CENTRAL STATES PENSION LETTER TO RETIREES CHAPTER PRESIDENT

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WISCONSIN COMMITTEE TO PROTECT PENSIONS

Attention Local 200 Teamsters,

With the letter recently received to all Central States Pension Fund participants, and the pension changes looming, there are advocacy groups springing up all over the country in hopes of stemming the changes proposed.

 These groups include some based right here in Wisconsin.

The Wisconsin Committee to Protect Pensions was established by two retired L200 members, Bob Amsden and Bernie Anderson, and both are working tirelessly to promote the message and enlighten anyone willing to listen to the devastating effects these changes may bring to all CSPF participants. The ultimate change they are looking to gain is funding to the Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation (PBGC) to keep our pensions whole.

This group of retirees and active members, and their goal of funding the PBGC are in the best interest of all Central States Participants whether living in Wisconsin or elsewhere.

Please consider helping these dedicated retirees and members with a monetary donation made out to the name and address below.

Wisconsin Committee to Protect Pensions

  Or

     Pension Rights Center

  PO Box 361

  Hales Corners, WI 53130-9998

In Solidarity,

Thomas L. Millonzi

Secretary Treasurer

Teamsters Local

Union No. 200

Right now some retirees across the country are facing enormous cuts to the benefits they earned through years of loyalty and service to their employers. Congress caused this problem last December by rolling back a decades old provision preventing cuts to promised retiree benefits. To make matters even worse, Congress allows retirees to vote on the cuts but any ballot that goes unreturned is counted as in favor of the cuts, and even if the beneficiaries vote against the cuts, the Treasury still has the right to require cuts to pension benefits. 

Legislation sponsored by Senator Rob Portman and Representatives David Joyce and Tim Ryan, the Pension Accountability Act (S. 2147/H.R. 4029), will give plan participants a meaningful voice when plans are considering making cuts. The legislation requires a majority, binding vote from plan participants before any cuts may be made and only returned ballots will be counted in the vote total. Take Action Now!

In addition to the Pension Accountability Act, the Teamsters Union continues to support S. 1631/ H.R. 2844, the Keep Our Pension Promises Act (KOPPA). KOPPA would protect workers and retirees from cuts to their earned retirement benefits. The legislation would restore anti-cutback rules so that retirees in financially troubled multi-employer pension plans would be protected from having their earned benefits cut.

Attention Local 200 Teamsters

Central States Pension Fund Letters Hit the Mailboxes

 of active and retired participants alike

As active members and retired members receive their letter from the CSPF the reality of the dire situation our fund is in becomes very real and very personal to us all.

We, as participants, have been receiving notification for years in regards to the issues facing the funding levels and what it could mean and why.

Now we are here. What can I as an active or retired member do?

Each member of the fund, active or retired, should read ALL the information they recently received from the fund. It outlines your very individual scenario in respect to your benefit past and future.

If you have computer access go as well to the fund site for more information at

 www.CSPensionRescue.com

There are retiree advocacy groups meeting and fighting the daunting task of repealing current law, and then passing legislation to fund the underfunded pension funds like our own. It is no easy task.

You can join this effort by going to

 www.mycspensionhandsoff.com

Please take the time to learn about your fund. Understand as best you can why your personal benefit is what it is. And if you have questions or concerns of any kind follow the instructions outlined in your mailing and write a letter and ask the fund. Be as specific as you possibly can. 

Please read below two letters

One from General President Hoffa to
The Central States Pension Fund Trustees.

And

one from Eastern IBT VP John Murphy and Central IBT VP John Coli to Central States Executive Director Thomas Nyhan

Teamsters Retired and Active Come Together

US Treasury Dept. Holds Pension Forum in Milw.

Retired and active Teamsters from as far away as a five hour drive came to Milwaukee to hear and speak to the government appointed “special master” Kenneth Fienberg from 6:30 PM and 8:30 PM Wednesday December 9th

Mr. Feinberg has been appointed by the Obama Administration and the Treasury department to oversee the submission of, and approval or denial of, plans submitted by multiemployer pension funds that are underfunded and looking for change.

“We are here to bring the voice of the members of this local to Mr. Feinberg and the Treasury department” said Tom Millonzi, Principal officer of Teamsters Local 200.

Tom Bennett, President of Local 200 is shown addressing Mr. Feinberg.

49 others followed Tom at the microphone as each gave their opinion of the Central States Pension Fund plan being considered by the Treasury Department.

310 retirees and actives and their spouses were in attendance.

