Today, November 30, is the date that was set as the deadline for the Joint Select Committee to agree upon legislation for troubled multi-employer pension plans and the impending insolvency of the PBGC.
Co-Chairmen Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) released a statement that said, in part, “While it will not be possible to finalize a bipartisan agreement before November 30, we believe a bipartisan solution is attainable, and we will continue working to reach that solution.”
This means that the disastrous proposal we recently saw will not be moving forward at this time. It doesn’t mean that we should stop what we are doing. Thousands of SMART members answered the call to come together to protect our retirement. We need to ensure that multi-employer defined benefit pension plans that have made difficult decisions in the past to get on the right path aren’t harmed by attempts to help troubled plans. At the same time, we need solutions for those plans and for the PBGC to keep healthy plans on track.
Thank you for all your efforts, when we asked you to mobilize, you answered the call.
Thanks to you, Congress heard the voice of labor through over 40,000 calls, letters and emails from SMART sheet metal members and their Transportation Division brothers and sisters who joined in solidarity.
I encourage you to keep your eye on this issue as Congress continues to work on solutions in the future.
Fraternally,
Joseph Sellers, Jr
SMART General President
Related News
- Hunting accident claims life of Idaho member’s daughter
- Gardena City Council welcomes SMART-TD to represent GTrans Bus Operators
- NO On-Site Registration Available at Atlanta Regional Training Seminar
- Education Department, Organizing Department hold course on organizing signatory contractors
- WATCH: Amanda Snide Earns Award for her Passion
- Legal Internship Available for Students from Railroad Families
- HAPPENING TUESDAY: Join Railroaders from Across the Country for Houston Rail Labor Solidarity Rally!
- Amtrak Operating Unions Gather in Maryland
- SMART brings nearly 500 sisters and allies to Chicago for Tradeswomen Build Nations
- SMART-TD to FAA: Keep Drones Out of Our Rail Yards