PM
___________St. Joseph’s National Catholic Church, 1300 Stratford Rd. Stratford
408 Windham Donna Linkkila 860-455-0883
Second Wednesday of month; 1:30 PM; Social follows meeting
Baptist Church, 945 Storrs Rd., Storrs
410 Windsor Locks Roger Ives 860-428-3448
Second Monday of month; 1 PM, Social follows meeting
145 Bridge Street, Suffield Senior Center, Suffield
411 Rocky Hill Sebastian Puglisi 860-529-8336
Second Thursday of Month; 1 PM; Social Follows Meeting
___________William J. Pitkin Community Center, 30 Greenfield St., Wethersfield
412 Putnam Donald Gladding 860-564-9092
Third Tuesday of Month; 1:30 PM, Social Follows Meeting
___________Putnam Congregational Church, 175 Main Street,, Putnam
414 Torrington Karen Pineman 860-354-6727
Third Monday of month; Coffee: 9:30 AM; Meeting at 10:00 AM
___________UCONN, Extension Service, University Drive, Torrington
415 Manchester Edward Daly 860-871-9482
Contact Dorothy Tomlinson: 860-647-1216
Fourth Monday of Month; 1 PM
___________Elks Lodge, 30 Bissell Street, Manchester
416 New London Douglas Evans 860-434-1746
Second Tuesday of Month; 12:30 (light lunch), Meeting follows
Check CSEA News as 2 Locations: Waterford Public Library, Rope Ferry Road,
___________Waterford; OR Groton Public Library, Rt. 117 Groton
417 Plainville John Lessor 860-628-0021
Second Wednesday of Month; Social 1:00 PM, Meeting Follows Social
_ Church of Our Savior Episcopal Church, 115 West Main Street, Plainville
418/4Cs State-wide William Searle 860-745-3692
Second Tuesday of Month; 10:30 AM
___________ Congress of CT Community Colleges, 907 Wethersfield Avenue, Hartford
FLORIDA CHAPTERS
Check Your CSEA News for Dates, Locations and Times
421 Central & North Len Albert 386-615-6805
422 Ocala Area Christine Lafferty 352-527-7199
423 East Coast Ronald Herzig 561-994-6428
Contact Phyllis Bonfoey: 954-722-8190
424 Sarasota Area John A. Kirker, Sr. 941-388-1024
425 Sun Coast Heinrich (Hank) Bracker 727-848-0089
426 Fort Myers Area Linda Benoit 239-489-1787
427 East Central Estelle Caliendo 772-234-9521
Contact Sheila Clancy: 772-388-1463
SOUTH CAROLINA CHAPTER
Check Your CSEA News for Dates, Locations and Times
431 Myrtle Beach Charles White 843-903-3392
CAPE COD, MA CHAPTER
Check Your CSEA News for Dates, Locations and Times
441 Cape Cod George Levesque 508-771-4679
COUNCIL 400 DELEGATES MEETING
Each chapter elects delegates and alternates to the Delegate Meeting. They are responsible to report back at chapter meetings as to the information that is presented at the monthly meeting. The Delegate Meeting is the third Thursday of the month, September through June. The number of delegates is determined by the number of members/affiliates in the chapter. The minimum number of delegates is five (5) per chapter. Delegates are able to vote on motions that come before the Council. Alternates are elected at the chapter level as well. Unless the chapter does not have a full contingent of Delegates as assigned, the Alternate then may vote.
You can sign up for ‘Action Alerts’ or become a Member Action Organizer on our website:
www.csea-ct.com. Please be advised that none of your dues money is used for political action. CSEA SEIU Local 2001 has a separate Political Action Committee (PAC) that raises funds through voluntary pension payroll deductions and letter solicitations. Please sign up for our payroll deductions of $2 a month on the enclosed yellow card and help us increase our political strength
CSEA AND COUNCIL 400 ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR RETIREES AND THEIR SPOUSES/PARTNERS
CSEA has fought to gain us our benefits and continues to protect them!
CSEA & Council 400 have worked together for services to and political action for our members!
