Act Now

Writing a letter to the editor of a newspaper or magazine can be a highly-effective way of getting your voice heard on important issues, especially if the newspaper is in the district of a Member of Congress.

Writing to Members of Congress is an effective way of making sure they know your position on an issue. Find contact information for Members of Congress by visiting the web sites for the Senate and the House of Representatives. Because security concerns on Capitol Hill sometimes slow down the delivery of mailed letters, e-mails are the best way to communicate with your members of Congress.

Keep the following in mind when drafting your letters:

• Make your points clear and concise. Letters that clearly state your point will help readers better understand the issue.
• Provide specific examples. Provide details of how you are or will be impacted by the issue or legislation you are concerned with.
• Include references, if necessary. If there are any studies or resources that help explain your case, refer to them in your letter.
• Address letters properly. Letters to Members of Congress should be addressed in the following manner:
  • Office of Senator (Full Name)
    United States Senate
    Washington, D.C. 20510
  • Dear Senator (Last Name)
  • Office of Representative (Full Name)
    United States House of Representatives
    Washington, D.C. 20515
  • Dear Representative (Last Name)
  • When writing to a committee’s chair, use the following:
    • Dear Mr. Chairman or Madam Chairwoman
  • When writing to the Speaker of the House, use the following:
    • Dear Madam Speaker or Mr. Speaker

Calling congressional offices is a great way to get your voice heard on an issue that is important to you. Taking the following steps will help ensure you are able to deliver your message in the most effective manner possible when making phone calls. Some congressional offices log the types of calls that constituents make about issues, so make sure to tell the person who answers the phone the issue you are calling about.

• Call the office of the Member of Congress you wish to speak to.You can find contact infomration for Members of Congress by visiting the web sites for the Senate and the House of Representatives.
• Ask for the staffer who deals with the issue you would like addressed. Members of Congress assign staffers to work on a particualr issue. For example, if the issue you would like to talk about deals with pensions, ask for the name of the staffer who works on pension issues.
• Make your case to the staffer. Congressional staffers are very busy, so you should be prepared to make your argument in one or two sentences. Tell the staffer about the provisions you would like changed, how this provision affects you, and how you would like the provision to be changed.
• Offer to answer questions. If the staffer asks you a question to which you don’t know the answer, offer to find out the answer and get them the information.
• Exchange contact information. Staffers may need to contact you after your call for more information about your issue. It is a good idea to correspond with staffers after your call to keep them informed of how your issue is progressing.

Retiree groups have used Facebook to share information about threats to their retirement security. Retirees also use Twitter to engage with key policymakers and influencers to express their views. Use our Twitter Guide to Advocacy to get started.

We’ve created a Twitter Guide to help you learn how to use Twitter to contact members of
Congress and other policymakers about your pensions.

Twitter is fun, easy and interactive. It’ll take no time to set up.

How should I use Twitter?

• Tweet your concerns: Tweet to key policymakers to make sure they know your concerns.
• Involve others: Ask your family, friends and others for their support.

What is Twitter?

• Twitter is a social media platform that allows people to express their opinions in 140 characters or less.

What is a Tweet?

• A Tweet is your thought expressed in 140 characters or less.

How do I create a Twitter account?

1. Visit www.twitter.com
2. Enter your contact information.
3. Click the SIGN UP FOR TWITTER BUTTON
4. Select a unique username. This will be the name people see when you’re tweeting. Our user name is @PensionRights. Click LET’S GO.
5. Next, Twitter will ask you to select which topics you’re interested in. You can skip this step by clicking the CONTINUE button until you arrive at the home page.
6. Start Tweeting! Enter the text of your tweet in a box at the top of the page a box that says WHAT’S HAPPENING. After you’ve typed your tweet, hit the TWEET button, then you’re good to go!

Elements of a tweet

Sample hashtags you can use are:

• #ProtectOurPensions
• #NoPensionCuts
• #RepealMPRA
• #MPRAFacts

How do I target key policymakers?

• Make a list of key policymakers you want to target
• Twitter handles are often posted on websites for members of Congress
• You can also find Twitter handles for members of Congress at www.tweetcongress.org.

Have questions?

Read our Twitter Guide for more detailed information. Still have questions?  Contact us by sending an e-mail to webmaster@pensionrights.org.

Asking questions at town hall meetings is another great way to get your voice heard on important pension issues. Legislators often hold town hall meetings to find out what their constituents think. Learn more about how you can take action at town hall meetings.

A very effective way of getting messages to policymakers and the public is to start a website highlighting your concerns. The Pension Preservation Network, started by retired United Airlines pilot Jim Hosking, was launched as a way of organizing activists. Many groups also start chat rooms where they can anonymously discuss issues and strategies.

To help retired NFL players who lack adequate pensions, the Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund is holding an ongoing auction to raise funds for retired players in need of financial assistance. The auction has featured items such as Coach Mike Ditka’s 1975 NFC Championship ring and plays drawn by Hall of Fame Coach Vince Lombardi. To date, the auction has raised over $125,000 in funds for retired NFL players.

Using a variety of online strategies, including blogs and mass e-mails, to attract attention to their problem, the “Miller women” were able to negotiate a contract that increases their monthly pensions and reduces retirement age from 60 to 57.  The Miller women used a web site to stage an online protest of the company’s actions. Watch the video they made to highlight their problems.

A group of United Airlines flight attendants posed semi-nude for a calendar entitled “Stewardesses Stripped (of their Pension?). Each picture also contained a “zinger” related to their pension plan’s collapse.  The calendar has been highlighted on the Today Show, Inside Edition, Washington Post, CNN, FOX, NBC, and ABC.

When IBM decided to convert from a traditional pension plan to a cash balance plan, older, long-time employees realized that they would lose as much as half of their expected pensions. They set up a web site and a chat room, testified before Congress and at a Treasury Department hearing, and conducted press briefings. They also flew a blimp over a Colorado football stadium with a banner reading “IBM stole my pension. Is yours safe?” IBM reversed its decision for most of the affected employees.

Because they represent a large group of members who have similar concerns, retiree organizations been able to leverage the power of their membership to encourage companies to make significant changes to improve retiree pensions.

One way of expressing concerns about unfair pension practices is to bring them to the attention of a company’s shareholders through proxy resolutions. Although proxy proposals must be carefully crafted to comply with the rules, they can have a significant impact on corporate policies. Shareholder resolutions have gained in prominence in recent years, as shareholders recognize their power.