Do we retirees want to lose all the benefits that have been built up over the years by dedicated union members and leave our grandchildren with just memories of why unions came into being?

Those days of unscrupulous employers are now returning in the form of large conglomerates. Our International union, like many others, are losing members by the industrialism of all our occupations.

Now is the time for retirees to help stop the erosion by starting and joining locals' retiree groups, also getting involved with other retiree/seniors organizations, whose purpose is to combat these multinationals politically, with legislative changes and laws to protect unions and workers.

Local unions must now realize the existing dangers in all their present, tough negotiations, endeavoring to obtain decent, honest settlements and urge their retirees to band together, once again becoming active. It doesn't take much of your time, but you'll make an enormous difference with a united voice being heard.

Our new International president says he needs us. Let us show we hear the call and get involved – not necessarily for our sake, but for all those who are and will eventually be doing the work we once performed.

We cannot let the union disappear, so please approach your local to start the ball rolling. We must organize retirees into active units to work with the union in this very real fight against the large corporations, who are constantly getting larger and more powerful.

If one looks at the real situation, no doubt there are more retirees than workers affiliated to the GCIU with all the plant closures, early retirements through so called "downsizing" both in the U.S. and Canada. There is strength in numbers, so we would really be an asset.

But we must act NOW.

Governments are becoming puppets to the multinationals, whose ambitions for control of the global economy is never ending. (An example of this was in the last publication, the Walmart article). The need for union survival and human relations has never been greater. It requires each and every one of us who values our freedom to cooperate in stopping this runaway train.

Actions have been taken these past couple of years on such proposals of these multinationals through the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the Multilateral Agreement on Investment (MAI) with some success in stalling them for now. Rest assured, they will rear their ugly head again, and we should be ready for them.

This makes our request in forming retiree clubs very urgent to work with our union, in North America. Remember, there is strength in numbers. We have the numbers, once organized.

P.S. Local 500M in Toronto made it work. You can, too – if you have the will. Good Luck.

(Editor's note: Pres. George Tedeschi said the International will be providing information on how to "establish and grow retiree groups. And we will be looking for individuals to volunteer time to help establish retiree clubs."

Tedeschi suggested that volunteer retirees interested in helping contact Vice Pres. Leonard E. Adams.)