November 7, 2025 — I’ve just returned home from this year’s PEF Convention in Lake Placid, where I addressed the delegates at the invitation of President Wayne Spence. The focus of this year’s speech was to educate members so they can better serve their members. Retirees have walked in their shoes and someday they’ll be walking in our shoes. Our experiences will be similar to their experiences.
Retirees also contribute generously to COPE because we understand the importance of political education. We attend rallies, participate in phone banks, and are always willing to lend a helping hand. We also volunteer in our communities, building relationships. We are a daytime army of 20,000+ members and we have a very active and engaged membership.
I humbly suggest that the Regional Coordinators of PEF collaborate with their retiree chapter presidents in order to build a brighter future. Many locals have fascinating backstories, such as contract battles, strikes, or organizing struggles.
I spoke Tuesday morning at the Convention following some great union leaders like AFT President Randi Weingarten and New York State AFL-CIO President Mario Cilento. I fully embraced their messaging on unity, collaboration, and forming your opinions on issues rather than partisan rhetoric. We must understand the issues that are impacting our lives and our future. We must make sure what we learn is grounded in reality and not manufactured misinformation.
For example, quality affordable healthcare — maintaining and preserving it is an area of interest where retirees and active members need to move together. Currently, health insurance in retirement is administered by the New York State Department of Civil Service. The New York State Health Insurance Program (NYSHIP) is an employer-sponsored benefit plan that is subsidized by New York State. Because of the proposed cuts to health care in the federal government’s “One Big Beautiful Bill,” the future of healthcare is uncertain. Cuts to the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid will have an impact on all Americans regardless of their political views or where they live. These cuts will affect millions of Americans.
Retirees are also politically engaged because we understand we’re affected by political decisions. We know how important it is to support our union-endorsed candidates because they are thoroughly vetted during PEF’s rigorous endorsement process — first at the Regional level, then the Statewide Political Action Committee, and lastly the Executive Board. Candidates from both parties are sent a questionnaire and it’s their responsibility to return it if they want our endorsement.
Your union only endorses candidates who support our values and the policies that best serve the members. We support candidates who support a campaign of common cause over chaos, regardless of party. Unfortunately, the party in charge in Washington seems to thrive on chaos and division. We would rather have unity and cooperation, with diversity and commitment. We support candidates who support working people, public employees and our union, not candidates who say one thing and when we check their voting record it doesn’t match their rhetoric.
I believe in this year’s convention theme “Stronger Roots, Bolder Future” and I appreciated the opportunity to address the delegates at Convention. Retirees appreciate our union’s continued support and the shared commitment to a future where we can all have a secure retirement.
In conclusion, here are a few facts about New York State public retirees and beneficiaries: 79% — more than 400,000 people — choose to stay in New York State and contribute to the economy. We’re responsible for $18.2 billion in economic activity. We paid $2.3 billion in property taxes that help fund road repairs, school budgets, and government services. We generated $881 million in state and local sales taxes and spent $15.7 billion within New York State, supporting an estimated 78,400 jobs.*
In Solidarity,
Jim Carr
*Statistics courtesy of NYSLRS and the Office of the NYS Comptroller, Thomas P. DiNapoli)