The 2018 third quarter Financial and Analytical Report on the Central States Pension Fund shows that the Fund continues to bleed money, underscoring the importance of Congressional action this year to protect the pensions of millions of working families.

The Central States Pension Fund ended the first quarter of 2018 with assets of $14.8 billion, a loss of $172 million for the quarter ending March 31, 2018. However, the loss would have been much worse except for a one-time payment of $467 million by the Kroger Corporation; this was a lump sum payment to pull all Kroger and some Kroger-contractor employees out of the pension fund permanently.

Some 10,000 union members, led by mine workers, Teamster retirees, and pension advocates rally in Columbus to urge passage of the Butch Lewis Act to protect hard-earned pensions. Speakers are calling on Congress to “do the right thing” to safeguard pensions for millions who did honest work, earned a pension, and could lose it due to no fault of their own.