President Obama has sold out unions’ pensions when he signed a must pass omnibus bill, which has the Kline-Miller Multiemployer Pension Reform Act of 2014. The bill strikes down an enshrined American ideal that money earned for a pension can’t be pulled out from under our feet like a rug once we retire. That promise, once codified in law, was upended by the passage of this reform act.
This act will effect some 400,000 participants by cutting benefits for some retirees now, some up to 60 percent. This is the central state pension funds, which is predicted to be insolvent in 10 years and this fund is the canary in the mineshaft as similar multiemployer pension funds are now at risk.
If these funds go bust, mortgages won’t be paid, prescriptions won’t be filled, utility bills and groceries will be a regular hardship. Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell hates unions so there will be no hope there, and Hillary Clinton is no fan of unions either. This just leaves Bernie Sanders and no one is talking about this, which could affect millions of retirees.
This could take down the multiemployer arms of the pension benefit guaranty corporation, the federal government, which is the pension insurance program and that fund is also in trouble. So, does this mean people on pensions will lose all their supportive means? This very well could be and they should hope their children have a good job and room for their parents to move in. If their children are living in their parents’ home, then the whole family is in for a life in the streets. Is this the way we are going to reward our workers?
Last year, Sanders introduced legislation to repeal the Kline-Miller Multiemployer Pension Reform Act of 2014, along with Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio. They brought forth the Keep Our Pension Promises Act of 2015, which would prohibit trustees of multiemployer pension plans from reducing retirees’ monthly benefits.
It is anti-worker legislation like this that makes voting so very important.
I hope that I am wrong, but what I see at this time is our unions are going to be in the fight of their existence. This is the most perilous time of our life. The life we had is threatened like never before. Unions are the largest organized group of people who can save our country if things keep going the way they are heading at this time. We need to all stand together for power, but we each must prepare and plan to take care of ourselves and our families. We can fight the big fight and not be distracted by worry about things that can and should already be taken care of. For instance, stashing at least one month’s pay and at least a month or even a year’s worth of food, whether the food is staples (pasta, rice, canned goods) and meat or chicken in the freezer. Keep your vehicles' tanks full and if possible a gas can full. It’s in your best interest to also save money for house or rent payments plus extra. This is not new thinking for us old trade workers who had to prepare when...
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