The Institute is one of the few Canadian unions to allow our retirees to remain full members of our organization. Retired members, who can no longer be associated with their former negotiating group, are grouped under the “Retired Members' Guild ” (RMG).
Just like our active members, retirees must occupy a central place in all our activities, reflections and actions. They constitute a fundamental pillar of our union. The increased availability of retired members, their knowledge and experience, combined with their freedom to engage without fear of reprisal from employers, make them valuable resources for our organization. They can help with training, mentoring, organizing events and building relationships with local communities. Their active participation in mobilizations and pickets is also valuable.
The COVID-19 pandemic has particularly limited the ability of retired members to contribute to our organization, much more than that of our active members. Many retirees have not had access to teleworking tools, and the lack of direct contact with their former colleagues has often isolated them. Their volunteerism has been greatly missed by our organization, and despite the advent of new technological tools, a gap persists.
I consider it crucial that retirees feel valued and useful through their involvement in the union movement and within our organization.
We must review how to allow them all to get involved in a union.
We must collaborate with them so that they find meaning in their participation, and so that their actions are relevant and appreciated by all members.
The creation of a discussion table on new methods of member participation would be essential to develop, experiment and enrich our union toolbox. A permanent committee of the Board of Directors could be set up, thus offering retirees and the Guild a direct channel of communication with the Board of Directors.
