How it Began
In the early 2000s, the 400,000 member Central States Pension Fund began signaling that the law needed to be changed to allow cuts to maintain the solvency of underfunded pension funds. A proposal from the National Coordinating Committee for Multiemployer Plans (NCCMP) called Solutions Not Bailouts was introduced in January 2013. After several meetings, the first hearing to reduce pensions and introduce some law changes was held in October 2013. In March 2014, Teamsters for a Democratic Union (TDU) suggested starting a committee to fight for the pensions. In April 2014, the NE Ohio Committee to Protect Pensions was formed in Akron, Ohio, a committee with 12 people, which included the late Alex Adams, Mike Walden and others. At that time, they were told that Solutions Not Bailouts was just a proposal, and that an extension was being discussed. Instead, on December 16, 2014, retirees and workers were ambushed with the enactment of the Multiemployer Pension Reform Act of 2014 (MPRA). With the passing of the MPRA, retirees of underfunded multiemployer plans began receiving notification from their pension funds of upcoming reductions in their hard-earned pensions, ranging anywhere from 25% to 70%. Under the leadership of Adams and Walden, Save Our Pension Committees in Ohio and eventually across the country began forming to attempt to stop those draconic cuts. Approximately 65 pension committees were formed in the beginning of the grassroots movement with many of those committees meeting in St. Louis to discuss forming a nonprofit 501( c) (5) national committee. In December 2016, The National United Committee to Protect Pension (NUCPP) was created with Alex Adams, Incorporator and Mike Walden, President/Incorporator.
NUCPP Board of Directors
President
Kenneth Stribling
Ken worked 30 years as a Teamster at Local 200 in Milwaukee and finished up at Holland Freight. Ken was previously the NUCPP Vice President and is also the Co-Chair of the Wisconsin-Milwaukee/SE Committee to Protect Pensions.
Vice President
Davey Grubbs
Davey worked 30 years at Allied Systems and one year at ABF at Local NC 391. He retired 12/1/19. Davey was formerly the NUCPP Treasurer. Davey is also the Director for the NC Committee to Protect Pensions.
Treasurer
Bernie Anderson
Bernie worked 30 years as a Teamster with the last 23 years at ABF. Bernie is also the Membership Director of the NUCPP and Co-Chair of the Wisconsin-Milwaukee/SE Committee to Protect Pensions.
Director of Communications/Secretary
Dana Vargo
Dana worked 42 years in the banking industry as a paralegal and other positions. Dana is married to Don Vargo, a Teamster who worked for 30 years out of Local 92 and Local 348, retiring in 2014. Dana and Don are also Co-Chairs of Local 92 Retirees Committee to Protect Pensions and members of the Northeast Ohio Committee to Protect Pensions.
Legal Liaison and Trustee
Frank Pastorino
Frank worked 36 years for UPS out of Cedar Falls, Iowa as a package car and feeder driver belonging to Teamster Local 650 and later Local 238. He is also the Co-Chair of the Iowa-Des Moines Committee to Protect Pensions.
Trustee
Tom Schwarzenberger
Tom worked as a Teamster for 25 years with UPS. He is also Co-Chair for the Missouri Kansas City Committee to Protect Pensions.
NUCPP ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS
In addition to the NUCPP Board of Directors, the NUCPP is fortunate to have Advisory Board Members that represent various pension committees throughout the country. In addition to being active within their own pension committee, the duties of the Advisory Board Members also include reaching out to retirees and active members within a certain footprint to keep them informed of current events and to answer any questions.
Dale Hanner - Dale is an Advisory Board member that lives in Summerfield, NC. He worked at Pilot Freight Carriers, Nu-Car Carriers and Motor -Convoy /Allied Systems. Dale is Sec/Treasurer of the North Carolina Committee to Protect Pensions.
Willie Hardy - Willie is an Advisory Board member that lives in Memphis, TN. He worked at Roadway for 32 ½ years, retiring in 2002. Willie is President of the Teamsters Retirees Tri-State Chapter Pension Committee, which covers Mississippi, Arkansas and Tennessee.
Gary Luman - Gary is an Advisory Board member that lives in Decatur, TX. Gary retired from ABF as a road driver. He is a member of the Texas Pension Protection Committee and a member of the National United Committee to Protect Pensions.
Cynthia McDaniel - Cynthia is an Advisory Board Member that lives in Appleton City, MO. Cynthia is the wife of Ted McDaniel, a retired Teamster who worked at Churchill Truck Lines and Consolidated Freight Lines. Cynthia is also Co-Director of the Missouri Kansas City Committee to Protect Pensions.
Jack Palush - Jack is an Advisory Board member that lives in North Royalton, OH. After discharge from the Marine Corps, Jack worked at several companies as a driver and then at Holland Motor Express for 24 years. Jack ended up with 37 years in CSPF and retired at age 60. Jack is also a member of the NE Ohio Committee to Protect Pensions.
William Wright - William is an Advisory Board member that lives in Nashville, TN. He worked for several companies, including Roadway Express for 27 years, including YRC. He is Vice President of the Teamster Retirees Local Union #480 in Nashville, TN.