Thank you to IBT Vice President John Murphy for his attendance at this very important meeting

Pictured left to right

Tom Bennett President Teamsters Local 200, Bob Amsden and Bernie Anderson, Wisconsin Committee to Protect pensions

Mr. Kenneth Feinberg  “Special Master”

Tom Bennett President Teamsters Local 200

UPDATE FROM RETIREE REPRESENTATIVE (#2)
Susan Mauren
Retiree Representative to the Central States Pension Fund
P.O. Box 15670, Minneapolis, MN 55415
Email: CentralStatesRetireeRep@losgs.com

CENTRAL STATES PENSION FUND RESCUE PLAN
UPDATED FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

AUGUST 27, 2015

CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST QUESTIONS/ANSWERS

Hoffa Joins Congressional Leaders, Retirees at Rally to Stop Pension Cuts

Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa joined Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio), retiree advocates and hundreds of retirees on Capitol Hill today to call on Congress to protect the earned retirement benefits of millions of American retirees and workers. 

Wisconsin retirees headed to Washington, D.C to speak on possible pension cuts

Milwaukee -

Under a new law, millions of union workers and retirees across the country are at risk of not getting their pensions as promised. Many in Wisconsin are concerned and are headed to Washington D.C this week to speak up.

The concerns began in December, after congress passed the Multiemployer pension reform act.

"The government passed a law in 2014, which is going to allow any multiemployer pension fund to reduce pensions 30 to 60%, if the trustees are in declining condition with no proof," said Bob Amsden, who is a member of the Local Teamster 200. He's also one of 10 million retirees across the country who could face pension cuts.

"I drove trucks for 33 years for 5 companies... every job we had we knew our pensions were promised and guaranteed by the government, " Amsden said.

But now that promise is in limbo because of the new law. That's why Amsden started the "Wisconsin Committee to Protect Pensions" in January 2015.

"This isn't going to be just a teamster issue... this is going to affect 1,400 multiemployer plans which are carpenters... electricians.. plumbers," Amsden added.

The Wisconsin committee will travel to Washington D.C this week with 20 of it's members to speak up about their concerns.

"Going out there to testify in front of the Treasury Department to tell them how devastating this is going to be to us if they don't do something to stop this," Amsden said.

In June, Senator Tammy Baldwin signed on as an original cosponsor of a bill called "The Keep our Pension Promises At." The bill was introduced by Senator Bernie Sanders and it could reverse the pension cuts.

The Wisconsin committee is scheduled to meet with Senator Baldwin, Republican Senator Ron Johnson and other legislators on Thursday about the proposed bill.

It's unclear when the pensions could be cut, but if congress doesn't act, it could happen as early as 2016.

PLEASE VIEW THE ATTACHED VIDEO OF PRESIDENT JIM HOFFA

One of our very own, Teamsters Local 200 long time and very active Stewards at Ozinga, Doug Bolander is one of the Teamsters from around the country featured in
 “Lets Get America Working”

Happy Labor Day to all Local 200 Teamsters!!

CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO

From the Desk of the Secretary Treasurer

Local 200 Brothers and Sisters,

As promised this office will forward to all those members of interest any and all information received to this Local from the Central States Pension Fund.

Please see below a letter from my desk to the pension Fund Trustees, and the answer received.

Thomas L. Millonzi

Secretary Treasurer

Teamsters Local Union No. 200

FROM THE DESK OF THE SECRETARY TREASURER

Retiree and General Meeting Pension Report

Tuesday April 14^th both at noon and 7pm a report was given to all in attendance about the Central States Pension Fund letter recently received by participants.

“Like has been told to both the retirees and the active members of Local 200 repeatedly, we will report to you any and all information forwarded by the Fund to your Local leadership in regards to Central States and the recently passed changes to the Multiemployer Pension Reform Act of 2014” stated Local 200 Secretary Treasurer Tom Millonzi. “We did just that yesterday. Retirees as well as active members at both meetings were attentive and engaged.

“Your Local Union Leaders are not in favor of pension cuts in any form. But at the same time want the Fund that so many of our retirees and active members count on, or will count on, in the future to prosper. Directing members and retirees to reach out to their Senate and House representatives, and even the President, with their displeasure. Directing their representatives to consider monetary relief to save this fund, instead of following the path recently put into law to reduce benefits.”

Please go to the new site recently put up by Central States to follow any new information they have to offer participants at

www.CSPensionRescue.com

Secretary Treasurer

Thomas L. Millonzi

“MPRA of 2014”  

This link will provide the retired and active participates of Central States Pension Fund the Multiemployer Pension Reform Act (MPRA) for your review

Click here to go directly to CSPensionRescue.com

CLICK HERE TO PRINT THIS DOCUMENT