For State employees and retirees:
- Pension plan for all state employees (1939)
- Formation of Retiree Council 400 within CSEA with voting influence on the CSEA Executive Board (1962)
- Cost of living adjustments for all state retirees (1963)
- Increased disability pensions (1987)
- Dental benefits for retirees (1989)
- Payment for retiree health insurance including reimbursement of Medicare Part B (1979 – 1988)
- Interest payments on pension benefits withheld while conducting final audits (1991)
- Retiree health benefits equal to employee benefits, regardless of Medicare eligibility (1993)
- Minimum life insurance for retired career employees (1998)
- Minimum Pension for retired career employee (2000)
- Increased oversight of pension fund investments and retiree representation on the IAC (2000)
- CSEA retirees seated on the State Contracting Standards Board to ensure cost effectiveness of service providers whether contractual or state workers (2004)
- CSEA retiree seated on the Investment Advisory Committee that oversees the State employee retirement pension funds
- Worked to coordinate the Social Security offset for Tier 1 Plan B participants to coincide with eligibility for full Social Security Benefits (2007)
- Worked to equalize prescription drug co-pays for retirees and actives residing out of Connecticut and on Medicare (2008)
- Working to ensure National Guard & Army Reservists receive retirement service credit (on-going)
- Extending the 20-Year agreement on health insurance benefits and access for all retirees and their eligible spouses/dependents to 2022 (2011)
For all state, municipal and public sector employees:
- Affiliation with SEIU (Service Employees International Union) incorporating state and municipal retired and active employee becoming CSEA SEIU Local 2001 (2001)
- Retiree seated on SEIU’s Retiree Advisory Board (2003 and on-going)
- Worked to help develop State Department of Aging for all Connecticut elders (2006 and on-going)
- Worked to help develop State Department of Disability Services (2008)
- Working to ensure Employee Free Choice (on-going)
- Working to ensure Public Services remain strong and not reduced (on-going)
- Working to repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision/Government Pension Offset (on-going)
- Continuing work to organize municipal and private sector workers (on-going)
- Continuing work to protect Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid (on-going)
- Continuing to advocate for quality, affordable, accessible and quality health care (on-going)
- Continuing work to develop a Retiree Division within SEIU with sister retiree unions around the country (on-going)
- Working to hold our elected officials accountable and protecting middle class and working families (on-going)
- Working with the Executive branches of government who respects and values the work done by public service workers and retirees and the working class and the benefits earned for a secure retirement (on-going)
- Worked to open the State prescription drug and medical plans to municipalities and non-profits (2011)
COUNCIL 400 COMMITTEES
The Council 400 President appoints all Committee Chairpersons.
COUNCIL 400 MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE
Chairpersons: Nancy Driscoll 860-449-9301; Tom Welch 860-208-1252
The Membership Committee is responsible for coordinating Council and Chapter recruitment of new members, maintaining records of membership, coordinating the Council 400 Membership Committee and issuing monthly reports as required by the Council.
The Membership Committee is presently in the process of reorganizing itself with the goal of increasing membership and active participation in our Union. Contact Stacey Malitz at 800-894-9479 for more information.
COUNCIL 400 BY-LAWS COMMITTEE
Chairperson: Edward Daly 860-871-9482
The By-Laws Committee is responsible for reviewing and recommending amendments to the Council 400 By-Laws and supporting pertinent amendments to the CSEA Constitution. This Committee is also responsible for ensuring continued adherence of the Council and its Chapters to the current By-Laws and CSEA Constitution.
COUNCIL 400 LEGISLATIVE ACTION COMMITTEE (LAC)
Chairpersons: Irv Schwartz 203-397-1498; Chet Morgan 860-875-8756
The LAC coordinates legislative programs with CSEA, SEIU State Council, Council 400 Chapters, monitors state and federal pending legislation, coordinates letter writing, lobbying and phone banking campaigns around issues important to retirees, supports endorsed candidates for office (regardless of party affiliation) and coordinates actions with other unions, retiree and senior organizations with the Political Education Director and Communications Director.
CSEA BENEFITS
Connecticut State Employees Credit Union (7 offices statewide) 860-522-5388
MetLife Group Insurance for Home and Automobiles 800-GET-MET1
Reduced Membership in BJs _Call Yasmin at CSEA for more information
McCusker Scholarships for members’ children and grandchildren call Bernadette for
more information and other relatives that may be eligible
SEIU Scholarships: Other benefits through our SEIU affiliation
You can also access these and other benefits on our website: www.csea-ct.com and click on ‘Benefits’.
Membership in the ALLIANCE FOR RETIRED AMERICANS
CSEA SOCIAL ACTIVITIES & BENEFITS COMMITTEE
Chairperson: Presently Unfilled 800-894-9479 Leave message
The CSEA Social Activities Committee coordinates trips throughout the United States and the world, looks for, and reviews potential benefits for active and retired members and their families.
