Everyday Heroes: AFT Retiree finalists

Voting is open
May 9 - 29, 2016

Patty Bentley
United University Professions Committee on Active Retired Membership (New York)

Patty Bentley says she always intended to be a librarian at a university; and for 41 years, that's what she did. But her career path took an unexpected turn when she went to the State University of Plattsburgh in 1977. It was there that she became a union member and ultimately an activist. "The union opened doors in ways I never imagined," she says. "My passion clearly became my work with the union and it has been a wonderful experience."

Bentley began advocating for higher education funding, and that expanded to standing up for marriage equality and LGBT causes. She eventually became the chapter president and held the position for 13 years. Bentley has served on the New York State United Teachers board of directors, and she remains active as a retiree. In 2010, just before Bentley retired, former Rep. Bill Owens (D-N.Y.), entered a tribute to her in the Congressional Record, noting that, "At the end of this year, Patty will become a retiree, but I am confident that she will never stop serving the community."

Bentley is still stepping up to serve. Being an active retiree is a fun way to stay engaged and focused, she says. Bentley has traveled to Washington, D.C., on several occasions to go the U.S. Supreme Court to support the fight for workers' rights as well as marriage equality. Last year, when the court issued its ruling that overturned the Defense of Marriage Act, Bentley was on hand with a two-by-three-foot piece of poster board that carried the slogan "We Are One." The word "one" was written in the rainbow of colors that denotes lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. The sign also had the signatures on nearly 200 people.

To Bentley's delight, a staff member at the Library of Congress asked if he could take her photograph with the poster. In the conversation that followed, he also asked Bentley if she might be interested in donating the sign to the library. "As a librarian, that made my day," she says. Today, the sign is part of a collection at the Library of Congress.

William Cea
NYSUT Retiree Council 43 (Teacher Retirees in Florida)

William Cea began teaching in 1962. Coincidently, that was the same year he started his career as a union activist. When Cea retired in 1994, after serving on the New York State United Teachers board of directors for 23 years, the former Clarkstown, N.Y., teacher moved to Florida and became a member of NYSUT's retiree council 43 (Teacher Retirees in Florida) chapter. Twenty-two years later, Cea has shown no signs of slowing down.

In the early years of his retirement, Cea served president of his retiree chapter and increase the membership rolls for several years. He also became a member of the Alliance for Retired American's board of directors, which enabled him to help retirees speak out on the national level on issues like strengthening Social Security and Medicare. Although Cea is no longer president of his chapter, he continues to be an active member. He feels compelled to mobilize his fellow retirees whether they are phone banking for union-endorsed candidates, lobbying for retirement security, or rallying to support local union members. "It is vital in this day and age to support the goals of the labor movement and public education," he says. As a NYSUT retiree service consultant, Cea was able to highlight the importance of unionism and public education to retirees across the state. But he doesn't stop with retirees; he also encourages active teachers to get involved and stay involved "because your future is at stake. Being active is a safeguard to the benefits we have won, and it supports those people who advocate for public education and labor issues."

Cea is proud of his members' activism in Florida."Our people down here, whether they are teachers or school-related personnel, remain concerned about the state of education in Florida where they now live, in New York where they used to work, and in the nation as a whole." They are energetic in lobbying, phone banks, community outreach and dozens of behind-the-scenes efforts that contribute to the success of NYSUT local unions.

Joanne Slanovich
Douglas County (Colo.) Federation of Teachers Retirees

Joanne Slanovich spent 36 years in the classroom; but when she retired in 2008, she wanted a way to stay connected with colleagues. At the time, her local didn't have a retiree chapter and because she needed 25 people to charter a chapter, she reached out to her friends and asked them to help. From the beginning, Slanovich's group was able to create close ties to its local, and those bonds came in handy when state legislators tried to privatize pensions in the Colorado Public Employees Retirement Association.

"It was an attack on our pensions," says Slanovich, who galvanized her members to fight the attack by encouraging them to testify before legislators and contact the lawmakers. The retirees also partnered with others in the Colorado Coalition for Retirement Security. Eventually, her small group grew to 130 members; they were more than willing to lobby against the privatization of their pensions—and they were successful.

As the fight raged on, the relationship between the local and the school board began to deteriorate due to a change in the composition of the board. Slanovich, who once coordinated the state's ER&D professional development program, saw the program ripped out of schools. "All of the knowledge and expertise that retired teachers can provide to new teachers is lost," she says. "I think that is what bothers retirees the most."

Slanovich wants to help turn things around. "That's why retirees want to stay connected. There are pieces that have been lost that need to be regained. We want it back. We can rebuild." In the meantime, Slanovich is moving forward. About a year ago, AFT Colorado was approached by a group of retirees who taught in other states and want to become active. It should come as no surprise that Slanovich has taken the lead on looking into starting a state retiree chapter. As one of her nominators put it: "Joanne has worked tirelessly to defend the best interests of education, children and teachers."

Sam Trivette
Retired Public Employees of Alaska Association

Sam Trivette has spent a lifetime defending public employees. In fact, his nominator says he is "Alaska's most tireless advocate for public employees." Trivette spent three decades working for the state's department of justice, beginning his career as a correctional officer. He has always been a people person, but Trivette says working corrections served to enhance his people skills.

Over the years, Trivette has relied on his people skills to stand up for his colleagues. When he retired, Trivette joined the Retired Public Employees of Alaska Association. He took a position as secretary and served in nearly every capacity, including president. In 2006, Alaska switched from a defined-benefit retirement system to a defined-contribution system for all public employees. That's when Trivette got himself appointed to the Alaska Retirement Management Board; his appointment meant that public employees had an advocate to look out for their retirements. In that role, Trivette got to know most of the state lawmakers on a first-name basis.

"If I'm involved and I can't make something happen, it's clear I need to do something else," he says. His dedication has made a world of difference. However, after 11 years of exemplary service, Trivette is stepping down. "I need to slow my activity level," he says, and for him that means a little more hiking, yard work and wood chopping, as well as volunteering with the Juneau Suicide Prevention Coalition. Trivette made sure he left his beloved public employees in good hands by lobbying for a retiree well-versed in policy surrounding public retirement systems to be appointed in his place.

Trivette is still a member of the RPEA, and because he's familiar with every statistic, policy, law and procedure concerning public retirement systems, he will continue to advocate when he's needed. "I have a mind to learn and desire to share what I've learned," he says. "That's how I can make an impact on people."