Notice about Myrna Mark
For those of you who have not heard, our dear friend and colleague, Myrna Mark, was struck by a vehicle last weekend while walking her dog. She sustained serious head injuries and underwent surgery at UCLA. She is now in ICU and on the road to recovery. Please keep her in your prayers. Anyone who would like to send a card (no flowers at this time) may do so at either of the following addresses:
Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center
757 Westwood Plaza
ICU - Room 6451
LA, CA 90095
Home address:
Myrna Mark
5150 Deane Ave.
LA, CA 90043 |
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Dearest Colleagues,
It is with a profoundly heavy heart that I inform you of the passing of one of our profession’s most outstanding and beloved colleagues, Mary Elliott. Although the local was waiting for a commemorative or obituary from colleagues who knew her best and longest, we feel it is important to get out the information concerning funeral services as soon as possible for people to plan ahead, if they wish to attend.
On a personal note, I will miss Mary and always remember all of her key contributions to California Federation of Interpreters, our local, and her lifetime of promoting our profession as teacher, mentor, and exemplary wordsmith. Mary Elliott, Anne McGinn, Yuri Yaval, Sarah Krauthammer and I were in the basement of the Metropolitan Courthouse when during our transition out of GLAC Yuri came up with the name of California Federation of Interpreters … Mary was the first to second the idea, and she was an energetic and supportive founding member of what was later to become who we are today. Peace be upon Mary and solace to her family’s bereaved hearts.
If there is any person or group of people who would like to submit an obituary, or commemorative for publication on our webpage, please send it to [email protected].
In solidarity,
Michael Ferreira
President
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Reforming the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) of the Social Security Act
A number of retiree groups from public employee organizations are forming a push to pass federal legislation reforming the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) of the Social Security Act. WEP adversely affects many of our members who will be retiring under a public employee pension system in that it reduces one’s social security payments (if one had another job and paid into the system before gaining employment in the courts) commensurate with one’s pension payments. Additionally, pensions and social security retirement payments are taxed! So removing this onerous WEP would alleviate to a great degree the economic hardships that retirees face. These groups are asking that we consider participating in this effort.
There is currently a petition drive for public retirees/employees to urge Congress to approve H.R. 2337. It only takes a couple of minutes to do this online; however, one needs to sign the petition before Memorial Day.
Click here to open the petition.
The WEP reduces the Social Security benefits of people who spent part of their working career in a job covered by Social Security and another part of their career in a job not covered by Social Security.
H.R. 2337, introduced by Rep. Richard Neal of Massachusetts, would provide up to $150 a month in relief for those currently impacted by WEP and fixes the WEP for future retirees. Though we would prefer the complete repeal of WEP for all retirees, we are told the current approach is the only one that politically has a chance of passing.
H.R. 2337 holds harmless those retirees and active employees with substantial service under Social Security from an inadvertent reduction in Social Security benefits.
(To read a summary of each section of H.R. 2337, click here.)
Michael Ferreira
President
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Fundraiser: Victims of the VTA shooting
Just yesterday there was a mass shooting that occurred within steps of where our members in San Jose work in the Juvenile Court. The persons killed were at a union meeting when this senseless tragedy happened.
Our local has been asked to consider helping the victims and their families. To that end, I pass along the information and link for any member who may wish to help … in the words of labor activist David C. Coates: An injury to one is an injury to all.
In solidarity,
Michael Ferreira
President
Fundraiser:
Wednesday many of us read or viewed the tragic news story regarding the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) shooting involving nine essential workers. Reports conveyed the workers were meeting when the shooting began.
Louie Rocha, Staff Rep, thanks for sharing. A fundraiser was established on behalf of the victims' families. For more details please utilize the link below.
Please keep those who lost their life in your thoughts and if you are of faith in your prayers.
- Paul Delacruz Megia, 42
- Taptejdeep Singh, 36
- Adrian Balleza, 29
- Jose Dejesus Hernandez, 35
- Timothy Michael Romo, 49
- Michael Joseph Rudometkin, 40
- Abdolvahab Alaghmandan, 63
- Lars Kepler Lane, 63
- Alex Ward Fritch, 49
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CWAers Build Skills to Fight For Gender Justice and Equity
Last week CWAers in District 9 participated in our union's first ever pilot training on Fighting for Gender Justice & Equity. This training is designed to provide the knowledge, tools, and skills needed to effectively prevent and combat gender-based harassment and discrimination in our workplaces, our union, and our communities.
Over 35 members from across CWA District 9 participated in this training. They had honest and critical discussions around broader systemic issues such as patriarchy and sexism, the intersection of various identities with gender in the context of harassment, and the role they play as union leaders in building a broader movement for gender justice and equity. Participants also gained valuable skills on bystander intervention and how to address the different ways gender-based mistreatment shows up in the workplace and the union.
CWA District 9 Vice President Frank Arce welcomed participants to the training and Maggie McCormack, the National Women's Committee representative for District 9 and President of Local 9588, helped facilitate the training.
CFI Local 39000 members Silvia San Martín (R4 Board Rep) and Gabrielle Veit-Bermúdez participated and are shown in the screen shot! Your local doing its part for social justice and gender issues!
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