This May, retired Machinists union members launched a new retirees chapter for retired members in District W24. The plan is not just to swap old war stories but to remain in the fight.
Bob Petroff, retired former directing business representative of District W24 and chair of the new group, says a previous retiree club known as the IAM Rose City Retirees went on hiatus during COVID in 2020 and never returned.
The newly re-formed group is meant to help retired machinists and woodworkers navigate complicated healthcare plans and financial instruments. Members also plan to use their skills to help union organizing campaigns and to defend democracy.
Together with Petroff in spearheading the revival is Bill Street, retired former national director of the Machinists Woodworkers Department and chair of the labor caucus of the Clackamas County Democrats.
“We see it as a dual mission,” Street said, “in no order: to provide services to retirees and future retirees, explaining what the union can do for you, and then the other piece is figuring out what the retiree can do for their union.”
There’s a social benefit too, for those who may be feeling adrift in retirement.
“The union movement has always been built on the social component of workers trusting each other and standing together in solidarity, and that’s sort of where we’re starting with this group, is building that trust and solidarity,” Street said.
Any retired machinists union member is welcome. Meetings take place the first Wednesday of every month at 11 a.m. in the board room of the District W24 office, 25 Cornell Ave., Gladstone, Oregon.
CORRECTION: This article has been corrected. As originally posted, it gave an incorrect last name to former national woodworkers director Bill Street. The Labor Press regrets the error.
