11.30.22 #8 NUCPP AT WORK - 2022 Annual Meeting and Meeting with ARA
#8 NUCPP AT WORK!
NOVEMBER 30, 2022
2022 Annual Meeting - ARA Meeting
Pension Warriors,
We hope you had a chance to read #7 NUCPP AT WORK concerning all of the things that the NUCPP was involved in during October 2022. This message will continue with information from the Second Annual Meeting and other November 2022 events:
November 8-9, 2022 - The NUCPP Second Annual Meeting was held in Kansas City, MO, and was hosted by the Missouri-Kansas City Committee to Protect Pensions.
We thank all those members that were able to attend. Many stories were told about the years we fought together to save our pensions, and we shared a prayer and remembrance of those who could not attend the Meeting or had passed away.
Kenny Stribling, NUCPP President, announced that all of the current Board of Directors had agreed to stay on during the next year. Those Directors are as follows: Kenny Stribling, President; Davey Grubbs, Vice President; Bernie Anderson, Treasurer and Membership Committee; Dana Vargo, Director of Communication and Secretary; Frank Pastorino, Trustee and Legal Liaison; Gary Lynch, Trustee, and Tom Schwarzenberger, Trustee.
Also in attendance were Advisory Board Members Jack Palush, Cynthia McDaniel, Dale Hanner, Gary Luman, and Willie Hardy
A discussion was held concerning two positions that, due to the heavy workload, we are asking for assistance with: Bernie is looking for someone to help him with the Membership Committee, and Dana is looking for someone to act as an Assistant Secretary. No travel is required for either position. If you are interested and would like further information, please contact Bernie or Dana. Thank you.
Before the NUCPP Annual Meeting, communication was sent out to members to determine the level of NUCPP support going forward. The following questions were asked:
Once CSPF receives its funds, do you think the NUCPP should remain a Watchdog for Retirement Security issues, or is our work done?
If you think the NUCPP should continue as a Watchdog, will you continue to financially support the NUCPP with your yearly dues of $60?
If you think the NUCPP should continue as a Watchdog, will you continue to support the NUCPP if we need emails, phone calls, and letters sent?
If you think our work is done and you are not interested in continuing support of the NUCPP, both financially and otherwise, thank you for what you have done in the past.
Based on the positive responses received, the determination was made to move forward with the new NUCPP mission to act as a watchdog for Retirement Security issues.
SPEAKERS
Davey Grubbs discussed “Where is the NUCPP Going?”. As previously mentioned in an email to all NUCPP members, a proposal by the Board of Directors to change our Mission Statement and NUCPP Bylaws was brought forward to the membership in attendance. Frank Pastorino read the revised Mission Statement and Amendment to the Bylaws, which includes adding language to cover all Retirement Security issues, not just pensions.
Karen Friedman from PRC called in via Zoom and thanked everyone for their role in saving the pensions. She also appreciated that the NUCPP would continue to be involved in Retirement Security.
Mike Walden could not attend the Meeting but attended via a Zoom call. Mike thanked everyone for everything they have done. He thanked the Board of Directors for continuing to stay involved and thanked the membership for continuing to support the NUCPP.
Mike Mullane and Tom Baxa from Central States Pension Fund attended the meeting. Points of interest:
4/28/22 - Initial SFA filed
8/12/22- Application refiled based on changes made in Final Rules - $35 Billion. 24 different actuaries have reviewed it
12/10/22 - Deadline for SFA approval (120 days after filing)
CSPF has contracted with a new fiduciary as an asset manager. Instead of Northern Trust, they are now using Black Rock
There are 68 pensioners in CSPF who are over 100 years old!
REGARDLESS OF THE ELECTION RESULTS, THE ENTIRE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN WOULD HAVE TO BE OVERTURNED to REMOVE THE BUTCH LEWIS ACT, SO THERE IS NO REASON FOR CONCERN
Davey addressed the survivorship issue concerning 707 and other funds that received restored benefits and retroactive pay. However, surviving spouses did not receive retro pay if their spouses passed away after their funds filed their SFA. The NUCPP has contacted Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh and the PBGC concerning this issue. We were told that it is an IRS regulation and congressional action would be needed to change it. We have requested that survivors who are impacted by this situation contact NUCPP, but we have only received three emails from spouses. For those impacted by this situation, the NUCPP would be interested in helping any NUCPP members affected by this situation. Still, we need those surviving spouses to become involved and suggest arranging a discussion with 707 Leadership and the NUCPP.
NUCPP Communication - Membership letters will be sent out after the first of the year, but please note that effective February 1, 2023, emails will only be sent to paid members. There are currently emails sent to many different email lists, other than members, but those will discontinue on February 1st. Information will still be provided on nucpp.org. If you are interested in ongoing communication concerning Retirement Security issues, including pension, social security, and Medicare, and you are not a NUCPP member, please consider sending your annual membership dues of $60 to PO Box 441, Oak Creek, WI. Instead of mailing in your membership dues, you can also join and pay the annual dues on the NUCPP webpage - nucpp.org.
NUCPP ATTENDS ALLIANCE FOR RETIRED AMERICANS SYMPOSIUM
November 15, 2022 - NUCPP President Ken Stribling, Director of Communications Dana Vargo, and Co-chair of OH-Canton Committee to Protect Pensions, Don Vargo, attended The Alliance for Retired Americans (ARA) Retirement Security Symposium in Washington, DC. Speakers at the Symposium included Robert Roach, President ARA; Liz Shuler, AFL-Cio (via Zoom); NUCPP Incorporator and Initial President of the NUCPP, Mike Walden (via Zoom); Ken Stribling, Current NUCPP President; and Kevin McDermott, Labor Policy Director House Committee on Education and Labor and speakers from the PBGC, American Federation of Teachers, Machinists Union, AFSCME, AFT, American Federation of Government Employees and Congressman John Larson, Chairman Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee.
Building a Coalition - To protect Retirement Security, the NUCPP is partnering with the Alliance of Retired Americans (ARA), Pension Rights Center, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, and any other organization that shares the same values and goals of Retirement Security for all multiemployer retirees and active workers. More information will be forwarded to NUCPP members as we build this Coalition.
Once we have further information regarding CSPF’s approval of their SFA on or before December 10th, we will be in contact and will schedule a conference call to answer any questions you may have.
In the meantime, the NUCPP Board of Directors and its Advisory Board wish you a very Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving. We have many things to be thankful for, and we thank each of you for your continued support of the NUCPP.
NUCPP Board of Directors
Dana M. Vargo, Director of Communications, dmv.nucpp@gmail.com