#1 NUCPP at Work 7.19.22 - Biden Meeting and IBT Meeting
NUCPP AT WORK!
July 19, 2022
Pension Warriors,
Although the American Rescue Act was passed and many of the Funds have completed their SFA Applications and have received, or are awaiting funds from the PBGC (such as Central States Pension Fund), the NUCPP is still at work!
Some of the most recent events that the NUCPP has participated in are as follows:
NUCPP MEETS WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN ON JULY 6, 2022
On July 6, 2022, members of the NUCPP were invited by Senator Sherrod Brown and the White House to Cleveland, Ohio to attend President Biden’s special labor event where he spoke about the BLA and the PBGC’s final guidance being released. Attending this special event were Rita Lewis, (widow of Butch Lewis and Extreme Pension Warrior), Mike Walden (Incorporator and past President of NUCPP), Ken Stribling (current NUCPP President), Davey Grubbs (NUCPP Vice President), Bernie Anderson (NUCPP Treasurer), Dana Vargo (NUCPP Madam Secretary), Gary Lynch (NUCPP Trustee), Jack Palush (NUCPP Advisory Board Member) and Don Vargo and Al Stapleton (NUCPP NE Ohio Committee members).
In addition to President Biden, speakers at the event included Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh, Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown, Ways and Means Chairman Richie Neal and Ohio Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur, plus several other dignitaries.
All of the speeches were geared toward how a grassroots movement can move the Congress. They all mentioned that the big push came from the Democrats and at the end, ALL of the Republicans said No. President Biden, as well as other dignitaries, made special mention during their speeches of specific NUCPP members in attendance and acknowledged their efforts as well as so many retirees in the pension fight. When thanked for supporting our cause, President Biden thanked the NUCPP and all of the retirees for making democracy work. During the meeting, some of those attending from the NUCPP were given the opportunity to speak directly with President Biden and attend a photo session.
Click below to read more about Kenny’s personal meeting with President Joe Biden:
Although only a small percentage of NUCPP members were invited to this event (which was very short notice), please be sure that every NUCPP member in attendance thanked President Biden, Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh, Senator Sherrod Brown, Committee Chairman Richie Neal, and Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur on behalf of ALL OF THE PENSION WARRIORS, BECAUSE WITHOUT ALL OF YOU, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NO VICTORY TO CELEBRATE!
For further information regarding the event in Cleveland, please see:
Biden in Ohio spotlights effort to rescue union pensions - The Washington Post
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NUCPP HOLDS SECOND MEETING WITH IBT IN WASHINGTON, DC ON JULY 7, 2022
After attending the special labor event in Cleveland on July 6th, the Board of Directors drove to Washington to meet with General President Sean O’Brien and members of his team. In attendance for the NUCPP were Kenny Stribling, Davey Grubbs, Bernie Anderson and Dana Vargo. Willie Hardy, NUCPP Advisory Board Member, also flew in from Memphis to attend this second meeting with IBT. The purpose of this meeting was to continue the discussion of reopening the IBT Department of Retiree Affairs, which was closed shortly after MPRA was passed. General President O’Brien committed to the group that involving retirees in the Teamsters organization is a high priority for him and his team and that discussion would be ongoing.
More information will be shared as it is available.
After the meeting with IBT, Kenny and Bernie met with Gideon Bragin, who formerly worked with Senator Sherrod Brown and now works for Congressman Hakeem Jeffries from New York. A Thank You picture frame was presented to Gideon. For those of you who traveled to Washington, Gideon was a great friend to the retirees and we wish him the very best.
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NUCPP HOLDS SECOND ANNUAL MEETING ON NOVEMBER 8-9, 2022 IN KANSAS CITY
Please watch your mailboxes for further information coming soon!
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Pension Warriors, thank you for your continued support of the NUCPP.
Take Care and Stay Safe!
NUCPP Board of Directors
Dana Vargo, Secretary
330-904-5976
danavargo92@gmail.com