Teamsters from as far away as Houston, Tampa, and Omaha will join over a thousand from North Carolina, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin and countless other states as retirees, Teamsters, and allies converge on Washington for a rally at the Capitol to call on the Treasury Department to reject proposed cuts by Central States and demand that Congress protect our earned pensions. 

Retired Teamsters, their families and allies assembled at state capitols in Madison, Wisconsin; Des Moines, Iowa and Jefferson City, Missouri last week to focus attention on the impact proposed Central States pension cuts could have on local economies and Congressional districts. 

Were the watchdogs asleep when the Central States Fund was losing the money that belongs to our retirees and Teamsters? Read the MarketWatch Report “How the Teamsters Pension Disappeared More Quickly Under Wall Street than Under the Mob.”

The Central States Pension Fund’s Independent Special Counsel’s most recent quarterly report calls into question just how “independently” he functions. 

The Central States Pension Fund’s Financial and Analytical Report for year-end 2015 shows assets of $16.1 billion – up $200 million in the 4^th quarter, but down nearly $1.8 billion for the year. 

Teamster retirees, their families, friends and neighbors plan a day of coordinated actions, Thursday March 31 at various state capitals to call on legislatures and other state officials to oppose proposed cuts to Central States pensions.

On March 17, nearly 50 retired and active Teamsters rallied outside the Jackson, Michigan congressional office of Tim Wahlberg (R-MI) to expose his lack of response in the call to defend his constituents’ retirement security. 

“If we fail, it will start a snowball," says retired carhauler Billy Scott. "There are 10 million people in multi-employer funds that this could happen to next. And who’s to say they won't pass a new law for single-employer funds, too?” 

Last fall, I wrote about the Central States Pension Plan’s application to the Treasury Department to reduce pension benefits. This application is the result of a change in the law set forth by Congress in the Kline Miller Multi employer Pension Reform Act of 2014.

Retirees in North Carolina are not just mad, they’re active. This past weekend they were at the courthouse, they were at the office of Rep. Patrick McHenry, and while others were at the offices of Renee Ellmers.