Labor & Employment Law

Alliance for Retired Americans Re-Elects Easterling, Burks

By James Parks

Barbara Easterling
Ruben Burks

Alliance for Retired Americans President Barbara Easterling and Secretary-Treasurer Ruben Burks were re-elected during the Alliance’s national convention in Las Vegas last week.

Easterling has served as president of the Alliance since February 2009. Prior to joining the Alliance, she was secretary-treasurer of the Communications Workers of America (CWA) for 16 years. In 1995, she took a leave of absence to serve as secretary-treasurer of the AFL-CIO, becoming the first woman to hold that position.

Easterling told the delegates:

You have helped improve the lives of millions of current and future retirees. We have more work to do. I know none of you will rest, and neither will I.

Burks, who has been secretary-treasurer of the 4-million member Alliance since it was launched in 2001, said:

Burks, a former secretary-treasurer of the UAW, said:

Thank you for re-electing me. I will do everything I can do to help this unique and wonderful organization.

The more than 400 Alliance members at the convention also passed several resolutions,  including calls to better address elder abuse and report incidents of abuse nationwide, raise awareness for the annual tax credit or reimbursement for employers for prescription drug costs under Medicare Part D, pursue federal legislation outlawing the advertising of prescription drugs in both electronic and print media, and to reduce health care fraud.

The Alliance also endorsed the speedy passage of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, to include both sexual orientation and gender identity.

Delegates honored Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) with its Leadership Award. Scott Watts, president of the Nevada Alliance and Alliance National Executive Board member William Holayter of Washington State received the President’s Award.

Click here to see photos from the convention.

Full post as published by AFL-CIO NOW BLOG on April 12, 2010 (boomark / email).