2022 NUCPP Membership Letter 3.1.22
March 1, 2022
Pension Warriors, We are in the midst of a new year and things are much brighter than they were last year at this time. The American Rescue Plan, which included the Butch Lewis Emergency Pension Plan Relief Act, was signed into law in March 2021, by President Joe Biden. A few of the Funds, including Road Carriers 707 Pension Fund, have had their Special Financial Assistance (SFA) Applications approved and have received their restored benefit and their retroactive benefits. Central States Pension Fund will soon be filing their SFA and is expected to be approved in the required timeframe. Things are definitely looking brighter than they have been for retirees and active workers in many years.
As most of you know, January 2022, also brought about a change in the NUCPP Board of Directors. Mike Walden, Incorporator and President of the NUCPP, retired December 31, 2021. The Board of Directors and its members can never adequately express the gratitude that we all feel towards Mike for his 8+ years of continuous hard work and dedication. He will be truly missed.
Effective January 1, 2022, the newly elected Board of Directors is as follows:
○ Kenneth Stribling, President. Ken was the previous NUCPP Vice President and is a Co-Chair of the Wisconsin- Milwaukee/SE Committee to Protect Pensions.
○ Davey Grubbs, Vice President. Davey was the previous NUCPP Treasurer and is a Co-Chair of the North Carolina Committee to Protect Pensions.
○ Bernie Anderson, Treasurer. Bernie was a previous NUCPP Advisory Board Member and will continue as the Director of the Membership Committee and is Co-Chair of the Wisconsin- Milwaukee/SE Committee to Protect Pensions.
○ Dana Vargo, Secretary. Dana will continue in her role as NUCPP Secretary as well as Co-Chair of the Local 92- Ohio Canton Committee to Protect Pensions.
○ Frank Pastorino, Legal Liaison and Trustee. Frank continues in his role as NUCPP Legal Liaison, Trustee and member of the Finance Committee, as well as Co-Chair of the Des Moines, Iowa Committee to Protect Pensions.
○ Tom Schwarzenberger, Trustee. Tom will continue in his role as NUCPP Trustee and member of the Finance Committee, as well as a Co-Director of the Missouri-Kansas Committee to Protect Pensions.
○ Gary Lynch, Trustee. Gary will continue in his role as NUCPP Trustee and member of the Finance Committee, as well as Co-Chair of the Texas Pension Protection Committee.
The first item on the Agenda of the newly elected officers of the NUCPP Board of Directors was to determine if the NUCPP should continue, and if so, what is our Mission. Although The Butch Lewis Emergency Pension Plan Relief Act (BLA) was passed in March 2021, and is intended to protect the pensions of 10 million members and rescue the retirees’ pensions of underfunded multiemployer pension plans, the PBGC is responsible for setting the rules and providing the funds. The process could take up to a year and a half to implement all of the law and for all of the Funds to receive their money. That is why it is necessary for the NUCPP to act as a ‘watchdog’ until the Central States Pension Fund and the other underfunded plans have received the funds from the PBGC and are solvent. The NUCPP will continue to advocate for proper rules and adequate funding for every fund that qualifies and will work with those members until their pensions are restored and their funds are solvent. This will help the 211,000 employers in multiemployer plans as well. In the watchdog role there is a dedicated core of NUCPP leaders that want to see this through to the end. The other objective in continuing the NUCPP is to give retirees and active workers a permanent voice with Congress, CSPF, PBGC, IBT and other unions by having a seat at the table with these entities.
The second item on the Agenda was to update our communication method. We have developed a new NUCPP webpage that will enable us to share current news and articles of interest with you. This information will be shared via email in the near future so please be sure that we have your current information.
Recently many of you have asked how you can become a part of this grassroots movement that worked on behalf of the 10 million members in multiemployer plans, not just those in the Central States Pension Fund. We encourage you to support the NUCPP as we continue the fight for justice. Renewal notices to current NUCPP members are being mailed this week. If you are not sure whether you have already renewed your 2022 membership, please contact Bernie Anderson at nucpp2020@gmail.com or if email is not available, please call him at 414-217-4105. If you are not a current member, please join by sending your Annual Membership of $60.00 to NUCPP Trust Fund, P.O. Box 441, Oak Creek, WI 53154-8618. Memberships are based on a calendar year. When joining or renewing your membership, please be sure to list your current email so that we can be sure to keep you updated.
* Please note that in order to be a voting member at a 2022 NUCPP Annual or Special Meeting, members need to be a 2022 paid member for a minimum of 60 days.
As always, we thank you for your hard work and your continued support of the NUCPP.
Take Care and Stay Safe.
NUCPP Board of Directors
Dana Vargo
NUCPP Secretary
330-904-5976
Bernie Anderson,
NUCPP Treasurer and Membership Director
414-217-4105
nucpp2020@gmail.com