As a retired member of DC 82 Local 106, Johnnie Forrest is one of the few members who has done apprenticeships with both the glaziers and the painters. Johnnie has been a member of DC 82 for 30 years.
“I’m very fortunate that when I was young, I actually thought about what having a pension would mean for me in the long term,” said Johnnie Forrest of DC 82.
“I’ve always had friends who weren’t considering that, and I’d always try to tell them the value of having that security. Now, they look at me and say, ‘Man, John, I wish we’d have listened to you.'”
Entering the union at a young age, your health and retirement benefits isn’t the first thing on your mind – but it makes a huge difference in your life. It’s a great opportunity to build a career, gain access to life-changing health benefits, and create a comfortable lifestyle for your future.
Some of the most meaningful benefits of DC 82 membership include being able to pay off your home, build a retirement plan, and enable you to enjoy life without financial worries. When you get older, you don’t have to keep working, because all the hours of work you put in when you were that young kid not needing your pension comes back around for you.
“So many people have family members that I know that are still working into old age now that wish they had invested sooner,” said Johnnie. “With my health benefits, my first heart procedure was $86,000. My part of that was only $1,400 from being a union member.”
Johnnie’s story is just one of thousands that show the difference joining a union can make in your life. Thank you, Johnnie for your years of service, and enjoy your well-earned retirement!