Wisconsin Teamster Retirees Rally At U.S. Capitol To Protect Pensions

WASHINGTON, April 14, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Thousands of Teamster retirees from across the country joined together at a rally at the U.S. Capitol today to protest the proposed cuts to their pensions by the Central States, Southeast and Southwest Areas Pension Fund (CSPF). The retirees received pledges of support from more than a dozen members of Congress in their fight to protect their hard-earned pension benefits.

CSPF filed an application for cuts to the Treasury Department in September 2015 as allowed under the Kline-Miller Multiemployer Pension Reform Act of 2014 (MPRA). Treasury appointee Ken Feinberg has until May 7 to approve or reject the application for benefit reductions. The cuts will devastate the lives of thousands of retirees who worked for years to earn pensions that could be cut as much as 60 percent under the CSPF plan.

"These cuts must not be approved," said Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa. "You worked hard every day, year after year for the promise of a secure retirement. That was the deal. Now Central States wants slash your pensions by up to 60 percent? Not on my watch. We will use every resource available to our union to stop these cuts!"

Rita Lewis, widow of retired Local 100 president Butch Lewis, spoke passionately about her husband's commitment to stopping the CSPF cuts before his death and called for Congress to put aside party differences to help the thousands of retirees at risk.

"I would like a bipartisan, permanent solution to solve this pension crisis, for the Teamsters and all union members that have worked for years to earn their pension," Lewis said. "A promise is a promise is a promise."

Members of Congress turned out to throw support behind the retirees' fight against the cuts. In February, a bipartisan collection of 90 House members signed onto a letter sent to the Treasury asking it to reject Central States application. And 25 senators, both Republicans and Democrats, did the same in a separate letter.

"We're here today because we all share the belief and conviction that those who work hard for a lifetime shouldn't have to doubt retirement security," Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) said. "This is wrong, and that is why I stand with all of you in calling on Treasury to reject the Central States proposal."

"I've heard this pension piece is very complicated," Rep. Gwen Moore (D-Wis.) said. "But it ain't complicated, y'all. You worked for it, you earned it! This is a deal breaker."

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Visit www.teamster.org for more information. Follow us on Twitter @Teamsters and "like" us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/teamsters.

Contact: Galen Munroe, (202) 624-6911 
[email protected]

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SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters