April 21, 2015: Central States retirees in the growing pension movement are calling on the appointed “Retiree Representative” to be a genuine independent voice. By law, the Central States Pension Fund had to designate a retiree to act as an advocate, at least 60 days before submitting any plan to cut pensions. But as this letter from one pension movement leader says, retirees want “an advocate, not a messenger.”

Retirees are calling on Sue Mauren, who was appointed by the trustees of the plan to take some immediate steps:

• Make public what independent legal counsel and actuarial consultants she has retained (as provided in the law), to issue a true “second opinion”, not just an echo of the trustees.

• Meet with the various “Save our Pension” committees from the various states, starting with the committee in Minnesota, Mauren’s own back yard, to discuss options.

• Make information available to trustees, which is denied by the fund, as requested by the various committees.

Mauren could be a valuable advocate, with the resources at her disposal. Or she could be an appendage of those who have lied and covered-up. Retirees hope it will be the former, and offer their help to her in that process.