Retiree Clubs Empower IPF Participants

Retiree Clubs are good for retirees and good for BAC. In recognition of the contributions and expertise our retirees bring to the Union, BAC and IPF joined together in 1996 to encourage and help Local Unions establish Retiree Clubs. Today, 14 Locals have established Retiree Clubs with membership in the thousands.

“Retirees’ experience in the trades, in the Union, and in life is irreplaceable to our Union and communities,” says BAC Secretary-Treasurer James Boland. “As active members, they helped build our Union by walking picket lines and negotiating agreements that won a better life for future members. There is no better way to educate younger members and apprentices on what the Union has gone through and what it stands for than through greater contact with our retired members.”

Retiree Clubs empower retired members to stay active and maintain their bonds with their brothers and sisters in the Union. They create opportunities for socializing, for sharing information on topics such as pension benefits and health insurance, and for assisting Locals with organizing, community outreach, and political action.

Retiree Clubs similarly benefit Locals and current members by providing them with the guidance and wisdom gained from experience, and as a source of volunteers for many Union activities and projects. The operation of each Club is based on the needs, interests, and resources of each Local in accordance with its officers and the retirees themselves. According to Illinois Local 21 and District Council 1 President Pete Marinopoulos, “Everybody should incorporate their retirees into their active Union. Just because they’re retired doesn’t mean they’re forgotten. They are a great resource and the backbone of the Union.”

If your Local has not yet established a Retiree’s Club, email IPF at dstupar@ipfihf.org or call 1-888-880-8222.