CSEA’S BERNARD H. McCUSKER MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND
Chairperson and Council 400 trustee: Donald Gladding 860-564-9092
The McCusker Fund provides for the education, training or scholarly advancement of individual(s) as selected to receive these funds by independent judges. Trustees, who are elected at the Biennial CSEA Convention from each of CSEA’s Council, govern the McCusker Scholarship Fund. This fund is open to the children and grandchildren of CSEA active, affiliate, and retired employees. Applications are accepted February through the first Monday in June. Contact Bernadette Conway at CSEA Headquarters for applications during these times or on our website at www.csea-ct.com.
RETIREE INFORMATION AT THE STATE COMPTROLLER’S OFFICE FOR STATE RETIREES
HEALTHCARE POLICY & BENEFIT DIVISION, OFFICE OF THE COMPTROLLER
55 ELM STREET, HARTFORD, CT 06106-1775
GENERAL INFORMATION 860-702-3480
PAYROLL MAIN NUMBER 860-702-3528
Report a lost/stolen check, notify of retiree death, change of address form, request an application for electronic transfer of pension check to a bank, etc.
LIFE INSURANCE MAIN NUMBER 860-702-3537
Request a form to change the named beneficiary, verify name of beneficiary or dollar amount of insurance (request must be submitted in writing)
HEALTH INSURANCE MAIN NUMBER 860- 702-3533
A form for change of address is provided by the Payroll Department.
INVESTIGATION & RECOVERY 860-702-3524
Questions on discrepancies in pension payments after determination of disability
OTHER QUESTIONS 860-702-3508
Questions on Alternative Retirement Plans
If you have a computer or access to one, you can review the Health Plan and Tier summary of your year of hiring/retirement and other benefits at http://www.osc.state.ct.us/. There is a Table of Contents with a ‘Link’ to Benefits Information under “For State Employees” and “For State Retirees”.
HEALTH PLAN CONTACTS
ANTHEM BLUE CROSS 800-922-2232 www.anthem.com/statect
OXFORD HEALTH PLAN 800-385-9055 www.oxfordhealth.com/stateofCT
UNITEDHEALTHCARE DENTAL 800-896-4834 www.myuhcdental.com/statect
CIGNA DENTAL HMO PLAN 800-244-6224 www.cigna.com
CVS CAREMARK_ 800-318-2572 www.caremark.com
SILVERSCRIPT 866-693-4624 http://stateofconnecticut.silverscript.com
If you have a question about your health plan or your benefits, call the number listed on your health plan identification card. If problems persist, call Hollis at 800-894-9479.
IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS REGARDING THE FOLLOWING OR OTHER ISSUES,
PLEASE CALL HOLLIS BLOCK AT 800-894-9479 (E-MAIL: hblock@csea760.com)
OR ATTEND A CHAPTER MEETING:
1. HEALTH CARE COST CONTAINMENT COMMITTEE
The Committee has the responsibility of overseeing the health plans available to state employees, retirees and their eligible dependents. They are also concerned with the high cost of health care and maintaining the current quality of the health plans available while reviewing proposals to lower costs. CSEA has representation on this important committee.
2. STATE PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION PLAN COVERAGE AND MANDATORY GENERICS
3. RETIREMENT OPTIONS TAKEN AT THE TIME OF RETIREMENT
4. DISABILITY RETIREMENT AND THE RECEIPT OF OTHER INCOME
5. NEW RETIREE OR SPOUSE OF A DECEASED RETIREE
6. WHAT QUALYFYING EVENTS ALLOW FOR CHANGES TO THE HEALTH PLAN
7. WHEN AND HOW TO APPLY FOR THE MEDICARE PART B PREMIUMS PAID BY THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT
8. MEDICARE PART D PRESCRIPTION DRUG COVERAGE/SILVERSCRIPT
9. CIVIL UNIONS/MARRIAGES
10. POLITICAL ACTION : Contact Danny Medress at 800-894-9479 or dmedress@csea760.com, or C400 Legislative Action Committee co-chairs Chester Morgan 860-875-8756 or Irv Schwartz- 203 397-1498.
It is through our combined cooperation and strength of nearly 12,000 retired state, municipal and private sector members that contributes to our political strength
Locally, State-wide, and Nationally!
WEBSITES OF INTEREST:
CSEA SEIU Local 2001 www.csea-ct.com
The Alliance for Retired Americans __ www.retiredamericans.org
State of Connecticut (portal to state website) www.ct.gov/
State of Connecticut, Office of the Comptroller www.osc.state.ct.us/
Government Legislative Guide www.congress.org OR www.thomas.gov
Center for Medicare Advocacy __ www.medicareadvocacy.org
Medicare www.Medicare.gov
Social Security www.socialsecurity.gov
Medicaid www.medicaid advocacy.org
