Message from Jerry Clancy - Health Care Trust Fund Today

Armando (Ynostrosa) and Alex (Torres),

Let me start by thanking both of you for taking the time to keep some form of communications open to retirees.

I had written an article for the Centurion but it's immediate status is in limbo. I would hope the material herein will be agreeable to you for it's content and it's need to be forwarded to others.

I would ask all who read the article to pass it on to any retirees in their mail box. It's important that we keep some form of communication open.

It's been 34 years since members of the SAPOA, their wives and children stood for hours in the cold and wind ( Nov 7th 1974 and Dec 14th 1974 ) gathering signatures for the right to bargain as an equal to the city manager and council. There still may be a harness full of those still suiting up everyday that laid the foundation for our department to be one of the best in the country; professionally, as well as one of the best compensated in the country.

To them, I say your job has been done. We are proud of you and ask you to come join us and enjoy the fruits of those days when a social group paying 50 cents a month in dues dues became a UNION equal to all and beholding only to the people of San Antonio.

Let the dog bark and the cat screech: The changes to our health care benefits have been in effect for three months. We will shortly get our first report card from our prescription vendors. ( I will write more on that as this year passes.)

I’ve never been known for my writing skills, but I can get you to the bottom line on time.

We are still a part of SAPOA and we are owed by those there today and those yet to join the ranks.

It is important is we try to influence those who now lead our union to understand that retirees were promised benefits, it was also promised to those still working the streets ( and to those yet to come). Else why would we continue to fund a benefit we will not be entitled to?

It would take someone much smarter than I to explain why retiree need to think about organizing themselves,
so in my best peckerwood English, I’ll try to clarify the issues as quickly as possible.

· Our Health Care Trust fund is not run by the city.

· The monies spent on benefits is not the city's money.

The money belongs to you and others you worked with, protected in times of danger, golfed with, fished with and played softball with at Normyole field.

Here is what has happened that you need to know:

· The fund was going broke.

· The city, our union and trust could not agree on a way to fix it.

· During contract talks, health care benefits for both active and retired officers became subject
of the overall wage package.

· Trust fund retiree representatives sought out a place at the table.

· They knew they had no legal authority to be there, but felt they had a moral right and fiduciary duty to be there.

· Days became weeks, weeks became months. Bottom line, all parties agreed in principal on changes
that would hopefully fix the trust.

Here is our situation now

· The courts have ruled retiree's past benefits are at risk with each new contract.

· By placing our health care benefits in state statue, retirees now have a legislative
position to defend our health care benefits from.

We must organize to protect our benefits. Want to join a union? We should; For if we fail to be a part of the battle, we are assured of one great a-- kicking.

Let's work together before we all find ourselves at Wal-Mart greeting others with, “Good day. Welcome to Wal-Mart.”

Jerry Clancy